Chaetophractus nationi
| Andean hairy armadillo | |
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| Chaetophractus nationi | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Cingulata |
| Family: | Dasypodidae |
| Genus: | Chaetophractus |
| Species: | C. nationi |
| Binomial name | |
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Chaetophractus nationi (Thomas, 1894) |
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| Andean hairy armadillo range | |
The Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) is an armadillo located in Bolivia, in the region of the Puna; the departments of Oruro, La Paz, and Cochabamba (Gardner, 1993). Nowark (1991) describes it as distributed in Bolivia and northern Chile. A recent publication of Pacheco (1995) also locates the species in Peru, basically in Puno Region. This species is also thought to be present in northern Argentina. However, this location may actually only contain a population of C. vellerosus.
The Andean Hairy Armadillo averages a tail length of three to seven inches and a body length of eight to sixteen inches. This armadillo is found to have eighteen dorsal bands, in which eight are considered movable. The Andean Hairy Armadillo gets its name genuinely because this armadillo has hair covering all of its ventral side and its legs as well. This species comes in a variety of colors ranging from light brown to yellow/beige. Their teeth are unique because they are continuously growing and do not contain enamel. Their average weight tends to be four in a half to five pounds. They maintain an internal temperature and use limb Countercurrent exchange as well.
Andean Hairy Armadillos are considered Omnivores because they eat a variety of foods. Their diet can consist of grains, roots, fruits and even small vertebrates. These armadillos have even been found to eat rotting flesh and the maggots found within the corpse. These mammals find their food by digging through leaves and substrates while using their nose to detect possible meals. They prefer open high-altitude grasslands to live in.
This armadillo finds shelter in tunnels and burrows that it digs itself using fore-claws. Their territories are about eight acres in size. The Andean Hairy Armadillo's sleep schedule depend on the season and temperature of its habitat. In the summer months they are considered Nocturnality so they do not overheat. They then switch to Diurnality during the winter season to stay warm. The Andean Hairy Armadillo communicates with other armadillos through the use of chemicals, as well as through touch.
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Wikipedia