Nine-banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
A small armored mammal of forests, grasslands, scrub, and suburban edges from the southern United States through much of the Americas. It spends much of its time sniffing through leaf litter and soil for insects, grubs, worms, and other invertebrates, using powerful claws to dig. When threatened, it relies on its bony armor, quick digging, and a sudden vertical leap rather than speed. A notable trait is that litters commonly consist of four genetically identical young from a single fertilized egg.
- Type
- Shell / Burrow
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Nine-banded Armadillo Pup
- Nine-banded Armadillo