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What is an armadillo? |
by Kate Simmons >> more about the author
Sometimes you see them scurrying across the road...They may look like they’re wearing armor, which is how they get their name—armadillo! Armadillos are mammals with protective banded shells made of bony plates. There are many different types of armadillos, and while most live in Latin America, you can find the nine-banded armadillo in the United States.
Some armadillos are small like rodents, while the giant armadillo can measure five feet long from head to tail! The nine-banded armadillo is the size of a cat. Armadillos have small eyes, and some have pointy noses.
Armadillos don’t have the best eyesight, but their strong sense of smell helps them to find food like bugs, plants and even small animals. Their long claws make them great diggers, which comes in handy for getting to food and digging burrows. Armadillos have tongues that are long and sticky—perfect for reaching ants and termites!
Armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish. Different types of armadillos have different numbers of bands on their shells. The three-banded armadillo can hide in its shell for protection by curling into a ball, while the nine-banded armadillo is the state small mammal of Texas!
Many animals, including various creatures of the sea, use shells for protection. Can you think of any animals that rely on shells to help keep them safe?
Some armadillos are small like rodents, while the giant armadillo can measure five feet long from head to tail! The nine-banded armadillo is the size of a cat. Armadillos have small eyes, and some have pointy noses.
Armadillos don’t have the best eyesight, but their strong sense of smell helps them to find food like bugs, plants and even small animals. Their long claws make them great diggers, which comes in handy for getting to food and digging burrows. Armadillos have tongues that are long and sticky—perfect for reaching ants and termites!
Armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish. Different types of armadillos have different numbers of bands on their shells. The three-banded armadillo can hide in its shell for protection by curling into a ball, while the nine-banded armadillo is the state small mammal of Texas!
Many animals, including various creatures of the sea, use shells for protection. Can you think of any animals that rely on shells to help keep them safe?
