Dasypus
Sign in to saveDasypus is the only extant genus in the family Dasypodidae. Its species are known as long-nosed or naked-tailed armadillos. They are found in South, Central, and North America, as well as on the Caribbean islands of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. Members of Dasypus are solitary and primarily nocturnal to avoid temperature extremes and predation. They exist in numerous habitats ranging from brush to grassland areas and are mainly insectivorous. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words (), meaning "hair", and (''''), meaning "foot".
Taxonomy · GBIF
Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderCingulata
- FamilyDasypodidae
Observations36,140
Groupmammalia
via GBIF · iNaturalist · CC0
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Description
- Taxonomy and distribution
- Fossils
- Habitat
- Ecology and behavior
- Feeding
- Reproduction
- Leprosy
- References
Dasypus is the only extant genus in the family Dasypodidae. Its species are known as long-nosed or naked-tailed armadillos. They are found in South, Central, and North America, as well as on the Caribbean islands of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. Members of Dasypus are solitary and primarily nocturnal to avoid temperature extremes and predation. They exist in numerous habitats ranging from brush to grassland areas and are mainly insectivorous. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words (), meaning "hair", and (''), meaning "foot".
The most common and widespread of the Dasypus species is the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus), which is commonly used in the study of leprosy due to its unique ability to contract the disease.