Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo

Cabassous chacoensis

Reproduction: Probably one offspring at a time.
Weight: 1 – 2.4 kg
Diet: Ants and termites, and sometimes seeds and fruits.

Common Names

English – Chacoan Naked-tailed Armadillo

Spanish – Cabasú Chaqueño, Cabasú Chico, Tatú-ai Menor

Portuguese – Tatu-de-Rabo-Mole do Chaco

German – Chaco-Nacktschwanz-Gürteltier

French – Tatou du Chaco

How to Identify:

Carapace	Brown to dark brown
Ears	1.45 cm length, tiny
Moveable bands	10-13
Tail	Naked! It is only covered with thin, widely spaced plates, and lacks the complete armor present in other armadillos

IUCN Red List

Species are classified into one of nine Red List Categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient and Not Evaluated. Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered species are considered to be threatened with extinction.

Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo Facts

Spends more time underground than most other armadillo species.
In Mexico, the species is thought to be poisonous, although this is not supported by scientific research.
Like all naked-tailed armadillos, they rotate their body and sometimes dig upside down. The burrow entrances and tunnels are circular because of this.

Habitat

Thorn forests

Population Trend

• Unknown

Threats

Hunting
Habitat degradation
Farming
Predation by dogs

Here are some ways YOU can help keep armadillos healthy and safe:

– It is best to observe them from a distance and in silence.
– Our pets could attack them. It is important to keep your dog on a leash when you go for a walk, or keep your pets at home in an enclosed and safe area. In addition, taking care of our pets also means spaying and neutering them so that they do not breed without control.
– Another way to help protect the areas where armadillos live is by not starting fires.
– Armadillos love to live in nature, keeping them as pets is not good for them. Keep in mind that they don’t like selfies either.
– If you find an injured armadillo, contact a wildlife hospital so they can help it.
– Deforestation is often caused to make more land for livestock. Eating less meat may help save our forests.