Armadillos are like mammals and give birth to young ones and wean them with milk like any other mammals. They have five clawed toes on their hind feet, and three to five toes with heavy digging claws on their fore feet. They use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. Their armor is a type of hardened skin. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd looking creatures. Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. Armadillo facts: Interesting facts about Armadillos. The living ones have a leathery armored shell. There Are 21 Identified Armadillo Species. Armadillo is a Spanish word, translating to ‘little armoured one’, named by Spanish explorers to Latin America. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out whole populations. The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) or pichiciego is the smallest species of armadillo, at 85 grams (3.0 ounces) and 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1–5.9 inches) in total length. Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long, salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long, dark-brown giant armadillo. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one". Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. Species range in length from about 6 inches (15 centimeters) to 5 feet (1.5 meters). All species live in the Americas. Only the South American three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) rely heavily on their armour for protection. Armadillos have a large number of cheek teeth which are not divided into premolars and molars, but usually have no incisors or canines. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one". Some species, however, feed almost entirely on ants and termites. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occassional carrion meal. Armadillos are usually brownish black, marked with yellow above and yellowish white underneath. They dig their burrows with their claws, making only a single corridor the width of the animal's body. Many species are endangered. Additional armour covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs, and the tail. WATCH: These Cute Armadillos Almost Always Give Birth to Quadruplets, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/armadillos.html. The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is by … Armadillos are covered in bony plates that create their ‘armour’. The plates cover their back, legs, head and tail, composed of small epidermal scales of horn-covered bone. The Giant Armadillo grows up to 100 cm (39 in) and weigh 30 kg (66lbs). The North American nine-banded armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised, so consequently often collides with the undercarriage or fenders of passing vehicles. Armadillos can be pinkish, dark-brown, black, red, gray or yellowish in color. The diets of different armadillo species vary, but consist mainly of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. Gestation lasts from 60 to 120 days, depending on species, although the nine-banded armadillo also exhibits delayed implantation, so the young are not typically born for eight months after mating. Armadillos have short legs, but can move quite quickly. The nine-banded armadillo is noted for its movement through water which is accomplished via two different methods: it can walk underwater for short distances, holding its breath for as long as six minutes; also, to cross larger bodies of water, it is capable of increasing its buoyancy by swallowing air, inflating its stomach and intestines. Interesting Armadillo Facts: They vary in size, from 5-59 inches in length to 3-120 pounds in weight. The living ones have a leathery armored shell. Armadillos of the genus Dasypus give birth to four genetically identical young that split from the same embryo; i.e. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates. 1-5 Armadillo Facts 1. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. They reach sexual maturity in three to 12 months, depending on the species. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Armadillos are small to medium-sized mammals. In common with other xenarthrans, armadillos, in general, have low body temperatures of 33–36 °C (91–97 °F) and low basal metabolic rates (40–60% of that expected in placental mammals of their mass). Their whole body (head, back, legs and tail) is covered with bony plates. Armadillos species are mostly found in South and Central America, especially around Paraguay. There are about 10 living genera and about 20 species of armadillo. However their body has been adapted to their surroundings in the process of evolution. The armour is formed by plates of dermal bone covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal scales called "scutes", composed of bone with a covering of horn. The largest species, the giant armadillo, can be the size of a small pig and weigh up to 54 kg (119 lb), and can be 150 cm (59 in) long. Most members of the genus Dasypus give birth to four monozygotic young (that is, identical quadruplets), but other species may have typical litter sizes that range from one to eight. This page was last modified on 21 October 2020, at 15:17. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. they always have id. All rights reserved. Armadillos are in the Cingulata, an order of New World placental mammals. Armadillos have very poor eyesight, and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. PicFacts. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring. Here are 13 Interesting Armadillo facts. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They are special because of the fact that they have an outer shell like covering much akin to tortoise. Armadillos are in the Cingulata, an order of New World placental mammals. 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