![]() In contrast, a giant armadillo’s body measures around 30–39 in, which is the equivalent of a golf club or guitar. What Size Is the Average Armadillo?Īrmadillos also vary in size, with the pink fairy armadillo being so small, you could easily lose it under a dollar bill. Others are more eccentric, with the pink fairy armadillo sporting a carapace the color of strawberry milkshakes. Some armadillos are fairly conservative about their appearances, with the nine-banded armadillo sticking to a uniform of brown or gray. The three-banded armadillo looks similar, but guess what? It only has three bands instead of nine! It’s also the only species of armadillo that can curl itself into a ball. The most familiar species is the nine-banded armadillo which, as its name suggests, has nine distinct bands on its back. It’s only recently that I discovered how many species of armadillos there are in the world and that you can tell the difference by counting the number of bands on their shells.Īll armadillos have similar features, including long noses, oversized ears, and thick, strong claws, but that’s where the similarities end. This restricts airflow and means the armadillo must compensate by breathing more quickly. Its shell fits so snugly that it makes its thorax rigid. While other mammals can take deeper breaths to compensate for low-oxygen conditions, the armadillo can’t. Nevertheless, wearing armor 24 hours a day isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The armadillo’s shell isn’t only there for protection against predation – it also safeguards the animal against extreme weather conditions, maximizing heat loss so the armadillo can survive the hot temperatures of its chosen habitat. It also stops the armadillo from sustaining injuries as it scurries through the undergrowth. The armadillo’s shell covers its back, neck, and tail, presumably offering protection against potential predators. The bands on the back of the armadillo’s shell are hard like your fingernails, but the sections in between are flexible, allowing the shell to expand and contract as the animal moves. Beneath this is a shell-like skin known as an osteoderm, which is made up of bone-like tiles that can be either triangular or hexagonal.Ĭollagen fibers known as Sharpey’s fibers connect these tiles, creating a shell that combines the properties of both hard and soft tissues. ![]() The top or outer layer consists of keratin, which is the substance found in our fingernails. Like a tortoise’s shell, the armadillo’s shell is made up of two distinct layers. So what do the rest of the armadillo species do with their shells? The Structure and Purpose of the Armadillo’s Shell That’s right! Only the nine-banded armadillo curls itself into a ball, even though this is the behavior that springs to mind whenever we think of armadillos. If you’re a three-banded armadillo, you’ll spend some parts of the day and night curled into a ball, but if you belong to one of the other 20 species of armadillo, you’ll simply lug your armor around with you until you’re so exhausted that you fall into a deep sleep, lasting up to 16 hours of the day! None of the existing armadillo species are what you’d call sociable, and while the females raise their young for the first 12 months of their lives, once they’re weaned, the mothers happily return to a solitary existence. While sloths use their sharp claws for climbing, armadillos use theirs to dig burrows and forage for food. Armadillos are related to sloths, and like their cousins, spend large portions of every 24-hour period fast asleep. What’s It Like To Be an Armadillo?īeing an armadillo means taking life slowly. We’re going to explore that topic in more detail while uncovering some other cool facts about armadillos, where they live, and how they survive. ![]() Are the benefits of wearing a permanent suit of armor sufficient to offset the negatives? They also have a habit of leaping into the air when startled, which makes them even more fun to watch.Īrmadillos are the only armored mammals in the world, and their unique appearance has baffled scientists for years. With its armored shell, long nose, and big ears, the armadillo is both comical and bizarre. If you were to hold a competition for the strangest-looking creature on earth, the armadillo would have a good chance of winning.
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