Giant armadillo

Priodontes maximus

They use their giant claws to dig into termite mounds, but they also eat worms, spiders, and other invertebrate animals.

They live throughout much of South America east of the Andes

Giant armadillos tend to defend themselves by using their claws to dig into a burrow, because unlike other armadillos, they can't fully curl up into a ball. Hunted throughout its range, a single giant armadillo supplies a great deal of meat, and is the primary source of protein for some indigenous peoples. In addition, live giant armadillos are frequently captured for trade on the black market, and invariably die during transportation or in captivity. Despite this species’ wide range, it is locally rare. This is further exacerbated by habitat loss resulting from deforestation. Current estimates indicate the giant armadillo may have undergone a worrying population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past three decades. Without intervention, this trend is likely to continue.