#ARMADILLO SHELL SKIN#
#ARMADILLO SHELL FULL#

This can cause havoc for farmers, as armadillos can ruin crops by searching for food! BehaviorĪrmadillos are generally solitary animals, especially when they are hunting and foraging, but will occasionally come together and socialize. The armadillo has a remarkably long tongue, like the anteater, to suck up its prey hiding deep within the ground. Their sense of smell makes up for their very poor eyesight. They use their claws to find food, helped along with their excellent sense of smell. Other sources of food include fruits, vegetation and eggs. They do not have sharp incisors or canines and instead have short, flat teeth, so, most commonly, they eat small animals like ants and termites, as well as beetles, earthworms, cockroaches, wasps, spiders, snails and scorpions. However, generally, armadillos eat insects, grubs and other invertebrates. In captivity, they can even reach up to thirty years old! DietĪrmadillos are omnivores and the specific diet varies from species to species. The lifespan of an armadillo ranges from four to twelve years. This means that they can be very susceptible to the cold weather. Contrary to popular belief, it is only one species of armadillo, the three-banded armadillo, that can roll itself into a ball when in danger.Īrmadillos have a low average body temperature (between 33–36 ☌ (91–97 ☏) and metabolic rate. The sharp claws of the armadillo are used to dig deep into the ground to protect their softer parts from damage when threatened by a predator.

The eyesight of the armadillo is poor, so they hunt with a highly developed sense of smell.

#ARMADILLO SHELL SKIN#

The underside of the animal is never armored, and is simply covered with soft skin and fur, and they use these hairs to feel their way around. Armor also covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs, and the tail. The number of bands varies from species to species. Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. These scales are made from keratin, a protein also found in hair and nails.Įvidence suggests that this keratin is actually just modified skin that evolved for defensive protection. Their armor is formed by plates of dermal bone that are covered in overlapping scales known as scutes. They are usually grey or brown in color, but can also be pink, red or yellow, too. They look a bit like armored opossums (although they are unrelated) and have pointed snouts, short yet strong legs, a long tail, sharp claws, and big ears. Giant armadillos also have up to 100 teeth and six-inch claws. The smallest species of armadillo is the pink fairy, and the largest species is the giant armadillo. With 21 different species, they come in all shapes and sizes! Different species can range in weight from 4kg – 30kg (9lbs – 66lbs) and lengths of 36cm – 75cm (14in – 30in). The name ‘armadillo’ means “little armored one” in Spanish, and there’s a lot to learn about these creatures. It is also distantly related to the anteater and sloth. Only one genus of Dasypodidae remains, though it contains the widespread nine-banded armadillo.

Of the two families, Chlamyphoridae is the most populated. There are two main families of armadillos: Dasypodidae and Chlamyphoridae, with subfamilies of each. There are nine extinct types, and 21 extant species, all native to the Americas.

#ARMADILLO SHELL FULL#

The armadillo is the only mammal to have a full developed shell, and types of armadillos can be distinguished from each other by the number of rings on their shell. The scientific name for Armadillo is Dasypodidae. With a natural defense system in place, the armadillo has been able to thrive for millions of years and can be found in the western hemisphere, in North, South and Central America. Armadillos are mammals of the order Cingulata and family Dasypodidae, and are best known for having their very own protective, hard shell armor.

Armadillo shell