Edit page | Page history | Printable version

tatouay

(Science: zoology) An armadillo (Xenurus unicinctus), native of the tropical parts of south America. It has about thirteen movable bands composed of small, nearly square, scales. The head is long; the tail is round and tapered, and nearly destitute of scales; the claws of the fore feet are very large.

Synonym: tatouary, and broad-banded armadillo.

Origin: Of Brazilian origin; cf. Pg. Tatu, F. Tatou.