Management and care of a dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded) pup received in a wildlife triage center in Brazil’s southern most area / Manejo e cuidados de um filhote de dasypus novemcinctus (tatu-de-nove-bandas) recebido em um centro de triagem de animais selvagens no extremo sul do Brasil

Abstract

The Dasypus novemcinctus is popularly called the nine-banded armadillo, which is a terrestrial mammal with crepuscular/nocturnal habits. This animal is widely distributed in the Americas, however, there is still little information about pup raising and behavior in captivity. This report aims to describe the raising management, with emphasis on feeding and behavioral adaptation, of a Dasypus novemcinctus pup received at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The adaptation process to the diet offered in captivity was long, but the weight gain and behavioral development occurred according to what was expected in the environmental conditions for this species outside captivity. The armadillo described in this report was released in nature weighing 925 g and measuring a little more than half the size of an adult animal.