The Little Armoured One
Updated Apr 2023
Armadillo means Little Armoured One in Spanish. There are 20 species of Armadillos. They are South American animals, of which only one, the Nine-banded Armadillo, has made its way to North America. There are eleven species in Paraguay. Besides the Nine-banded Armadillo, only the Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo can be found north of South America. They range as far north as the southern border of Mexico.
Their average length, including the tail, is about 75 cm (30 in). The Giant Armadillo can be twice that size and weigh up to 54 kg (119 lbs), while the tiny Pink Fairy Armadillo is only 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in) in length. The Nine-banded Armadillo is one of the larger species with a length of 64 to 107 cm (25–42 in), including the tail.
Where do they live?
While other Armadillos are content to remain in South America, the Nine-banded Armadillo is constantly expanding its range. They crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas in the late 1800s and can now be found across the south-eastern United States from Texas to Florida and as far north as southern Nebraska. I don’t think they will go much further north as they cannot tolerate the cold. They are common from Texas, south to northern Argentina, with the exception of the Sonoran desert portion of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula.
What do they eat?
Armadillos are primarily insectivorous. They find insects by sticking their snout into soft soil or organic matter to find whatever is there. They have poor eyesight but can sniff out ants, termites and worms through 20 cm (8 inches) of soil. Although their main diet is insects, they eat almost anything, including amphibians, bird eggs, plant roots and carrion. Carrion is especially tasty when covered in fat, juicy maggots.
Armadillo Trivia
Armadillos are unique animals. They are covered in armoured plates like a tank made of dermal bone (like turtle shells). The Three-banded Armadillo can roll into an armoured ball when threatened, but the Nine-banded Armadillo cannot. It can, however, float across rivers by inflating its intestines or holding its breath for up to six minutes while running across the bottom.
Armadillos, like a cat, spend a lot of time sleeping. They sleep up to 16 hours daily and are primarily active at dawn and dusk.
In South America, they are hunted for food, which is said to taste like pork. Sometimes the armour plate is used to make a musical instrument called a charango (a small, stringed instrument like a guitar but only about 66 cm long), although most charangos are made of wood today.
The Nine-banded Armadillo is a funny-looking animal, being grey and pink, with ears that are way too big for the size of its head. I was thrilled to find one and photograph it in southern Texas. So get out and explore the world, and who knows what you might find.