An observation of chasing behavior in the yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) at Maciço do Urucum, Corumbá, MS, Brazil

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Edentata 16 (2015): 69–71
Electronic version: ISSN 1852-9208
Print version: ISSN 1413-4411
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G. Porrio et al. : Field note / An observation of chasing behavior in the yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus)...
FIELD NOTE
An observation of chasing behavior in the yellow armadillo (Euphractus
sexcinctus) at Maciço do Urucum, Corumbá, MS, Brazil
grAsielA porFirioA,1, Filipe MArtins sAntosA, leonArdo nAsCiMentoB, WAnessA teixei-
rA goMes BArretoA, priCilA FátiMA de souzAA And pAulA H. sAntA ritAA
A Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Avenida Tamandaré,
6.000, Jardim Seminário, Caixa Postal 100, CEP 79117-900, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil. E-mail: grasi_porfirio@hotmail.com (GP),
filipemsantos@outlook.com (FMS), pricila.souza@hotmail.com (PFS), paulabiovet@hotmail.com (PHSR)
B Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Avenida Tamandaré, 6.000, Jardim Seminário, Caixa Postal 100,
CEP 79117-900, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil. E-mail: leonardonascimentoleo@gmail.com
1 Corresponding author
Abstract Chasing behavior is described as a component of the reproductive repertoire of the yellow arma-
dillo Euphractus sexcinctus. In this note, we report a eld observation of chasing behavior in yellow armadil-
los obtained with camera trapping at Maciço do Urucum on the western border of the Brazilian Pantanal.
Five specimens of unidentied gender were recorded in chasing activity. After this chasing sequence other
specimens were recorded, but they were apparently nosing the ground on the same trail. Our records in-
crease the knowledge about the ecology and natural history of this species.
Keywords: behavior, biology, camera trap, Pantanal
Uma observação de comportamento de perseguição em tatu peba (Euphractus sexcinctus) no Maciço do Uru-
cum, Corumbá, MS, Brazil
Resumo O comportamento de perseguição é descrito como um componente do repertório reprodutivo do
tatu peba (Euphractus sexcinctus). Nesta nota de campo, descrevemos uma observação do comportamento
de perseguição em tatus pebas obtida com o uso de armadilhagem fotográca no Maciço do Urucum, borda
oeste do Pantanal. Embora não tenha sido possível identicar os sexos dos indivíduos envolvidos, cinco
animais foram registrados em comportamento de perseguição. Após esse registro, outros indivíduos, que
apenas cheiravam a trilha, foram fotografados. Nossos registros ampliam o conhecimento a respeito da eco-
logia e história natural dessa espécie.
Palavras-chave: armadilha fotográca, biologia, comportamento Pantanal
The yellow armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus
(Linnaeus, 1758), is the largest of the ve species
of euphractine armadillos (Wetzel, 1985) occurring
over a wide area of South America, from southern
Suriname, most of Brazil, and in adjacent areas of
Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina (Redford
& Wetzel, 1985; Wetzel, 1985; Silva-Júnior & Nunes,
2001). Despite its wide distribution, presumably
large population and tolerance to habitat changes
(Abba & Superina, 2010), the ecology, behavior
and natural history of E. sexcinctus remain poorly
understood (Desbiez et al., 2006; Médri, 2008). The
species is currently listed as Least Concern by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources (IUCN, 2014).
In this eld note, we report an observation of
chasing behavior among E. sexcinctus at Maciço
do Urucum on the western border of the Brazilian
Pantanal. Chasing behavior among yellow armadil-
los was reported by Desbiez et al. (2006) as having a
possible reproductive function or a strategy to de-
fend territories or food resources, while Tomas et
al. (2013) asserted that chasing behavior among E.
sexcinctus represented a reproductive event. In their

