Dasypus novemcinctus (Linnaeus 1758) is the living long-nosed armadillo, a mammal coverd in dermal armor and able to roll into a ball to protect the soft underbelly. Most closely related to Orycteropus among tested taxa, Dasypus is a xenarthran related to sloths like Bradypus and Glyptodon, which is also armored in a convergent fashion. This genus is an insectivore/omnivore and usually avoid chewing. It has poor eyesight but excellent hearing. |