Monstrosity animals....Three Banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
(Najamuddin Ghanghro, Karachi(original from Larkana))
Animals have individual
abilities to defend themselves against predators, but the Three Banded Armadillo
has an extremely unique method of protection. He doesn’t run, camouflage himself
or fight. He rolls into an armored ball that will snap shut like a trap when
anything threatens its life. When the threat has passed he will unroll and go
about his business - his armor quickly available for the next danger he faces.
The Three Banded Armadillo makes its home in Bolivia, central Brazil, Paraguay,
and Argentina. This class of armadillo doesn’t bother to dig his own burrows,
but hunts discarded anteater burrows for shelter. It enjoys grassy or marshy
areas near forests.
These blackish brown armadillos are the only species that can completely encase
their entire bodies within their shell when they curl into a ball. The
disconnected front and rear portions of the shell allow the animal to accomplish
this feat. The five-toed hind feet resemble a hoof in appearance. The middle
three toes grow together, leaving the outside toes free. The claws on their
front feet are extremely powerful, and the armadillo walks and runs on the tips
of these claws. A short, thick tail tapers the rear of the Three Banded
Armadillo’s 218-273 mm, 1.0 – 1.50 kg body
Three Banded Armadillos hunt for food by burrowing into underground nests and
under decaying vegetation. Beetle larvae are its main staple, but its intake
includes ants, termites, other insects and fruit when it is available.
It requires one hundred and twenty days for the gestation of a baby Three Banded
Armadillo. Sometime between November and January the female will give birth to a
single baby. The miniature armadillo will be a replica of its parents, and has
the ability to curl into a ball immediately following birth. The young will
nurse for about seventy-two days before being weaned. In nine to twelve months
it will have matured enough to have small armadillos of its own.
These armadillos prefer to be alone, but on a cold day may allow another
armadillo to share its burrow. An observation of twelve armadillos sharing
shelter has been recorded, but considered to be quite rare.