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The behavioral study of elusive species, which often cannot be directly observed in the wild, is based on the use of animal monitoring technologies. Here, we evaluate the performance of four methods applied simultaneously on a single population to detect and characterize the activity behavior of elusive species, using the giant armadillo Priodontes maximus as a model. GPS tagging, accelerometer, and camera trap array data were used to characterize general activity patterns, while camera traps placed in front of burrows in use were used to define activity duration, onset, and termination times. Circular kernel probability density functions were used to characterize activity patterns with each data set and the overlap coefficient Δ4 was used to characterize the similarity between them. We gathered data from 53 armadillos during 9 years in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. Activity duration estimates showed significant variation among monitoring methods but were generally short (4.5–6 h on average). Overall, the estimates of activity timing provided by the methods used were relatively similar (>75% Δ4 overlap) and pointed to a nocturnal activity pattern. Armadillos left their burrows mainly in the first hours after sunset, and terminated their activity mainly between midnight and 4 am. However, the camera trap array provided a later activity onset and peak estimates for the species when compared to other methods. The species spends 75–80% of its time underground and accelerometer data shows that armadillos are not active and do not feed while underground, pointing to a fossorial behavior for the species. Although researchers should be aware of the small biases that can emerge from some of the methods, the general similarities among patterns indicates that researchers can choose among the ever‐increasing number of animal monitoring technologies depending on their research question and constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is the largest living armadillo. This naturally rare and poorly known species is endemic to South America and classified as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN. Here we explored aspects of the spatial ecology of P. maximus in Midwestern Brazil to gain insights on its ecology and biology to support conservation efforts. In 8 years, we identified 50 individuals of P. maximus and monitored 23 of them using telemetry methods. To characterize site fidelity and home range, we fitted individual continuous-time movement models and estimated Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimates. We built a Structural Equation Model to evaluate how home-range area and daily displacement are related to each other, to sampling effort, and to individual characteristics. We estimated home-range overlap between pairs of different sexes using a bias-corrected Bhattacharyya coefficient. Finally, we formulated a canonical density estimation formula to characterize minimum population density. We gathered a total of 12,168 locations of P. maximus. The best-fitted movement models indicated site fidelity for all individuals and a median adult home-range area of 2,518 ha. Median adult daily displacement was 1,651 m. Home-range area scales positively with daily displacement and daily displacement scales positively with body mass. Median home-range overlap between pairs was low (4%) and adult females presented exclusive home ranges among themselves. Median minimum density was 7.65 individuals per 100 km2 (CI = 5.68–10.19 ind/100 km2). Our results are congruent with characterizing P. maximus as a generally asocial species, most likely promiscuous/polygynous, that establishes large, long-term home ranges, which grants the population a naturally low density. Spatial patterns and biological characteristics obtained in this study can be used to guide future conservation strategies for P. maximus in the Pantanal wetlands and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]