We report 50 new records of Chaetophractus villosus for southern Santa Fe Province (Argentina) and discuss their relationship with environmental variables. The study area is located in the Carcarañá River basin within the Pampean ecoregion, one of the most modified natural ecosystems in the world. The large hairy armadillo was recorded in two of the four environmental units sampled, with 42 records found in cropland and eight in dry woodland. The number of evidences varied between environments and seasons. The relative abundance was nearly identical in different environments (farmland: 0.17 tracks/km; dry woodland: 0.16 tracks/km). There was, however, a differential use of the environments. Records in the dry forests were limited to autumn and winter, which suggests that forested areas are important refuges for large hairy armadillos when farmlands lack high vegetation cover.

Based on a review of the existing literature on xenarthrans, we argue that there are few obvious examples of publications that could be considered “classics”, i.e., those with far-reaching and long-lasting impacts. Why not? Xenarthrans are exceptional mammals, but they are notoriously difficult to study in the wild. Perhaps for this reason, among others, much of the research on xenarthrans has been primarily descriptive. Clearly, this is a necessary first step when so little is known about so many species. However, if we are to increase general awareness of xenarthrans and their biology, we need to move beyond a focus on the intrinsically interesting properties of particular species to how those properties can be exploited to address fundamental questions in ecology, evolution, and other disciplines, ideally with findings that will have implications for the study of non-xenarthrans as well. In this essay we try to identify specific areas that appear promising for such an approach. For field studies, the single most pressing need is for more longterm studies of populations of known individuals. Difficulties in maintaining xenarthrans in captivity may make laboratory-based investigations more challenging, but even here multiple opportunities exist. The end result of this exercise is not to issue some rigid manifesto regarding research on xenarthrans, but rather to initiate a discussion within the scientific community on priorities for future work.

The three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes matacus is a key prey species for indigenous subsistence hunters in the Bolivian Chaco, and is categorized as Vulnerable by the 2009 Bolivia Red Book. This study is part of a larger program to promote sustainable use of the species. In order to describe fine scale movements, burrow / nest use, and feeding behavior, 33 three-banded armadillos were tracked using a spool-and-thread mechanism attached to their carapace. Seventeen animals were followed for a single 350 m spool of thread, because the spool often emptied of thread before the night's activity was complete, and the animal could not be located though its 350 m track could be mapped. One female and four males were followed for five continuous days, and the other individuals for 2–4 days. The maximum distance tracked by thread was 1,650 m over five days. On average for every 350 m track, individuals visited five burrows, six digging/scratching sites, 0.5 termite nests, and summed 19 feeding bouts. Single-spool tracks tended towards linearity, whereas multiple spool tracks tended towards sinuosity. No significant differences were found between females and males or between juveniles and adults for any of these behavioral aspects. Conservation must focus on male-biased harvests, environmental education with local children and hunters, and protected areas with no hunting.

Cabassous tatouay and Tamandua tetradactyla are the least frequent of the five xenarthran species currently present in Uruguay. Given the scarce records for these species, their potential distribution was modeled using the software Maxent in order to identify the most favorable areas for their presence and assess their occurrence within the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP). Records of the species were obtained through bibliographical searches and revisions of the major scientific collections of the country. Records from hunters and rural inhabitants were also compiled. The obtained maps show that the most favorable areas for T. tetradactyla in Uruguay are located in the Department of Cerro Largo, mainly along the Yaguarón River and Sierra de Ríos. Cabassous tatouay showed a favorability value greater than 0.90 within Uruguayan territory, spanning the Departments of Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, and Maldonado. The overlay of the distribution maps and the SNAP protected areas revealed little overlap, with the latter usually not occurring in the most favorable sites for these species. We consider it necessary to strengthen research on these species in order to develop nationwide conservation plans.

The Southern Cone Mesopotamian savanna (MS), located in northeastern Argentina, is one of the least protected ecoregions (0.11%) of the country. Five of the seven historically present species of xenarthrans in this region are of conservation concern at the national level. This work reviews, updates and analyzes the current distribution and conservation status of the xenarthrans using a georeferenced database including records from four complementary methods: field surveys, interviews with local stakeholders, participatory monitoring, and bibliography review. Results were then compared with existing distribution maps. In total, 304 occurrence records were documented in 127 localities. Considering their relative presence (number of localities where the species is present divided by the total number of localities), the species with most records were Dasypus novemcinctus (71.7%) and Dasypus hybridus (63%); Euphractus sexcinctus and Tamandua tetradactyla were detected in a lower proportion (48.8 and 35.4%, respectively). Cabassous tatouay and Myrmecophaga tridactyla are rare species in the ecoregion. The extant xenarthrans that inhabit the MS are reviewed and information gaps for certain species are identified. We emphasize the importance of contributions from the local community, who provided 80% of the collected information for this study.

