There are 20 varieties of armadillos, 19 of which live in Latin America (North and South America together), but the well known nine-banded armadillo is the only one of it's kind to roam North America. The omnivorous mammal is currently endangered due to loss of habitat and over-hunting. Some cultures in America like to consume armadillo meat, which apparently is much the same to pork as in taste and texture.
Armadillos live in warm areas that have rain, grasslands, forests, and semi-deserts. And because of their lack of fat storage, cold is their natural enemy, wiping out dozens during a cold spate.
Most of the species dig burrows and sleep 16 hours, eating beetles, ants, and termites evening and morning when they wake. Armadillos have poor eyesight and depend on their sense of smell to help them out. They also have strong legs with long claws that they use to dig, and long sticky tongues that they use for extracting ants from their tunnels. In addition to insects, armadillos also eat small vertebra, plants, fruit, and on occasion carrion meat (dead and decaying flesh of deceased animals).
Armadillos can grow to be as little as 3oz, or as big as 120 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, they cannot curl up into themselves; only the three banded armadillo can. Pulling it's head and legs up inside it's tiny armor-like shell, and becoming like a hard ball, confusing predators.
Armadillo Fast Facts
- The name "armadillo" is Spanish for "little armored one".
- Armadillos average life span in captivity is 12 to 15 years
- Armadillos can be any size ranging from 5 to 59 inches
- Other than humans, armadillos are the only other animal that can get leprosy
- Armadillos can be house broken
- When frighted, armadillos jump straight into the air
- Armadillos can walk underwater
- Armadillos always give birth to four identical babies, all of the same sex
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