It feeds mainly on termites and ants dug out of litter and soil, which it apparently locates by scent. C. centralis sometimes completely buries itself while digging for insects. It is slower than Dasypus novemcinctus. They live in a burrow, the entrance of which usually is in open ground or at the base of an embankment. Captives do not construct a nest, even when provided with material.
Activity is nocturnal and begins shortly after sunset.
The diet probably consists largely of ants and termites. Animals are usually found alone in the wild, but breeding groups of up to two males and four females have been established in captivity, with the individuals generally ignoring one another. The single young weighs about 100 grams at birth. The Johns Hopkins University Press. All rights reserved.