Nine-Banded Armadillo
Unless you are a nocturnal kid, chances are you haven’t seen a Nine-Banded Armadillo. These critters are usually found alone and they spend their waking hours out at night. They have some pretty cool tricks up their sleeves too!
Critter At A Glance
What are their critter talents? Did you know that Armadillo means “little armored one”? These critters cannot roll into a complete ball like some armadillos, but their hard outer armor does still help protect their bodies. They are great at floating down rivers and can even hold their breath for 6 minutes. Their sticky tongues help them catch insects easily and they have such a good sense of smell that they can smell food above the ground while navigating under the surface.
What are their babies like? Baby armadillos are called pups. In the spring the mothers give birth to 4 IDENTICAL quadruplets. Baby armadillos are born with soft skin at first and then it hardens into armor after a few weeks.
What environment do they thrive in? They like grassland and dry scrub. They struggle in cold or dry environments because they do not have a lot of body fat. They do not have many natural predators, but are very good at hiding in burrows. They can arch their backs and broaden their bodies to make them difficult to remove from their underground homes.
What else can we learn about these amazing critters?
Are you ready for an out of this world fact?
Not only are these critters good at navigating in water, but they can jump 3-4 feet in the air! WOW!
Critter Protectors we need you to join the CritterQ today.
Join below to get your very own FREE badge.
Today’s challenge is to make your own CritterQ card for the Nine-Banded Armadillo. Print off the PDF below and don’t forget to share #heymrjim
<= Click the picture to download your Critter Card PDF.
“Nine-Banded Armadillo — Severson Dells Nature Center.” Severson Dells Nature Center, https://www.seversondells.com/ninebanded-armadillo. Accessed 10 May 2022.
“Nine-Banded Armadillo – Cosley Zoo.” Cosley Zoo, https://cosleyzoo.org/nine-banded-armadillo/. Accessed 10 May 2022.