 Armadillo is Spanish for “little armored one”  Known for their leathery shell  Placental mammal = just like us!  Only surviving member of their Order (Cingulata)  Closest living relative are sloths and anteaters  Over 20 species  Weigh lbs  Body length is inches  Tail is 5-19 inches  6-10 inches tall

 Nocturnal  Built for digging  Food (grubs)  Dens  Nine-banded armadillo is the only species found in the US  Restricted to the Southeastern US  Has recently expanded its range northward Giant armadillo 

Range of the nine-banded armadillo

 Poor vision  Short legs, but can move quickly  Can stay underwater for up to 6 minutes  Armor is its main protection  Formed by plates of dermal bone  Covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal scales called "scutes" Three-Banded Armadillo

 Nine-banded armadillos always give birth to 4 identical babies  Only mammal to do so  All develop from the same egg and develop their own placenta  After birth, the quadruplets remain in the burrow for ~ 3 months  Babies leave the burrow to fend for themselves after ~ 6 months

 Nine-banded armadillo is abundant in the US  Jumps straight up in the air (3-4 ft ) when scared  Can be a particular danger on roads  All other species are threatened or endangered  Nuisance  Habitat loss