Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). New York, Let’s have a look at the different species of Armadillos. they come out in the evening in my back yard all the time! The pink fairy armadillo uses a different strategy. Actual distributions of each species is variable; the nine-banded armadillo, for example, can be found from the United States to Peru, while others are only found in very limited regions of one or more South American countries. Several armadillos captured in the wild in southern Louisiana and East Texas were found to have mycobacterial leprosy. If they feel threatened, they can jump 3 to 4 feet up in the air. The nine-banded armadillo is mainly found in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Giant armadillos are the largest species, and are about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, according to National Geographic. During the morning and evenings, they forage for food. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Armadillos have pointy snouts and long, sticky tongues, similar to anteaters, which are close cousins. Armadillos can live anywhere from four to 30 years. Armadillos are species native to the North and South American continent. centralis may be found in Central America as far north as the extreme southern boundary of Mexico. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo, which is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? There are 20 species of Armadillos found in the whole of American continent. Most of the species of armadillos live in South America. The average length of an armadillo including tail is about 75 cm. In the U.S., the nine-band armadillo’s range has been expanding to the north, east, and west. If captured, it reacts by “playing dead,” either stiffening or relaxing but in either case remaining perfectly still. Alina Bradford - Live Science Contributor You will receive a verification email shortly. 11 species out of 21 live in Paraguay and surrounding areas. Please refresh the page and try again. Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The three-banded armadillo is the only species that can roll into a ball for protection. Armadillos also may run away, burrow, or claw at attackers. They also have wiry hairs along their sides and belly, which they use to feel their way around, like curb feelers on some cars. Because of their burrowing habits, armadillos are considered pests in many regions. The life span of this species is 12–15 years. Usually, the only time armadillos get together is to mate or to keep warm. The screaming hairy armadillo gets it name from the sound it makes when threatened. In some parts of the USA, armadillos are called poor man’s pork or Hoover Hog. It is also known as the Pichiciego, the smallest armadillo species. They are classified on the basis of the number of bands on their armour. Nine-banded armadillos, as well as the other 19 armadillo species, can be found throughout South and Central America. As it is an excellent digger and love feeding on small bugs and insects by digging the ground. The pink fairy armadillo, or lesser pichiciego (, San Diego Zoo - Animals and Plants - Armadillo, National Geographic - Animals - Armadillo, armadillo - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), armadillo - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Many species of armadillos are endangered. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! They live in the dry grasslands and sandy plains of central Argentina. Their claws are perfectly designed to dig the ground and sticky tongue helps to pick the bugs and termites easily. With their long, sticky tongue, armadillos catch ants, beetles, termites and other insects after digging them out of the ground. They can be also found along the northern coast of America. It comes out only for food in the night. During cold times, a group of armadillos may hunker down in a burrow together to share body heat. There are only one species of armadillo live in the United States. Armadillos are the mammals with the shell, which covers their back, head, legs, and tail. The nine-banded armadillo ranges from Argentina to the southern United States, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW) at the University of Michigan. They have been a source of food for humans. Eight-banded individuals of this species are common in some regions. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Giant armadillos can live and survive above sea level at an altitude of 500 meters. Their name is nine-banded armadillos, despite that they can have 7 to 11 bands on their armour. Young are born with soft, leathery skin and can walk within a few hours after birth. © Here is the taxonomy of armadillos, according to ITIS: Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Mammalia Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria Order: Cingulata Family: Dasypodidae Subfamilies: Dasypodinae, Euphractinae and Tolypeutinae Genera and species: There are nine genera and 21 species, including: According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), armadillos are not endangered. They have been seen in Florida and are now common in Missouri. Besides that, they are also considered agricultural pests, so people often capture and kill them. The diet of a giant armadillo is comprised of the various bugs and insects. By Other armadillo species simply dig a hole quickly and hunker down so that their tender stomach is protected and their armor is the only thing visible. They can be pink, red, black, gray or yellow. They have been known to throw their bodies on top of snakes, killing them by cutting them with the sharp edges of their shells, according to the San Diego Zoo. Where's the