I see a sign on a fence: “Armadillo Roof and Fence.” An armadillo is a great logo for a fencing and roofing company because armadillos’ armored shells are impervious to almost anything — just as fences and roofs should be. Armadillos are ubiquitous in Texas. I have been fortunate enough never to hit one while driving, but I have seen plenty of armadillo roadkill. It is almost like a creature from a prehistoric time. I expect to see dinosaurs coming around the corner whenever I see one. Armadillo marketing is pervasive in Texas. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, “Armadillo-mania is contagious in the Lone Star State, as Texans, for no apparent reason, have adopted this armor-plated critter as their mascot. Affection for the near-sighted rooter has reached the faddish level as decals, games, puzzles, candles, stuffed toys, figurines, jewelry, T-shirts and other items are decorated with or shaped to resemble armadillos.” There was even an armadillo cake in the 1989 movie “Steel Magnolias.” Let’s find out more about these fascinating creatures.
According to Wikipedia, armadillos — meaning "little armored ones" in Spanish — are New World placental mammals in the order Cingulata. The Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae are the only surviving families in the order, which is part of the superorder Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. Nine extinct genera and 21 extant species of armadillo have been described, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armor. All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of different environments.
Armadillos are characterized by a leathery armor shell and long sharp claws for digging. They have short legs but can move quite quickly. The average length of an armadillo is about 30 inches, including tail. The giant armadillo grows up to 59 inches and weighs up to 119 pounds, while the pink fairy armadillo has a length of only 5–6 inches. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species frequently roll up into a ball — these being the only species of Armadillo capable of such.
Nine-banded armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo is a medium-sized mammal found in North, Central and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Its ancestors originated in South America and remained there until the formation of the Isthmus of Panama allowed them to enter North America as part of the Great American Interchange, an important late Cenozoic paleozoogeographic event in which land and freshwater fauna migrated from North America via Central America to South America and vice versa, as the volcanic Isthmus of Panama rose up from the sea floor and bridged the formerly separated continents. The nine-banded armadillo is a solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, found in many kinds of habitats — from mature and secondary rainforests to grassland and dry scrub. It is an insectivore, feeding chiefly on ants, termites and other small invertebrates. The armadillo can jump 3–4 feet straight in the air if sufficiently frightened, making it a particular danger on roads. It is the state small mammal of Texas.
Seven-banded armadillo
The seven-banded armadillo, also known as the Brazilian lesser long-nosed armadillo, is a species of armadillo from South America found in Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. It is a solitary nocturnal, terrestrial animal, living mostly in dry habitats, outside of rainforest regions.
Southern long-nosed armadillo
The southern long-nosed armadillo is a species of armadillo native to South America. Among the smallest of the long-nosed armadillos, individuals of the southern species measure about 12 inches in head-body length, with a tail about 6.7 inches long. Both males and females weigh about 4.4 pounds. The upper body, tail and upper surface of the head are covered by a dark grey carapace of bony scales and have very little hair. The scales on the main shields, over the shoulders and hips, are hexagonal and about 0.20 inch across, while those on the bands are rectangular and marked with a V-shaped groove that divides them into three triangular sections. The scales on the head are variable in shape.
Greater long-nosed armadillo
The greater long-nosed armadillo is a South American species of armadillo found in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. It is a solitary, nocturnal, terrestrial animal that feeds on arthropods and other invertebrates, usually living in the vicinity of streams and swamps. One of the larger species of armadillo, it measures 33 to 42 inches in total length and generally weighs 19 to 23 pounds, though it can reach as much as 33 pounds. Spurs on its hind legs allow it to crawl on its knees into narrow tunnels.
Greater fairy armadillo
The greater fairy armadillo — also known as Burmeister's armadillo or the Chacoan fairy armadillo — is a species of armadillo in the family Chlamyphoridae. It is found in Argentina Bolivia and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss and persecution. It is the only species in the genus Calyptophractus.
Pink fairy armadillo
The pink fairy armadillo or pichiciego is the smallest species of armadillo, first described byRichard Harlan in 1825. This solitary, desert-adapted animal is endemic to central Argentina and can be found inhabiting sandy plains, dunes and scrubby grasslands.
Pink fairy armadillos have small eyes, silky yellowish white fur and a flexible dorsal shell that is solely attached to its body by a thin dorsal membrane. In addition, its spatula-shaped tail protrudes from a vertical plate at the blunt rear of its shell. This creature exhibits nocturnal and solitary habits and has a diet that is mainly composed of insects, worms, snails and various plant parts.