Edentata 16: 69–71 (2015)
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observations in the Brazilian Pantanal (Nhecolândia),
Tomas et al. (2013) noticed that males of E. sexcinctus
did not interact with each other on two reports of
chasing events. The authors suggested that compe-
tition for mating in this species seems to be based
on the ability of a male to be the rst to reach and
mount a female, rather than on overt exhibition of
aggressive behavior among males.
Our observation of chasing behavior was
recorded on a camera trap (Bushnell Trophy Cam,
USA) installed on a tree at approximately 35 cm
above ground level, which was set up to operate 24
hours/day and take three consecutive pictures at
ve second intervals. The camera trap was placed at
Fazenda Palestina (19°08’25”S, 57°36’34”W), munici-
pality of Corumbá, MS, located at the base of Maciço
do Urucum, a geological formation that is one of
the few elevated areas in the Pantanal (Alfonsi &
Camargo, 1986) and an important zone of iron and
manganese mining in Brazil (Tomas et al., 2010).
On 4 November 2014 at 18:57 hr we recorded
a photographic sequence of ve yellow armadillos
in a chasing event (Fig. 1). Although it was not pos-
sible to determine their respective sexes, the ve in-
dividuals were recorded in a chase sequence along
a trail in a forested habitat. The images do not show
mounting or aggressive behaviors between animals.
The weather was rainy on that day and no burrows
were found in the neighborhood of the camera trap
after equipment checking. Roughly four hours af-
ter the chasing sequence was recorded (at 22:46 hr)
a yellow armadillo was photographed apparently
nosing the ground on the same trail (Fig. 2). In the
second photograph of this later sequence, we ob-
served a second individual in the background of the
trail (Fig. 3). Again, it was not possible to determine
the sexes of these individuals. On 5 November 2014,
we obtained two additional records of an apparently
solitary yellow armadillo meandering along the for-
est trail and its surroundings. These pictures were
recorded at 00:40 hr and at 02:30 hr (Fig. 4).
According to Tomas et al. (2013), the chasing
event registered here is part of the mating repertoire
of E. sexcinctus. However, contrary to what has been
described by these authors or by Desbiez et al. (2006),
we did not nd evidence of frantic excavation by this
species or the presence of recent and active burrows
around or nearby the camera trap. Tomas et al. (2013)
also mentioned that males might continue the chase
sequence inside burrows in search of the female. We
did not observe this behavior, although other spec-
imens were recorded nosing the ground and mean-
dering the trail where the chasing sequence records
were obtained. Nevertheless, Desbiez et al. (2006)
mentioned the continuity of chasing behavior for
over an hour.
Figure 1. Yellow armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus) pho-
to-trapped in November 2014 during chasing be-
havior at Fazenda Palestina, Maciço do Urucum, Co-
rumbá, MS, Brazil.
Figure 2. A yellow armadillo photographed in November
2014 at Fazenda Palestina presumably nosing the
trail roughly four hours past the initial chasing
observation.
Figure 3. Two yellow armadillos recorded crossing the trail
moments later.

G. Porrio et al. : Field note / An observation of chasing behavior in the yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus)... 71
Both observations of Tomas et al. (2013) occurred
approximately at 17:00 hr. Although E. sexcinctus is
described as mainly diurnal, the species may occa-
sionally be active at night (Redford & Wetzel, 1985;
Médri, 2008), with temperature strongly inuencing
the behavior of E. sexcinctus (Médri, 2008). However,
our records of specimens nosing the ground of the
trail after the chasing behavior sequence of pictures
may indicate that extension of activity patterns may
also be related to reproductive events, meriting fur-
ther research.
Our unique sequence of records possibly cor-
roborates the suggestions of Tomas et al. (2013) con-
cerning a mating period for E. sexcinctus lasting from
the mid-dry season to the onset of the rainy season
(July to November). Observations like ours may
shed light on the ecology and natural history of the
yellow armadillo.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the owner of the Fazenda
Palestina ranch for granting permission to the au-
thors to work on his land and to UCDB (Universidade
Católica Dom Bosco), Programa de Pós-Graduação
em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade
Agropecuária, for supporting our research efforts at
Maciço do Urucum. We also thank CAPES for the
scholarship granted to GP (PNPD 20132885).
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Figure 4. A yellow armadillo specimen crossing the same
trail roughly seven hours after the chasing event
observation.