best spot to find actual armadillos? The screaming hairy armadillo gets its name from the sound it makes when threatened. They also eat plants, eggs, small vertebrates and some fruit. Long-Nosed Armadillo When threatened, they retreat to their burrows or, if caught in the open, draw in their feet so that their armour touches the ground. Armadillos are originated in South America. From time to time, they will scavenge for dead animals. The giant armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has decreased by at least 30 percent in the past 21 years. They are New World afterbirth mammals in the order Cingulata with a leathery armour shell. Litter size varies from 1 to 12. Armadillos are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants, though 90 percent of an armadillo’s diet is made up of insects and larvae, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. The northern naked-tailed armadillo and nine-banded armadillo, are the two species that are found in Central America. What Do Weasels Eat | smallest mammals of Mustelid family, What Do Coatis Eat | The Hog-Nosed Racoons (Coatimundis), Where Do Wolverines Live | Facts About The GuloGulo, Where Do Weasels Live | The Smallest Carnivorous Mammals. Out of the 20, only the nine-branded Armadillos are found to exist outside the South American tropics. it is an estimation by the scientists that cingulate animals have been living on Earth for about 65 million years. These burrows can be up to 15 feet (4.5 m) wide, according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage. The three-, six-, and nine-banded armadillos are named for the number of movable bands in their armour. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. This mammal belongs to the cingulate family, is really old. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Armadillos are truly remarkable creatures. Armadillos hate cold weather that’s why you can find them in warm habitats, including deserts, temperate grasslands, and rainforests. It is part of the superorder Xenarthra. 11 out of 21 species live in Paraguay and surrounding areas. Each species digs burrows to accommodate its size and shape; other animals also use them for shelter. This makes digging for food and creating burrows easier. Armadillos are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor. The peludos, or hairy armadillos (three species of genus Chaetophractus), make snarling sounds. Where do armadillos live?....Armadillos live in forests, grasslands and open lands. A few members of the family have migrated to northward into southern North America. After a gestation period of two to five months, the female will give birth to one to 12 young in a birthing burrow. Armadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Armadillos eat insects and different types of bugs. Nine-banded armadillos can live around 4 to 5 years. Armadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Besides that, anteaters and sloths also belong to the same family. When it encounters a body of water, D. novemcinctus has two options. It has also reached in Mexico, Central America, and South America. The number of armored bands identifies the different species, according to the San Diego Zoo. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. All armadillos possess a set of plates called the carapace that covers much of the body, including the head and, in most species, the legs and tail. Armadillos have a wide range of colors. Armadillo, the word is taken from the Spanish language means “little-armoured one”. The mulita (D. hybridus) repeatedly utters a guttural monosyllabic sound similar to the rapid fluttering of a human tongue. Armadillos live in their dens during the day and take a sleep of 16 hours a day. Most of the 20 species inhabit open areas, such as grasslands, but some also live in forests. The soft soil is preferred by them to dig and make burrows. Besides that, let us know if this article is informative enough for you, below in the comment section….. We have armadillos in Tennessee…. For example, the Andean hairy armadillo is considered vulnerable because its population has declined by more than 30 percent in the past 10 years. The nine-banded armadillo is the official state animal of Texas. The nine-banded armadillo lives in forests, scrub and brushlands. Baby armadillos are called pups. Those people who eat armadillo meat will find that thorough cooking should make the meat noninfectious. The nine-banded armadillo is mainly found in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and southeast Kansas southeastward to Georgia and most of Florida. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, These could be the funniest animal pictures ever, Black hole-sized magnetic fields could be created on Earth, study says, Coronavirus can survive on skin for 9 hours, Nuclear fusion reactor could be here as soon as 2025, Scientists discover great white shark 'queen of the ocean', 1,200-year-old pagan temple to Thor and Odin unearthed in Norway. According to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, armadillos are very picky about where they live based on what type of soil is found in the area. Armadillos don’t have teeth in front so they can’t bite. Only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll itself into a hard armored ball to defend itself against predators. Visit our corporate site. Three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) are able to roll into a solid ball as a means of protecting their vulnerable underparts. It lives in the Amazon basin and adjacent grasslands. Nine-banded armadillos are nocturnal so feed during the night and sleep in daylight.
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