Armadillos

Armadillos are small to medium-sized placental mammals native to the Americas. They belong to the order Cingulata and are best known for their hard, bony armor of osteoderms, covered by leathery skin. The armor usually covers the back, sides, and limbs, while the head remains partially exposed; plates are segmented to allow movement. The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the most widespread species, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina, with many other species inhabiting Central and South American forests and grasslands. The three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) can roll into a ball as a defense.

Armadillos are adapted to a fossorial lifestyle. They dig extensive burrows with strong forelimbs to search for ants, termites, grubs, and other invertebrates, but will also eat fruit and vegetation. They have a keen sense of smell and relatively poor vision, and they typically forage at night or at dawn and dusk. They are mostly solitary and rely on their burrows for shelter and thermoregulation.

Reproduction varies by species. Many armadillos give birth to multiple offspring after a short gestation; the nine-banded armadillo is notable for giving birth to identical quadruplets from a single fertilized egg (polyembryony).

Conservation status also varies. Some armadillos are assessed as of least concern, but others face threats from habitat destruction and hunting; the giant armadillo, the largest South American species, is listed as vulnerable.