The conservation status for pink fairy armadillo is still uncertain, and it is listed as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The decline in population for this species has generally been attributed to farming activities and predators including domestic dogs and cats. Pink fairy armadillos are found less commonly than they were a few decades ago, and the field sightings have been rare and incidental. Individuals that have been caught in the wild had a tendency to die during or a couple days after they were transported from their natural habitat to captive facilities. There is a sole record for the longevity of a pink fairy armadillo that was held in captivity more than 4 years; however, that particular case lacks proper scientific description and thus cannot be considered fully valid. Armadillos' evolutionary distinctiveness, combined with their restricted geographic range, ongoing threats and rarity makes the urgent conservation attention extremely important for these species.
Screaming hairy armadillo
The screaming hairy armadillo is a species of armadillo also known as the small screaming armadillo, crying armadillo or the small hairy armadillo. It is a burrowing armadillo found in the central and southern parts of South America. The adjective "screaming" derives from its habit of squealing when handled.
Six-banded armadillo
The six-banded armadillo, also known as the yellow armadillo, is an armadillo found in South America. The sole extant member of its genus, it was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The six-banded armadillo is typically between 16 and 20 inches in head-and-body length and weighs 7.1 to 14.3 pounds. The carapace or hard shell on the back is pale yellow to reddish brown, marked by scales of equal length and scantily covered by buff to white bristle-like hairs. The forefeet have five distinct toes, each with moderately developed claws.
Six-banded armadillos are efficient diggers and form burrows to live in and search for prey. The armadillo is alert and primarily solitary. An omnivore, it feeds on insects, ants, carrion and plant material. Due to their poor eyesight, armadillos rely on their sense of smell to detect prey and predators. Births take place throughout the year; gestation is 60 to 64 days long, after which a litter of one to three is born. Weaning occurs at one month, and juveniles mature by nine months. The six-banded armadillo inhabits savannas, primary and secondary forests, the Cerrado, shrublands and deciduous forests. Fairly common, its range spans from Brazil and southern Suriname in the northeast through Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay into northern Argentina in the southeast. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies it as least concern, and there are no major threats to its survival.
Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo
The Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo is a species of South American armadillo. It is the smallest of the naked-tail armadillos, having an average head-body length of 12 inches, while the other species range from 13 to 18 inches. They also have smaller ears than the other species, and their ears also have a distinctive fleshy expansion on the forward edge that other species lack.
As its name suggests, the Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo is found in the Gran Chaco region of western Paraguay and north-central Argentina. It may also be found in Bolivia, and possibly Brazil. Within this region, it is more likely to be found in semi-arid, rather than humid, habitats, typically inhabiting open thorn forest and scrub.
Little is known of its biology and behavior, although it is known to be nocturnal, and an active burrower. They feed primarily on ants and termites. They have been reported to make a grunting call and to give birth to a single young at a time.
Giant armadillo
The giant armadillo — colloquially tatou, ocarro, tatu-canastra or tatú carreta — is the largest living species of armadillo, although their extinct relatives, the glyptodonts, were much larger. It lives in South America, ranging throughout as far south as northern Argentina. This species is considered vulnerable to extinction.
The giant armadillo prefers termites and some ants as prey and often consumes the entire population of a termite mound. It also has been known to prey upon worms, larvae and larger creatures, such as spiders and snakes and plants.
At least one zoo park in Villavicencio, Colombia – Los Ocarros – is dedicated to this animal.
Brazilian three-banded armadillo
The Brazilian three-banded armadillo is an armadillo species endemic to eastern Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola, literally ball armadillo. It is one of only two species of armadillo that can roll into a ball; the other is the southern three-banded armadillo. It has suffered a 30% decline in population in the last 10 years.
Southern three-banded armadillo
The southern three-banded armadillo is an armadillo species from South America. It is found in parts of northern Argentina, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, at elevations from sea level to 2,530 feet.
The southern three-banded armadillo and the other member of the genus Tolypeutes, the Brazilian three-banded armadillo, are the only species of armadillos capable of rolling into a complete ball to defend themselves. The three characteristic bands that cover the back of the animal allow it enough flexibility to fit its tail and head together, allowing it to protect its underbelly, limbs, eyes, nose and ears from predators. The shell covering its body is armored and the outer layer is made out of keratin, the same protein that builds human fingernails. They are typically a yellow or brownish color. They are among the smaller armadillos, with a head-and-body length of about 8.7 to 10.6 inches and a weight between 2.2 and 3.5 pounds. Unlike most armadillos, they are not fossorial, but will use abandoned giant anteater burrows.
