Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo
VU

Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo

Cabassous centralis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_naked-tailed_armadillo

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo faces severe population decline primarily due to rapid deforestation across Central America's lowland forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and palm oil plantations, has fragmented its habitat into isolated patches. The species' specialized diet of ants and termites makes it particularly vulnerable to ecosystem disruption, as these prey species require intact forest floor conditions to maintain stable colonies.

Threat summary

Habitat

This armadillo inhabits lowland tropical rainforests and secondary forests from sea level to 1,500 meters elevation, preferring areas with dense canopy cover and rich leaf litter. It requires well-drained soils for burrowing and forages primarily on the forest floor among fallen logs and dense understory vegetation.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Dasypodidae

Northern Long-nosed ArmadilloVU

Northern Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus sabanicola

Unknown
Southern Naked-Tailed ArmadilloVU

Southern Naked-Tailed Armadillo

Cabassous unicinctus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo classified as Vulnerable?
Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo faces severe population decline primarily due to rapid deforestation across Central America's lowland forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and palm oil plantations, has fragmented its habitat into isolated patches. The species' specialized diet of ants and termites makes it particularly vulnerable to ecosystem disruption, as these prey species require intact forest floor conditions to maintain stable colonies.
Where does Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo live?
Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo?
The main threats to Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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