Tolypeutes fossil map
Where fossils of Tolypeutes 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 | 3 million years ago to the present (Piacenzian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Dasypodidae |
| Named by | Illiger 1811 |
| Fossil records | 48 occurrences at 23 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia |
| Rock formations | txn:96034, Nuapua, Lujan, Agua Blanca, Lagunilla del Plata, La Invernada |
About Tolypeutes
The genus Tolypeutes contains the two species of three-banded armadillos. They are restricted to open and semi-open habitats in South America.
Of the several armadillo genera, only Tolypeutes rely heavily on their armor for protection. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates. This species is endangered due to hunting and deforestation of its native Brazilian habitat. They lack the ability to dig burrows like their competitors, instead relying on abandoned ones. Deforestation is a critical concern because it reduces available burrows, leaving them exposed to predators and human activity.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Tolypeutes (revision 1344455572), 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: Q1080942.
