Overview

The nine-banded armadillo is a living fossil waddling through the American South: a small mammal encased in bony plates, with a pig-like snout for rooting insects and a habit of jumping straight up when startled — which causes many road fatalities.

Armadillos are champion diggers, excavating burrows in minutes and tearing open termite mounds and wasp nests with powerful claws. They have expanded northward steadily and are the only armadillo species found in the US.

Habitat

Grassland, scrub, woodland, and suburban edges across the southern and central United States suit nine-banded armadillos. They need soft soil for digging and are common in Texas, Florida, and states as far north as Missouri.

Countries found

Armadillo in United States

Interesting facts

01
Nine-banded armadillos always give birth to identical quadruplets.
02
Their armour is made of bony plates covered in keratin scales.
03
They can hold their breath for up to six minutes while crossing water.

Conservation status

LC — Least Concern

Nine-banded armadillos are Least Concern and expanding their range northward. They are often killed on roads but reproduce quickly enough that populations remain stable.