![]() ![]() Because of their burrowing habits, armadillos are considered pests in many regions. Each species digs burrows to accommodate its size and shape other animals also use them for shelter. Armadillos spend the daylight hours in burrows that can be 6 metres (20 feet) long, extend 1.5 metres (5 feet) under the ground, and have up to 12 entrances. They feed on termites and other insects, along with vegetation, small animals, and insect larvae associated with carrion. Emerging from their burrows primarily at night, these efficient diggers use their keen sense of smell to locate food. It lives in the Amazon basin and adjacent grasslands.Īrmadillos live alone, in pairs, or in small groups. In contrast, the endangered giant armadillo ( Priodontes maximus) can be 1.5 metres (5 feet) long and weigh 30 kg (66 pounds). Whereas the common nine-banded armadillo in the United States measures about 76 cm (30 inches) long, including the tail, the pink fairy armadillo, or lesser pichiciego ( Chlamyphorus truncatus), of central Argentina, is only about 16 cm (6 inches). The size of armadillos varies considerably. Natural historyĪrmadillos are stout brownish animals with strong curved claws and simple peglike teeth lacking enamel. Southernmost armadillo species include the pichi ( Zaedyus pichiy), a common resident of Argentine Patagonia, and the larger hairy armadillo ( Chaetophractus villosus), which ranges far into southern Chile. Eight-banded individuals of this species are common in some regions. Its range has expanded into several southern states since it was first observed in Texas during the 1800s. Only one species, the nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus), is found in the United States. The three-, six-, and nine-banded armadillos are named for the number of movable bands in their armour. The carapace is made of bony transverse bands covered with tough scales that are derived from skin tissue. In all but one species the carapace is nearly hairless. All armadillos possess a set of plates called the carapace that covers much of the body, including the head and, in most species, the legs and tail. Most of the 20 species inhabit open areas, such as grasslands, but some also live in forests. ![]() SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!Īrmadillo, (family Dasypodidae), any of various armoured mammals found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.Britannica Beyond We’ve created a new place where questions are at the center of learning.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today. ![]()
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