Three-banded Armadillo (TST Advance)

Review and images by Sam; edited by bmathison1972

Three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes sp.) are truly remarkable creatures. They are known for its ability to roll into a complete ball when threatened, and are the only armadillo species that are capable of this, contrary to popular belief. They are closely related to sloths and anteaters in the superorder Xenarthra. Three-banded armadillos can be found in South America, where they inhabit almost exclusively grasslands. Three-banded armadillos are important to the ecosystem because they control pests, disperse seeds, and contribute to soil health. They are omnivorous animals, eating insects, fruits, seeds, and small vertebrates. Their main predators in the wild include jaguars, maned wolves, pumas, and alligators; as well as birds of prey. Habitat loss for agriculture and development and exploitation pose a threat to three-banded armadillos.

There are not many three-banded armadillos in plush form; the focus is usually on the more well-known nine-banded armadillo. The company that manufactured her, TST Advance, has also made plush toys of other animals that you don’t often seen as plush toys, such as a pink fairy armadillo. I found this plush on eBay, and knowing the rarity of this species as a plush with this much detail, I knew that I had to have her. So I imported her from Japan and she arrived this week. I named her “Bolita,” which translates to “little ball,” a reference to her species’ ability to roll up into a ball, and she will be referred to as such throughout this review. I have also identified this individual as a member of the La Plata three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) species.

Bolita is extremely detailed and well-made, and is accurately shaped and colored. She does stand up on her own, but it takes a little bit of positioning due to her long front claws.

Bolita’s head is accurately tapered at the snout. She has plastic black eyes framed by soft brown eyelids, making her eye shape very accurate. She has a pink nose that actually has nostrils and a mouth embroidered onto it; typically, most armadillo plush toys neglect this detail. Her ears are also accurately shaped, which is another thing that is not typical of armadillo plush toys.

Bolita’s carapace is accurately shaped. She has the characteristic three bands separating its two halves, and each individual scute is embroidered on in different sizes, which proves the incredible attention-to-detail on this specimen.

Perhaps the most astonishing attention-to-detail of Bolita is on her underside. She has a hairy underside, which I’m surprised many other armadillo plush toys lack. The hairs on her underside allow her to feel her surroundings as she walks, much like whiskers.

Bolita has accurately-shaped legs, with long front claws and shorter back claws. Three-banded armadillos are known for their unique locomotion in which they “stand up” on their front claws while walking.

Bolita has a rather short tail, slightly shorter than that of a real three-band armadillo, and it is almost barely visible. Initially, when I was looking at the photos of her in the listing, I thought she didn’t have a tail.

Overall, Bolita is an absolutely incredible and unusual plush, and I am very lucky to own her. Unfortunately, this plush is extremely hard to find, especially outside of Japan, and I think I have purchased the only one from the listing on eBay because she became unavailable as soon as I purchased her. Bolita is very special to me, perhaps my most special stuffed animal, and her uniqueness is the main reason why.