The three-banded armadillo has a long, sticky, straw-like pink tongue that allows it to gather up and eat many different species of insects, typically ants and termites. In captivity, armadillos also eat foods such as fruits and vegetables.
The species is threatened by habitat destruction from conversion of its native Dry Chaco to farmland, and from hunting for food and the pet trade.
Diet and predation
Armadillos are prolific diggers. Many species use their sharp claws to dig for food, such as grubs, and to dig dens. The nine-banded armadillo prefers to build burrows in moist soil near the creeks, streams and arroyos around which it lives and feeds. The diets of different armadillo species vary, but consist mainly of insects, grubs and other invertebrates. Some species, however, feed almost entirely on ants and termites.
Armadillos have very poor eyesight and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. They use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. They dig their burrows with their claws, making only a single corridor the width of the animal's body. They have five clawed toes on their hind feet and three to five toes with heavy digging claws on their fore feet. Armadillos have numerous cheek teeth which are not divided into premolars and molars, but usually have no incisors or canines.
Skin
The armor is formed by plats of dermal bone covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal scales called "scutes," composed of bone with a covering of horn. Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. Additional armor covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs and the tail. The underside of the animal is never armored and is simply covered with soft skin and fur.
This armor-like skin appears to be the main defense of many armadillos, although most escape predators by fleeing — often into thorny patches, from which their armor protects them — or digging to safety. Only the South American three-banded armadillos rely heavily on their armor for protection.
Movement
Armadillos have short legs but can move quite quickly. The nine-banded armadillo is noted for its movement through water which is accomplished via two different methods: it can walk underwater for short distances, holding its breath for as long as six minutes; also, to cross larger bodies of water, it is capable of increasing its buoyancy by swallowing air, inflating its stomach and intestines.
Leprosy
Armadillos are often used in the study of leprosy, since they — along with mangabey monkeys, rabbits and mice on their footpads — are among the few known species that can contract the disease systemically. They are particularly susceptible due to their unusually low body temperature, which is hospitable to the leprosy bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae. The leprosy bacterium is difficult to culture, and armadillos have a body temperature of 93 °F, similar to human skin. Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat. Armadillos are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century, leprosy was unknown in the New World. Given that armadillos are native to the New World, at some point they must have acquired the disease from old-world humans.
Education
Armadillos are common roadkill due to their habit of jumping 3–4 feet vertically when startled, which puts them into collision with the underside of vehicles. Wildlife enthusiasts are using the northward march of the armadillo as an opportunity to educate others about the animals, which can be a burrowing nuisance to property owners and managers.
Use in musical instruments
Armadillo shells have traditionally been used to make the back of the charango, an Andean lute instrument.
Food
In certain parts of Central and South America, armadillo meat is eaten; it is a popular ingredient in Oaxaca, Mexico. During the Great Depression, Americans were known to eat armadillo, known begrudgingly as "Hoover hogs," a nod to the belief that President Herbert Hoover was responsible for the economic despair facing the nation at that time.
According to Deane’s article “Armadillo: Possum on the Half Shell” at eattheweeds.com, here is a recipe for fried armadillo:
Place serving size pieces in a stew pot with a little water and gently boil until meat is tender, about 1/2 hour. Remove meat and cool; roll in flour with salt and pepper. Put in skillet of hot cooking oil. Brown on both sides. Cover skillet and cook 20 to 30 minutes. Add chicken broth, if needed.
A Texas delicacy is called armadillo eggs but does not have any armadillo in it. Armadillos do not lay eggs — even if they do look like reptiles. There are many versions of this recipe. Here is one from thecookinchicks.com:
Ingredients
· 4 jalapenos, cored and seeded
· Goat cheese (about 4 oz.)
· 1 lb ground Italian sausage
· 1/2 lb bacon
Directions
1. Fill each jalapeno with goat cheese.
2. Divide sausage into four patties.
3. Press stuffed jalapeno into center of patty making sure it is completely enclosed.
4. Wrap one piece of bacon tightly around sausage.
5. Place on smoker at 250 for about 2 hours, place on grill on indirect heat for about 30 minutes or place in oven at 400 for about 15-20 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and enjoy!!
Literature
A whimsical account of “The Beginning of the Armadillos” is one of the chapters of Rudyard Kipling’s “Just So Stories” 1902 children's book.
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