Mammals · Cingulata · Chlamyphoridae

Amazon Naked-tailed Armadillo

Cabassous unicinctus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Amazon naked-tailed armadillo — known in Spanish as cabasú de once bandas or armadillo de cola desnuda — is a medium-sized armadillo with a short, slender tail entirely without plates, which sets it apart from all its relatives. It is an exceptional digger: its front claws are out of all proportion and it can vanish underground in a matter of seconds. It feeds almost exclusively on termites and ants, and is so subterranean that it is rarely seen above ground despite being relatively common.

Weight

2 kg – 3.5 kg

Size

30 cm – 49 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaRainforestGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Savanna Rainforest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

It digs so fast that it can vanish underground in less than a minute: researchers trying to catch it describe it as literally sinking into the ground in front of them.
Its bare tail, without bony plates, is unique among armadillos and leaves the animal's rear end without the protection that characterises the group.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton with a carapace of dermal plates (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Savanna, cerrado, rainforest and gallery forest of northern and central South America
Gestation / incubation: 4 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabassous_unicinctus