Nine Banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus · Mammal, xenarthran
Meet them at our Fort Lauderdale cafe
- Native range
- The southern United States through Central and South America, and still expanding its range north.
- Size
- Roughly house cat sized, wearing jointed plates of bony armor called scutes.
- Lifespan
- Difficult to measure in the wild; individuals in human care can live well past a decade.
- Conservation
- IUCN Least Concern.
Little Learners Corner
Armadillos wear bendy armor made of bone, and armadillo babies are always four identical twins.
Say it like a scientist: DAZ-ih-puss no-vem-SINK-tuss
Where They Live
Forests, grasslands, and brushy areas with soil soft enough for digging. An armadillo may maintain several burrows at once.
What They Eat
Insectivore. Ants, beetles, grubs, and other invertebrates, located by smell and excavated with powerful claws.
How They Live
Mostly solitary. Armadillos have poor eyesight but a spectacular nose, and they famously jump straight up when startled.
Nine Banded Armadillos as Pets?
Armadillos are burrowing, insect eating specialists that no home is built for, and keeping native wildlife is restricted in most states. This is a species to admire in a session, not to own.
Fun Facts
Nine banded armadillos almost always give birth to identical quadruplets from a single fertilized egg.
They can cross water two ways: paddling across the surface, or holding their breath and walking along the bottom.
Despite the name, the number of armor bands actually varies from seven to eleven.
Capy Quiz: Prove It
How are nine banded armadillo babies unusual?
Keep exploring: Virginia Opossum came before this, Patagonian Mara is next, or head back to the full Animal Encyclopedia.
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