After the year 2000 the armadillo population in South America went down. A limiting factor for the armadillo is that they have a low metabolic rate, and a small percentage of stored body fat, all that means is that they don't do well in the cold. South America;s climate was colder, causing the population of armadillo's to go down. Another limiting factor is habitat loss. Armadillos need more space than what they are currently getting due to the cutting down of rain forests, and destroying wildlife. The armadillos population is overall fine, but there are certain species, like the Pink fairy Armadillo that are threatened. If the South American armadillo's population keeps going down at this rate, than they could be endangered for South America. Than the ant population would go up, for the ant is a main source of food. Also, the vegetation wouldn't get ate by armadillos, causing it to overpopulate.