Armadillo

For other uses, see Armadillo (disambiguation)}}}.

Armadillos are small placental mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell. Their average size is about 75 centimeters (30 inches), including tail. All species are native to the Americas, where they inhabit a variety of environments. In the United States, the sole resident armadillo is the 9-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), which is most common in the central southern states, particularly Texas.

Dasypodidae is the only family in the order Cingulata. Until as recently as 1995, the family was placed in the order Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. There are several species of armadillo, some of which are distinguished by how many bands they have on their armor. The nine-banded form cannot roll itself into a ball. They mainly run away or burrow from predators.

Contents

1 Habitat and Physiology
2 Armadillos and Science
3 Armadillos and Humans
4 Classification
5 Trivia
6 External links
7 References

Habitat and Physiology

They are prolific diggers, and many species use their sharp claws to dig for food such as grubs and/or to dig dens. The 9-banded armadillo prefers to build burrows in moist soil near the creeks, streams, and arroyos near which it generally lives and feeds. The diet of armadillo species varies, but consists mainly of insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. Some species, however, are almost entirely termite/ant specialists.

Armadillos have poor vision but are not blind.

The armor is formed by plates of dermal bone covered in small, overlapping, epidermal scales called "scutes". This armor-like skin would appear to be the main defense of many armadillos, although, in fact, most flee predators by running and/or digging, rather than relying on their armor. Armadillos have short legs but can move quickly. They can also hold their breath and walk on the bottom of a lake or any body of water for 6 mins. Only the South American three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) tend to rely heavily on their armor. When threatened by a predator, Tolypeutes species will frequently roll up into a ball. Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates to curl. Instead, they will sometimes escape predators by running into thorny brush, relying on their armor to protect them from the thorns. The North American Nine-banded Armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised and consequently often collides with the undercarriage of vehicles that might pass over it.

Armadillos and Science

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 non-human animal 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 Nine-banded Armadillo also serves science through its unusual reproductive system, in which four identical quadruplets (all the same sex) are born in each clutch. Because they are always identical, the group of four young provides a good subject for scientific, behavioral or medical tests that need consistent biological and genetic makeup in the test subjects. This phenomenon of multiple identical birth, called polyembryony, only manifests in the genus Dasypus and not in all armadillos, as is commonly believed.

Armadillos and Humans

The armadillo was, over some resistance, made the state small mammal of Texas[link] where it is considered a pest, and usually seen flattened on the roadside. In Maine, it is illegal to own an armadillo.

Armadillos can be kept as pets, although they require moist ground in which to dig and catch insects. They are difficult to domesticate fully.

Classification

Dasypodidae is the only family in the order Cingulata. Until as recently as 1995 the family was placed in the order Xenarthra, along with the anteaters and sloths. There are several species of armadillo, some of which are distinguished by how many bands they have on their armor. The nine-banded form can not roll itself into a ball. They mainly run away or burrow from predators.

Order Cingulata

Family Pampatheriidae: giant armadillos (extinct)
Family Glyptodontidae (extinct)
* Glyptodon (extinct)
Family Dasypodidae: armadillos
*Pink Fairy Armadillo, Chlamyphorus truncatus
*Pichiciego, Chlamyphorus retusus
*Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous centralis
*Chacoan Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous chacoensis
*Southern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous unicinctus
*Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous tatouay
*Little Hairy armadillo or Screaming Hairy armadillo, Chaetophractus vellerosus
*Hairy Armadillo, Chaetophractus villosus
*Andean Hairy ArmadilloChaetophractus nationi
*Nine-banded Armadillo or Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus
*Seven-banded Armadillo, Dasypus septemcinctus
*Southern Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus hybridus
*Llanos Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus sabanicola
*Great Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus kappleri
*Hairy Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus pilosus
*Six-banded Armadillo or Yellow Armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus
*Giant armadillo, Priodontes maximus
*Southern Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes matacus
*Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes tricinctus
*Pichi or Dwarf Armadillo, Zaedyus pichiy

Trivia

In the Joe R. Lansdale novel Captains Outrageous, a Texan armadillo named Bob is kept as a pet by Leonard Pine, one of the central characters.
A stuffed armadillo plays an important role in John Irving's novel, "A Prayer for Owen Meany"
Because of the weight of its armor, an armadillo will sink in water unless it inflates its stomach with air, which often doubles its size.[link]
A number of towns in Texas hold beauty pageants for armadillos. [link]
Glyptotherium texanum (extinct) was a close cousin of the armadillo, living in the tropical and subtropical regions of Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. It had a six-foot-long carapace and weighed in at approximately 2,000 pounds (1 ton).[link]
Bonobos and armadillos are the only mammals other than humans that engage in intercourse in the missionary position (face-to-face).
German POWs in Texas would often refer to the armadillo as "panzer swine".
Recorded to be the animal with the most dreams in sleep (that is, with the most observed REM sleep).
Armadilos are one of a small number of animals other than humans that can get leprosy.
Surprisingly, armadillos are very agile in the water and have been known to swim for up to two miles without rest.
Armadillo is Spanish for “little armored one.”

External links

References

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