Overview of the Armadillo

The armadillo belongs to an order of mammals (along with anteaters and sloths) with small brains and few, or no teeth. Like the anteater, the armadillo has a long sticky tongue for consuming insects; they use their claws and powerful front legs to dig into ant or termite nests, and then lap up the insects with their tongue.

Armadillos live in savannas, pampas, forests, deserts, and grasslands in southern North America and in South America. Only one armadillo subspecies, the nine banded armadillo, is found in the southern parts of the United States. The giant armadillo is a subspecies of armadillo that can grow up to 5 feet in length.

There are 20 different subspecies of armadillos, all of which are protected by a hard coat of armor. The armor is composed of bands of plates, but does not cover its underside, leaving its underbelly exposed. To defend against a predator, some armadillos pull in their legs so that their armor is firmly pressed against the ground. Others can roll into a ball that cannot be pulled apart by predators.

Armadillos are powerful diggers and swimmers; they have strong claws which they use to dig for food, and shelter. They rest in burrows by day and hunt for food at night. The diet of an armadillo consists of a variety of insects, including ants and termites, and vegetation.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net