Cabassous centralis Skull Replica measures 3.1 inches. Cabassous centralis Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Known as the Northern Naked-Tailed Armadillo.
The Cabassous centralis is relatively small for an armadillo, with adults measuring 12 to 17 in. in length, with an 4.3 to 7.1 in. tail, and weighing from 4.4 to 7.7 lb. They have a short, broad, snout, large, funnel-shaped ears, and small eyes.
Unlike other armadillos with which they might be confused, they do not have scales on the backs of their ears.
Cabassous centralis upper body is covered in multiple, squarish scutes, that are arranged in ten to thirteen bands which allow the animal some flexibility. Compared with some other armadillo species, the bands are indistinct.
Cabassous centralis carapace is generally dark grey-brown in color, with a yellowish tinge to the lower margin.
The tail has thinner plates, which are more widely spaced, and somewhat pinkish. The underside of the Cabassous centralis has numerous tufts of hair arranged in about twenty regular bands.
The forefeet have five claws, with the middle claw being greatly enlarged into a sickle shape. They have a pungent, musky odor.
Cabassous centralis is found from Chiapas in southern Mexico to western Colombia, northwestern Ecuador and northwestern Venezuela, at altitudes from sea level to 3000 m.
Cabassous centralis habitats include tropical dry forest, moderately moist forest, cloud forest and forest edges, including secondary and agriculturally disturbed forest, as well as in dry savanna and Colombian subpáramo.
It prefers undisturbed primary forest, and thus may be vulnerable to deforestation and other forms of habitat disturbance.
The Northern naked-tailed armadillo or C. centialis is a solitary insectivore, feeding mainly on ants and termites. One of the most fossorial of all armadillos, it spends most of its time underground in tunnels.
It rotates its body like an auger as it digs, using the large claws on its fore-feet. Cabassous centralis has been reported to make low growling sounds and gurgling squeals, doing so loudly when it is captured, as well as urinating and defecating to discourage its captor.
Mothers give birth to only a single young at a time. Newborns are blind, deaf, and hairless, with soft, pink skin, although the scutes are already visible. They have been reported to live for over seven years.
