Chaetophractus fossil map
Where fossils of Chaetophractus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 8 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Dasypodidae |
| Named by | Fitzinger 1871 |
| Fossil records | 50 occurrences at 23 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay |
| Rock formations | txn:96034, Nuapua, Salicas, Tarija, Lujan, Agua Blanca |
About Chaetophractus
Chaetophractus is a small genus of armadillos in the family Chlamyphoridae. It contains the following three species:
Members of the genus are endemic to the continent of South America. They are found in the central and southern countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Paraguay.
Chaetophractus vellerosus typically digs burrows in area of native woodlands and calcareous soils. These burrows vary in direction or depth, and individuals do not use to the same burrow once they leave it.
Chaetophractus nationi is probably a junior synonym of Chaetophractus vellerosus and the genus Chatophractus may be paraphyletic.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Chaetophractus (revision 1356025626), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q611493.
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