Tolypeutes
| Tolypeutes | |
|---|---|
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| Southern three-banded armadillo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia | 
| Phylum: | Chordata | 
| Class: | Mammalia | 
| Order: | Cingulata | 
| Family: | Chlamyphoridae | 
| Genus: |  Tolypeutes Illiger, 1811  | 
| Species | |
| 
 See text  | |
The genus Tolypeutes contains the two species of three-banded armadillos. They are restricted to open and semi-open habitats in South America.
Of the several armadillo genera, only Tolypeutes rely heavily on their armor for protection. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates.
Species
There are two recognized species:[1]
- Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) – southern three-banded armadillo
 - Tolypeutes tricinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Brazilian three-banded armadillo
 
References
- ↑ "Tolypeutes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
 
- http://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/armadillo/tolypeutes.html
 - http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/mammals/Xenarthra/Dasypodidae/Tolypeutes/index.html
 
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