Screaming hairy armadillo
Screaming hairy armadillo
The brown armor that covers the body of an armadillo, known as a carapace, is made of keratin – the same protein that makes up our hair and nails. The screaming hairy armadillo is native to South America and is considered a cultural symbol of the Bolivian highlands. They are often found building homes in sand dunes where they are easily able to dig.
Chaetophractus vellerosus
Insectivore
South America
Deserts, Grasslands, Scrublands
This animal ambassador lives behind the scenes at the Wieland Wildlife Home, but you could meet one at one of our evening events, at a pop-up animal encounter during your Zoo visit, or if you register for one of our education programs.
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The screaming hairy armadillo is named for the loud-pitched squeal it lets out when threatened. It is the smallest of three hairy armadillo species, a group that has more hair than most other armadillo species. Screaming hairy armadillos typically weigh less than 2 pounds and reach lengths of 12 to 22 inches including the tail. Males are generally larger than females. This insectivore mostly eats beetles.
The screaming hairy armadillo’s white and brown hairs sprout out of the carapace between scutes (the individual bony plate scales that overlap to make up the carapace). The carapace of this species has about 18 bands, between six to nine of which are movable and allow them to curl up slightly but not completely. The screaming hairy armadillo has a short, thick tail and elongated head, both of which are covered in armor. Like human fingerprints, the pattern of armor plates on the head is unique to each individual.
During cold seasons, screaming hairy armadillos are active around Noon and during early afternoon. During warm seasons, they are active during afternoon and night. They are solitary animals, coming together only to breed. The gestation period is about 60 to 75 days. Females usually give birth during fall months to two young, often consisting of a male and a female. The young weigh only around 5 ounces (about the weight of a quarter), and their eyes will remain closed until around 16 to 30 days after birth. Despite this slow early development, the young are weaned at around 2 months of age and are sexually mature at 9 months old.
This animal ambassador lives behind the scenes at the Wieland Wildlife Home, but you could meet one at one of our evening events, at a pop-up animal encounter during your Zoo visit, or if you register for one of our education programs.
Screaming hairy armadillos are native to Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, and possibly Peru.
This species thrives in desert, grassland, scrubland and savanna habitats. Sand is a common home for this species since it is easy for the armadillos to dig burrows.
In the wild, these insectivores primarily feed on beetles, along with some ripe fruits and vegetation. At Zoo Atlanta they receive a nutritionally balanced diet of commercially produced insectivore chow. They also receive a variety of bugs, like waxworms and earthworms, in addition to some fruit. These armadillos can produce highly concentrated urine, which allows them to conserve water and go long periods of time without drinking.
Major threats to this species include hunting, habitat fragmentation and illegal trade. They are hunted for multiple reasons. Their meat is a valuable food source in their native range, and their shells are used to make musical instruments. They can also be considered a pest species as their digging for insects can damage crops and disrupt farmers’ livelihoods.