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Armadillos ( Spanish for 'little armored ones') are New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata. They form part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. 21 extant species of armadillo have been described, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armor.
Description of the Armadillo. There are at least 21 different species of armadillo, each with its own unique appearance. The largest species grows nearly 5 ft. long, and weighs up to 119 lbs. The smallest species is just 5 – 6 in. long, and weighs less than a pound!
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May 10, 2024 · Armadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. Most of the 20 species inhabit open areas, such as grasslands, but some also live in forests. All armadillos possess a set of plates called the carapace.
- Bob Strauss
- There Are 21 Identified Armadillo Species. The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is by far the most familiar, but armadillos come in an impressive range of shapes and sizes, and with some of the most amusing names.
- Armadillos Live in North, Central, and South America. Armadillos are exclusively New World mammals, originating in South America millions of years ago during the Cenozoic Era, when the Central American isthmus had yet to form and this continent was cut off from North America.
- The Plates of Armadillos Are Made of Bone. Unlike the horns of rhinos or the fingernails and toenails of humans, the plates of armadillos are made of solid bone.
- Armadillos Feed Exclusively on Invertebrates. The vast majority of armored animals—from the long-extinct Ankylosaurus to the modern pangolin—evolved, so their plates were not for intimidating other creatures but to avoid being eaten by predators.
Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely...
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Oct 6, 2015 · Size & Description. There are 21 species of armadillo, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Some armadillos are very small, while others are huge. The smallest is...
Description. Approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded is the only one found in the United States. The term “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish, and refers to the presence of bony, armor-like plates covering their body. Despite their name, nine-banded armadillos can have 7 to 11 bands on their armor.
