Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)

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Southern three-banded armadillo born at Woodland Park Zoo

The zoo welcomed a baby southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) on July 14. Because the baby, a male, was born below the average birth weight, it is currently being hand-raised off public view in our Animal Health Complex.

Southern three-banded armadillos hail from South America and belong to the same order as anteaters and sloths. As adults, they mainly eat ants and termites, similar to their relatives commonly found in the southern United States. There are 20 species of armadillo, but the three-banded is the only species capable of rolling itself into a ball as a means of defense against predators. Their tough, horny but flexible shell is another way they protect themselves.

The parents of this baby may be seen in the zoo’s Night Exhibit. See a video and slideshow of this armadillo below.

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