The members of this genus regularly burrow under animal carcasses to obtain maggots and other insects and are said sometimes to burrow into carcasses. Under certain conditions they obtain grubs and insects from a few centimeters below the surface of the ground by the unusual method of forcing a hole in the ground with the head and then turning the body in a circle so that a conical hole is formed without any digging. They have been observed to kill small snakes by throwing themselves upon the snakes and cutting them with the edges of the shell. It also relies heavily on plant material, especially in the winter, when over half of its diet consists of vegetation. Breeding in C. villosus takes place in September in the Argentine province of Santa Fe.
Litters usually consist of two young, often one male and one female.
Hairy armadillos may be systematically hunted in areas where they burrow extensively in loose farm soil. Their flesh is thought to be good and is frequently eaten by people. Miller et al. It is hunted there for its meat and shell.