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- Giant Armadillo
Giant Armadillo
Edentata Dasypodidae
Priodontes Maximus
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Giant Armadillos are shy, and don't come outside very much. Right now they are in danger of disappearing. Because people need fuel, we are changing their homes into farmland.
Body length: 75-110cm
Tail length: 50-55cm
Weight: 18.7-22.3kg
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
They live in the plains and forests of South America.
The Giant Armadillo usually eats ants. The Giant Armadillo finds ants by using the nails on their front paws to dig at the ground and anthills. The Giant Armadillo sometimes eat spiders and earthworms too.
Giant Armadillos might look slow, but they move very quickly. If they sense danger they dig a hole with the nails on their front paws, and hide in it.
Find out more about the Giant Armadillo!
Their numbers are few and they are timid, will we ever see them again?
Giant Armadillos live in the plains and forests of South America. They are known for their hard armor-like shells. They are very timid animals, and tend to stay away from human. But that is not the only reason. That's right – it's also because there are fewer of them now.
There are fewer Giant Armadillos because there is less oil?
One reason there are fewer Giant Armadillos now, is that their living space is being used for farm land. This is to make raw materials, like sugar cane, for Bo-Ethanol which is becoming important in place of oil. Oil is limited, and people need new sources of energy. Because of this the Giant Armadillo has become a victim. We need to think of a way that people and wild life can live together in harmony.
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