Armadillos, meaning ‘little armored ones’ in Spanish, are placental mammals native to the Americas and of the order Cingulata, which falls under the superorder Xenarthra, comprising anteaters and sloths. They are characterized by a hard, bony shell covering their bodies, pointed snouts, short limbs, and sharp claws.
Most species of these New World mammals are limited to Central and South America. However, one species, the nine-banded armadillo, is also found in the United States. They are primarily insectivorous and consume ants, termites, grubs, and bugs.
Currently, 21 extant species of armadillos are grouped into 2 families (Dasypodidae and Chlamyphoridae) and 9 genera.
On average, armadillos measure around 30 in (75 cm). The smallest species, the pink fairy armadillo, is around 5 to 6 in (13 to 15 cm) long and weighs about 3 oz (85 g), whereas the largest, the giant armadillo, grows up to 59 in (150 cm) in length and weighs about 119 lb (54 kg).
Armadillos are recognized by a protective leathery shell composed of bony dermal plates. These plates, in turn, are covered by tiny overlapping scales or scutes made of keratin. The shell extends from the head to the tail of most species, including the back part and the tail.
The overlapping scutes often harden to form repeated bands (such as in nine-banded, three-banded, and six-banded armadillos) separated by flexible skin. However, the number of bands varies from species to species.
Their body color ranges from pink to dark brown, sometimes being yellow, gray, or black. While the pink fairy armadillo appears extremely furry, the nine-banded armadillo appears bald because of the wiry fur on its sides and the belly.
They have a pointed, shovel-like snout and tiny eyes. Their limbs are short, with five clawed toes on their hindlimbs and three to five clawed toes on their forelimbs.
There are numerous peg-like cheek teeth in armadillos. They lack incisors and canines and are not usually divided into premolars and molars.
The giant armadillo possesses up to 100 teeth, while there are 32 teeth in a nine-banded armadillo.
The name ‘armadillo’ refers to the bony plates covering these animals’ bodies like protective armor.
The 21 extant species of armadillos are grouped under 2 families: Dasypodidae, with only one living genus, Dasypus, and Chlamyphoridae, which contains all other extant species under 5 genera.
Recent genetic studies suggest that glyptodonts (subfamily Glyptodontinae), which went extinct around 12,000 years ago, are actually armadillos and are being considered to be included in the current list.
They originated in South America and were confined to the continent for most of the Cenozoic Era due to its geographic isolation. Later, after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama (around 3 million years ago), these animals migrated to North America by the Early Pleistocene Epoch (2.58 million to 11,700 years ago) through the Great American Interchange.
Most armadillos are found in South America, with the highest diversity in Paraguay and surrounding areas. Only two species, the northern naked-tailed armadillo and the nine-banded armadillo, are found in Central America, with the latter being the only species found in the United States. Although this species is mostly restricted to the south-central states, like Texas, it also extends to North Carolina and Florida, as well as southern Nebraska and southern Indiana.
These mammals inhabit warm, temperate habitats, such as rainforests, grasslands, and thorn scrubs. When living in wetlands, they prefer shaded areas with sandy soil that is easy to dig up.
Armadillos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on bugs, ants, termites, grubs, and other small insects. They also consume plants, fruits, small vertebrates, and even carrion.
They are nocturnal during the warmer months, while they forage earlier in the day in colder months.
Although their limbs are short, they can move quite swiftly on the ground. Some species, like the nine-banded armadillo, are decent swimmers underwater. They paddle along the bottom of streams and ponds, holding their breath for as long as six minutes. When crossing wider water bodies, they inhale excess air and inflate their stomach and intestines to improve buoyancy.
Since armadillos have poor eyesight, they use their keen sense of smell to hunt. They dig the ground with their claws in search of insects and lap them in using their long and sticky tongue. They also dig corridors or burrows that are just wide enough to fit their bodies. The nine-banded armadillo builds such burrows mostly in moist soil close to streams and creeks.
They often stay motionless when a predator is nearby but hasn’t noticed them yet. However, if the threat becomes serious, they defend themselves by clawing and biting the enemies. They may also quickly dig burrows to escape the predator’s eye.
Three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) roll themselves up into a ball, using their scutes as a defensive armor that their enemies cannot penetrate. Other species, however, are not capable of rolling themselves due to the dermal plates on their bodies.
When startled, the nine-banded armadillo leaps high into the air, attempting to distract the enemy.
Although armadillos are primarily solitary animals, they often huddle together in winter for warmth. Since they have thin shells and little body fat, they flock in burrows, often building communal nests within. Sometimes, seven-banded armadillos share burrows with individuals of the same gender.
Their lifespans vary significantly from species to species, ranging from 4 to 30 years in the wild. For example, the nine-banded armadillo lives around 12 to 15 years, while the three-banded armadillo survives up to 16 years.
Being solitary animals, armadillos gather only in summer, during the breeding season (June to August), though some captive species may breed throughout the year.
In some species, like the nine-banded armadillo, the males engage in courtship to draw the attention of the females. The male forages with the female for a few days, periodically attempting to mount her. He nudges her back with his claws, forcing her to lift the tail. Once she gives in, the male sniffs her anal region and tries to sense her sexual receptivity. If she turns out to be receptive, the male licks her anal as she lies flat on the ground. He scratches at the female’s armor and keeps licking her until she turns over for copulation, which typically lasts around 3 to 15 minutes.
Following a gestation period of about 60 to 120 days, the females give birth to their young, often referred to as pups. The average litter size of armadillos is 1 to 8 (sometimes as many as 12). However, long-nosed armadillos of the genus Dasypus are an exception. They undergo delayed implantation and give birth to four monozygotic young (identical quadruplets) about eight months after mating.
The young are born with gray, leathery shells, which harden in a few weeks. They are nursed for about 2 to 4 months and attain sexual maturity between 3 to 12 months, depending on the species.
Their natural predators include coyotes, cougars, raccoons, bears, wolves, bobcats, and large hawks.
Armadillos are primarily threatened by humans, who consume them and use their shells to manufacture novelties, such as purses. They are also accidentally run over by speeding cars, adding to their mortality. All populations, except those of the nine-banded armadillo, are currently declining in number.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Giant armadillo and the Brazilian three-banded armadillo are considered Vulnerable (VU). Four species, namely, the Southern and Northern long-nosed armadillos, pichi, Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo, and the Southern three-banded armadillo, are Near Threatened (NT).
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