Dasypus septemcinctus (Cingulata: Dasypodidae)

Abstract

Dasypus septemcinctus Linnaeus, 1758, commonly called the seven-banded armadillo, is the smallest species of the genus Dasypus, with 6-7 movable bands and a flattened dorsal profile of the skull. It has the most southern distribution of the genus, with a latitudinal range from 0ºto 39ºS, including Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, and eastern, central, and northern Argentina. D. septemcinctus is diurnal, feeds mainly on insects, and has been recorded in savannas, grasslands, forests, and disturbed habitats. It is classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the major threats are hunting and habitat loss.