It is hard to guess what a Southern three-banded armadillo weights. But we have the answer:
An adult Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) on average weights 1.32 kg (2.91 lbs).
The Southern three-banded armadillo is from the family Dasypodidae (genus: Tolypeutes). It is usually born with about 113 grams (0.25 lbs). When reaching adult age, they grow up to 56.6 cm (1′ 11″). Usually, Southern three-banded armadillos have 1 babies per litter.
As a reference: An average human weights in at 62 kg (137 lbs) and reaches an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″). Humans spend 280 days (40 weeks) in the womb of their mother and reach around 75 years of age.
The southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), also called the La Plata three-banded armadillo, is an armadillo species from South America. It is found in parts of northern Argentina, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 770 m (2,530 ft).The southern three-banded armadillo and the other member of the genus Tolypeutes, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo, are the only species of armadillos capable of rolling into a complete ball to defend themselves (volvation). The three characteristic bands that cover the back of the animal allow it enough flexibility to fit its tail and head together, allowing it to protect its underbelly, limbs, eyes, nose and ears from predators. The shell covering its body is armored and the outer layer is made out of keratin, the same protein that builds human fingernails. They are typically a yellow or brownish color. They are among the smaller armadillos, with a head-and-body length of about 22 to 27 cm (8.7 to 10.6 in) and a weight between 1 and 1.6 kg (2.2 and 3.5 lb). Unlike most armadillos, they are not fossorial, but will use abandoned giant anteater burrows.The three-banded armadillo has a long, sticky, straw-like pink tongue that allows it to gather up and eat many different species of insects, typically ants and termites. In captivity, armadillos also eat foods such as fruits and vegetables.The species is threatened by habitat destruction from conversion of its native Dry Chaco to farmland, and from hunting for food and the pet trade.
Animals of the same family as a Southern three-banded armadillo
We found other animals of the Dasypodidae family:
- Hairy long-nosed armadillo bringing 4.44 kilos (9.79 lbs) to the scale
- Southern naked-tailed armadillo bringing 4.06 kilos (8.95 lbs) to the scale
- Nine-banded armadillo bringing 3.98 kilos (8.77 lbs) to the scale
- Seven-banded armadillo bringing 1.53 kilos (3.37 lbs) to the scale
- Greater long-nosed armadillo bringing 9.7 kilos (21.38 lbs) to the scale
- Pink fairy armadillo with a weight of 86 grams
- Six-banded armadillo bringing 4.76 kilos (10.49 lbs) to the scale
- Brazilian three-banded armadillo bringing 1.49 kilos (3.28 lbs) to the scale
- Andean hairy armadillo bringing 2.14 kilos (4.72 lbs) to the scale
- Greater naked-tailed armadillo bringing 5.35 kilos (11.79 lbs) to the scale
Animals with the same weight as a Southern three-banded armadillo
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Tolypeutes matacus:
- Spotted linsang with a weight of 1.14 kilos (2.51 lbs)
- Potto with a weight of 1.08 kilos (2.38 lbs)
- Jamaican coney with a weight of 1.5 kilos (3.31 lbs)
- Silvery greater galago with a weight of 1.58 kilos (3.48 lbs)
- European pine marten with a weight of 1.3 kilos (2.87 lbs)
- Back-striped weasel with a weight of 1.5 kilos (3.31 lbs)
- Brazilian three-banded armadillo with a weight of 1.49 kilos (3.28 lbs)
- Hodgson’s giant flying squirrel with a weight of 1.48 kilos (3.26 lbs)
- Greater glider with a weight of 1.26 kilos (2.78 lbs)
- Long-nosed potoroo with a weight of 1.07 kilos (2.36 lbs)
Animals with the same litter size as a Southern three-banded armadillo
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (1) as a Southern three-banded armadillo: