About Nine-Banded Armadillos

The nine-banded armadillo is a strange looking creature that inhabits many southern states in the United States. It is one of the few animals that has actually expanded its territory over the years. Estimates put the nine-banded armadillo population in the US at between thirty to forty million.

Geography

Originally the nine-banded armadillo was native to South America, Central America and Mexico. It lives as far west as Peru and as far south as Argentina, throughout all of Central America and Mexico. It was not native in the United States because it was unable to cross the Rio Grande River. However, as the river was diverted and lowered for agricultural reasons the nine-banded armadillo was able to finally make its way over the border around 1849. The lack of predators and the burning of grasslands that converted land into a more favorable habitat helped the armadillo thrive. It is relatively free of parasites and is not hunted. It now extends as far north as Nebraska and Colorado, as far east as Florida and South Carolina, is found all over the Gulf States and throughout states such as Texas and Oklahoma. The nine-banded armadillo originated in Florida from pets that were released into the wild or escaped from zoos, explaining how they are found east of the Mississippi River. It appears that only cold weather can keep the nine-banded armadillo from expanding its range even further as they do not live where it snows often. They live in the underbrush of woodlands and forests.

Size

The nine-banded armadillo is about the size of a small dog or large cat. It can weigh upwards to 17 pounds but the average is 12 or 14 pounds in weight. The armadillo usually averages about 30 inches in length. The female nine-banded armadillo is slighter smaller in size than the male.

Features

Despite their odd appearance the nine-banded armadillo is a mammal, related to anteaters and sloths. They get their name from the bony plate of armor that covers their entire body except for the ears and underbelly. This armor is composed of thick bony scales, with nine bands that act like a hinge in the middle so the animal can move about. It is soft when the armadillo is born and then hardens when it reaches maturity. They are brownish or gray, with a thick hairy skin underneath. The nine-banded armadillo has very bad eyesight and hearing but a great sense of smell. Three quarters of its diet mainly consists of invertebrates such as worms, ants, and termites. It has been known to eat small mammals and carrion. They are nocturnal creatures, avoiding the heat of the day. They have large sharp claws and are excellent diggers. A long sticky tongue helps it lap up the insects it craves.

Misconceptions

The nine-banded armadillo does not roll up into a ball to escape predators like some of its South American cousins. It will jump three to four feet high when scared, often startling its pursuer and giving it a chance to escape. They will then run into a thicket of thorns where their armor protects them or quickly dig a hole and go into it. Despite the name, many nine-banded armadillos can have between seven and eleven bands in the middle of their "shell," depending where you they live. Often accused of raiding the nests of birds for eggs, there seems to be little evidence to support this occurs very often.

Expert Insight

The armadillo is one of the very few animals besides humans that carries the disease known as leprosy. They are illegal to sell in many state because of this. In Texas they have been designated the official state small mammal. Oddly enough, nine-banded armadillos are able to cross streams and rivers, using two methods. One is to simply walk across on the bottom, holding its breath, which they can do for up to six minutes. The other is to inflate its stomach and swim across. They then take hours to "deflate." The nine-banded armadillo's habit of jumping straight up into the air when startled does not bode well for them when they are passed over by an automobile. Many meet their end in this manner. The mother armadillo will always have a littler of four babies.