ARMADILLOS
Mammal          -    Vertebrate          -      Omnivore
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SIX-BANDED ARMADILLO
 PictureTHREE-BANDED ARMADILLO

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Picture
PINK FAIRY ARMADILLO - The smallest Armadillo
Male:  Boar
Female:  Sow
Young:  Baby, Pup

​ARMADILLOS
There are about 20 species of armadillo.
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  • Name comes from Spanish word meaning 'little armoured thing'.
  • Are closely related to the sloths and anteaters.
  • The largest is about the size of a pig.
  • The smallest is about the size of a chipmunk.
  • The number of bands depends upon the species.
  • Are covered in with many bony plates - the number of plates giving the armadillo it's name - e.g.
​          8 plates = 8 banded armadillo.
  • Nine-banded armadillos give birth to four identical young.  
  • Live up to 12 years.
  • Have poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell.
  • Have short legs, but can move surprisingly fast.
  • Only the three-banded armadillo can roll into a ball to protect itself from predators.
  • The nine-banded armadillo, when feeling threatened, will rush to their burrows or bushes for safety or, if water is nearby, they will swim to safety.
  • The nine-banded armadillo always give birth to identical quadruplets.
  • They may have more bands than their name implies. 
  • Like to swim.
  • Can walk under water - they can hold their breath for about 6 minutes.
  • Are excellent diggers.
  • Live in burrows.
  • Eat insects, fire ants, termites, bugs, worms, spiders snakes, frogs, eggs, roots, fruit and sometimes reptiles and small birds.
  • Have a long, sticky tongue to slurp up bugs.
  • Sleep for about 18 hours a day.
  • When startled, they jump straight up in the air.
  • Have four babies at a time, and they are always the same sex.
  • Babies have soft shells and they get harder as they grow.
  • Main predators are dogs, wild cats, wolves, alligators, coyotes, raccoons and black bears.
  • Are the only animal, besides humans, that can get leprosy.
  • The shell of an armadillo is so tough that bullets bounce off it.
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Picture
NINE-BANDED AMADILLO