The yellow armadillo as a potential predator of medium-sized vertebrates

Abstract

Studies on the predation of vertebrates by armadillos are scarce, and most of them refer to the consumption of small reptiles and rodents, attributing the remains of larger prey to the ingestion of carrion. However, there is evidence that some species of the Chlamyphoridae family may have predatory habits, killing and consuming even larger prey. In this study, we document predation of a black-and-white tegu (Salvator merianae) and a gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) by a yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) in the northeast of Argentina, and we review attacks and captures of other medium- to large-sized vertebrates by this armadillo. The results suggest that the yellow armadillo could play a hitherto underestimated role in the food webs of the communities of which they are a part.