Only the South American three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) rely heavily on their armour for protection. The young are born with soft, leathery skin which hardens within a few weeks. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. The diets of different armadillo species vary, but consist mainly of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. 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. Armadillos are usually brownish black, marked with yellow above and yellowish white underneath. Most of the 20 species are found in open areas, such as grasslands, but some also live in forests. They have five clawed toes on their hind feet, and three to five toes with heavy digging claws on their fore feet. Many species use their sharp claws to dig for food, such as grubs, and to dig dens. Some species, however, feed almost entirely on ants and termites. 1-5 Armadillo Facts 1. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates. 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. Armadillos have very poor eyesight, and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. they always have id. Armadillos are like mammals and give birth to young ones and wean them with milk like any other mammals. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They are the only living mammal to wear such a shell. Armadillos are stout with short legs and strong, curved claws. 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. All rights reserved. Their whole body (head, back, legs and tail) is covered with bony plates. There Are 21 Identified Armadillo Species. Nine-banded armadillos are known for often giving birth to four identical pups. They use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. Armadillos can be pinkish, dark-brown, black, red, gray or yellowish in color. Armadillos are small to medium-sized mammals. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators. Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. 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. Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. The living ones have a leathery armored shell. Armadillos have a large number of cheek teeth which are not divided into premolars and molars, but usually have no incisors or canines. The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is by … In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occassional carrion meal. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one". They are prolific diggers. PicFacts(1-500) PicFacts(501-1000) PicFacts(1001-1500) PicFacts(1501-2000) PicFacts(2001-2500) PicFacts (2501-3000) PicFacts (3001-3500) PicFacts (3501-4000) PicFacts … Armadillos of the genus Dasypus give birth to four genetically identical young that split from the same embryo; i.e. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- They dig their burrows with their claws, making only a single corridor the width of the animal's body. Armadillos are covered in bony plates that create their ‘armour’. Of the 20 varieties of armadillo, all but one live in Latin America. Interesting Armadillo Facts: They vary in size, from 5-59 inches in length to 3-120 pounds in weight. Additional armour covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs, and the tail. There are about 10 living genera and about 20 species of armadillo. PicFacts. There are about 10 living genera and about 20 species of armadillo. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one". Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning âlittle armored oneâ and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd looking creatures. Armadillos species are mostly found in South and Central America, especially around Paraguay. Armadillo is a Spanish word, translating to ‘little armoured one’, named by Spanish explorers to Latin America. Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically, up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects.
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