The Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) is found in savannas and shrublands around the Gran Chaco and is one of the few armadillo species capable of fully rolling into a ball for defense. It is small-bodied and primarily insectivorous, using the claws of its forelimbs to feed on ants and other insects. Essentially nocturnal, it rests in shallow burrows or thickets. Breeding occurs year-round with peaks, and after a gestation of about 120 days typically a single offspring is born. The population is declining and it is assessed as Near Threatened.