The adequate chemical immobilization is an important tool for wildlife management and conservation. The Andean hairy armadillo Chaetophractus nationi is an endemic and poorly known species of the Andean highlands that is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Six adult male specimens of C. nationi from Huachipa Zoological Park in Lima, Peru were anesthetized three times between February and December 2009. A combination of 15 mg/kg ketamine, 1 mg/kg xylazine, and 0.4 mg/kg midazolam was administered by intramuscular (IM) injection. The protocol was partially antagonized with 0.22±0.05 mg/kg yohimbine IM at 50 min post-induction. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded every 10 min after the initial application. The induction time, recovery time, degree of muscle relaxation and the presence of defensive reflexes were evaluated. A short induction time (5±1 min) and a rapid and smooth recovery after administration of the antagonist were observed. Recovery time began at 7±2 min and was completed at 15± 4min, presenting good muscle relaxation, presence of defensive reflexes and absence of salivation. Recorded physiological parameters were not significantly altered during anesthesia. This protocol is considered an effective and safe choice for the immobilization of C. nationi for short procedures.

The aim of this study was to identify the use and perceptions that the communities of Pedraza, Magdalena, Colombia give to Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Tamandua mexicana, Choloepus hoffmanni, Bradypus variegatus and Dasypus novemcinctus, with the purpose of gathering information to establish adequate awareness strategies. Semi-structured random surveys were made, taking into consideration people of different gender and depending on their availability and willingness. Three main topics were considered: a) knowledge, sightings and abundance; b) use; and c) conservation. One hundred people were surveyed, 78 of which were men. The most frequently and easily identified species were M. tridactyla and T. mexicana (27%), while the least known was C. hoffmanni (9%). The main identified threats were hunting for consumption in armadillos, human aggression for anteaters, and habitat destruction for sloths. Most surveyed persons expressed their willingness to participate in a conservation program for one of the five species. This study allows putting in evidence that the solution for the situation of the Xenarthra in the Pedraza municipality requires focal solutions for each species. There is a need for an awareness program for the general population, with emphasis towards children and teenagers. The need to include food security and improvement of the quality of life of residents in any future conservation program is emphasized due to the direct impact of these variables on the wild populations of xenarthrans.

This study reports an effective drug combination for the sedation of Priodontes maximus. Three captive adult giant armadilllos were sedated in 2010. The animals were kept at the Municipal Complex, Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña (Chaco, Argentina). A combination of intramuscular anesthetic drugs (butorphanol, xylazine - midazolam) was applied under physical restraint. Isoflurane gas, delivered by facemask, was used for maintenance. The protocol allowed the safe handling of the animals, full physical exams, sample collection, and collection of vital parameters. The protocol was successfully reversed with naltrexone and yohimbine, and the animals recovered uneventfully.

This note presents two new records of giant anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla in the city of Tibagi, Paraná State, Brazil, where its occurrence was unknown. The records were obtained in March 2011 and February 2013, both in the surroundings of Guartelá's State Park, in the region of Campos Gérais of Paraná.

The presence of Cabassous tatouay in Brazil is well documented in the southern (Santa Catarina, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul), southeastern (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais), and midwestern (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás) regions. There are no records of this species in the north, and limited information exists about its distribution in northeastern Brazil. We report the species from the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia State, in the Serra Bonita Private Natural Heritage Reserve Complex (CRPPNSB).

The silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) ranges from Mexico to Bolivia. Although several studies have been carried out on this species in some parts of its range, the available information on its basic ecology and distribution in Colombia is insufficient. This paper provides updated information on the distribution of the species in Colombia, presenting both new and previously collected records. Species records are concentrated in central and northern Colombia, with some confirmed reports in the southern part of the country in the departments of Amazonas, Nariño and Putumayo.

In this short note we report on the stomach contents of a giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) in the Bolivian Amazon. The stomach exclusively contained seeds of a relatively large-seeded unknown species of fig (Ficus sp.). Subsequent observations under fruiting Ficus free-standing trees at a second location in eastern Bolivia further suggested that Priodontes occasionally feed on figs.

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of Euphractus sexcinctus, but the chasing behavior of several individuals behind one another has been reported. We describe two observations of chasing behavior in the Pantanal, Brazil, which included a clear mating event. On these two occasions, a presumed adult male mounted another individual, presumed to be an adult female, during and after the chase, clearly indicating reproductive behavior. Our occasional records of chasing behavior, eventually including mounting, suggest a fairly defined mating period from the mid-dry season to the onset of the raining season in the Pantanal wetland.