The armor on their back is made up of plates of dermal bone, covered by overlapping scales called ‘scutes’. A variant of the guitar, charangos became popular among the indigenous peoples of northwestern South America after the arrival of European settlers. A microscopic image of the bacteria causing leprosy. Despite their name, nine-banded armadillos can have 7 to 11 bands on their armor. Description Approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded is the only one found in the United States. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Armadillo facts: Interesting facts about Armadillos. 22 Interesting Facts About Tornadoes jazz. Some classic charangos are still made out of armadillos, but wooden instruments are much more common (and presumably less distinctive sounding). 0 . The adult nine-banded armadillo, the only kind to live in North America, is typically gray or brown. It's possible that having four identical offspring of the same sex reduces the risk of inbreeding when the juveniles mature, or it may just be an evolutionary quirk from millions of years ago that somehow got "locked into" the armadillo genome because it didn't have any long-term disastrous consequences. Armadillos have four babies at a time, always all the same sex. Let’s get going. Of all armadillo species, this is the only armadillo, whose dorsal shell is totally separate from its … Nine-banded Armadillo Facts Contrary to popular belief, the nine-banded armadillo can not roll itself into a ball to escape predators!! Their whole body (head, back, legs and tail) is covered with bony plates. However their body has been adapted to their surroundings in the process of evolution. 9. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. The Pink fairy armadillo has the nickname of "sand-swimmer" because it can burrow through soil as quickly as a fish swimming in the sea. The three-banded armadillo is the only species that can roll into a ball for … November 24, 2020. More Facts on Pink Fairy Armadillo The pink fairy armadillo sleeps between 16 – 18 hours in a day and mostly spends of its life in its burrow. It has plates of bone covered with leathery skin across its back and tail, and bony armor scales on the head and face. Armadillos have strong legs and sharp claws. It is possible to housebreak an armadillo. The earliest human settlers of South America occasionally slaughtered these giant armadillos for their meat and used their capacious shells to shelter themselves from the elements. The vast majority of armored animals—from the long-extinct Ankylosaurus to the modern pangolin—evolved, so their plates were not for intimidating other creatures but to avoid being eaten by predators. Armadillos can be pinkish, dark-brown, black, red, gray or yellowish in color. they always have identical quadruplets; they are the only known vertebrate animals to exhibit this “polyembryony”. Like most small, skittering mammals that live in burrows, armadillos rely on their acute sense of smell to locate prey and avoid predators (a nine-banded armadillo can sniff out grubs buried six inches beneath the soil), and they have relatively weak eyes. They are also characterized by the unique shape of their hips, their low body temperatures, and the internal testicles of males. The largest are the giant armadillos, which are about the size of a small pig. Their body temperatures are also unique to make them as good specimens for research. Animals typically transmit diseases to humans, but in the case of armadillos, the process seems to have worked in reverse. Among the less-well-known species are the screaming hairy armadillo, the greater long-nosed armadillo, the southern naked-tailed armadillo, the pink fairy armadillo (which is only about the size of a squirrel), and the giant armadillo (120 pounds—a good match for a welterweight fighter). This refers to the number of bands on the armadillo’s armor. Armadillo facts: Interesting facts about Armadillos. The Fact Site is the number one source for the most interesting & random facts about animals, celebrities, food, films, games & so much more. 25 Interesting Historical Photos – Part 264 jazz. When startled or scared, these armadillos can jump four to five feet high. Categories Animals Tags can i pet pink fairy armadillo , Interesting Facts , pink fairy armadillo , pink fairy armadillo scientific name , threatened species Leave a … Armadillos are like mammals and give birth to young ones and wean them with milk like any other mammals. Researchers estimate that the largest glyptodonts could weigh nearly 4,500 lbs.! Glyptodon lumbered across the Argentinean pampas right up to the cusp of the last Ice Age. Along with the three-ton prehistoric sloth Megatherium and the bizarre-looking hoofed mammal Macrauchenia, South America was populated by the likes of Glyptodon, a 10-foot-long, one-ton armadillo that feasted on plants rather than insects. Armadillos are solitary most of the time and spend most of their time sleeping. Armadillos are like mammals and give birth to young ones and wean them with milk like any other mammals. Interesting facts about the Armadillo: 1) Armadillos can vary in color and may be pinkish, dark-brown, black, red, gray or yellowish. Fun Facts for Kids. This makes armadillos especially susceptible to the bacterium that causes leprosy (which needs a cool skin surface on which to propagate), and thus makes these mammals ideal test subjects for leprosy research. One type of armadillo - the three banded armadillo - instinctually rolls itself into a ball when threatened, completely enclosing its body in its armor-like shell to defend against predators. The most remarkable feature of this species is the ability of females to postpone their pregnancy if the surrounding environment is not conducive. Armadillos eat mostly insects. November 26, 2020. Texas is not the only place where you’ll find armadillos. Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America.". Only three-banded armadillo can curl into the ball to protect itself from predators. One of the more amazing armadillo facts is that nine-banded armadillos always have quadruplets - four babies at a time, all of the same sex. The three banded armadillo rolls itself into a ball to escape from predators. 0 . They use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. During the Pleistocene epoch 1 million years ago, mammals came in much bigger packages than they do today. The only species that ranges across the expanse of the Americas is the nine-banded armadillo, which can be found as far afield as Texas, Florida, and Missouri. Discover surprising insights and little-known facts about politics, literature, science, and the marvels of the natural world. A Practically Immortal Animal Is Spreading Across the Planet, Facts About the Search for Extraterrestrial Life in the Universe, Mourning Geckos: Reptiles That Reproduce Without Males, Facts About Faithless Electors and the Electoral College, Beethoven Facts: A Look Into This Brilliant Composer’s Life, The History Of Taekwondo: Everything You Need To Know, Cleopatra Facts – 34 Interesting Facts About Cleopatra, Cinco de Mayo Facts – 33 Interesting Facts About Cinco de Mayo. Meet the Xenarthrans - Armadillos, Sloths, and Anteaters, Doedicurus: The Giant Prehistoric Armadillo, Prehistoric Life During the Pleistocene Epoch, Giant Mammal and Megafauna Pictures and Profiles, 11 Living Species That Were Once Thought to Be Extinct. These extinct creatures looked much like modern-day armadillos, only blown up several hundred sizes larger. Some armadillos are also good at holding their breath for extended periods of time; for example, the nine-banded armadillo can stay underwater for as long as six minutes. All of these armadillo species are characterized by the armor plating on their heads, backs, and tails—the distinctive feature that gives this family of mammals its name (Spanish for "little armored ones"). Other armadillos are too unwieldy to pull off this trick and prefer to escape predators by simply running away or, like the nine-banded armadillo, executing a sudden vertical leap three or four feet into the air. The number and pattern of the bands range anywhere from three to nine, depending on the species. The armor is effective against most of its enemies but not the vehicles of modern day and frequently gets run over by automobiles. 12. It is an insectivore, feeding chiefly on ants, termites, and other small invertebrates. The smallest is known as the pink fairy armadillo, which is about the size of a chipmunk. … The nine-banded armadillo is a solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, found in many kinds of habitats, from mature and secondary rainforests to grassland and dry scrub. Check out these fun facts that makes armadillos simply amazing! Of all armadillo species, the pink fairy armadillo is the only one whose dorsal shell is totally separate … A very interesting fact about armadillos is the same sex nature of their offspring. However their body has been adapted to their surroundings in the process of evolution. You can eat armadillo, called “possum on the half-shell,” or, during the Great Depression, “Hoover … Remarkable in every way, the armadillo is the only mammal with a shell. Pill Bugs Breathe Through Gills. Part of the reason nine-banded armadillos are so widespread is that they're not especially favored by natural predators. Armadillo and Anteaters are cousins and both have pointed nose and sticky tongue. Fact List Random Facts. Among humans, giving birth to identical quadruplets is literally a one-in-a-million event, much rarer than identical twins or triplets. On the other end of the food chain, smaller armadillo species are preyed on by coyotes, cougars, and bobcats, and occasionally even hawks and eagles. Why this happens is a bit of a mystery. Of course, such an odd-looking animal has to be equally as interesting! Don't get the idea that they are cowards, however. The armadillo armor is made up of overlapping plates covering the back, head, legs and tail. This is something not seen much in the animal kingdom but for a few. The other types are covered with too many bony plates to allow them to curl up. They are perfect quadruplets, the fertilized cell split into quarters, resulting in four identical armadillos. Armadillos are found from Argentina to Panama, with one species reaching the southern United States [3]. They look a bit like a cross between a polecat and an armored dinosaur. 10. You will learn something about everything! Once an armadillo homes in on an insect nest, it quickly digs through the dirt or soil with its large front claws. However, nine-banded armadillos accomplish this feat all the time: After fertilization, the egg of the female splits into four genetically identical cells, which go on to produce four genetically identical offspring. 7 – Armadillos come in many different sizes, from the smallest, the ‘Pink Fairy’ at about 5 inches (13cm) long and 85g in weight, to the largest, not surprisingly the ‘Giant’, at up to five foot (150cm) long and around 60kg (132lb).8 – Although nearly blind and deaf, armadillos have no trouble working out what’s going on around them because they have a great sense of smell, with which they can smell things that are up to 20cm (9 inches) underground. Here are 12 interesting facts about armadillos: There are twenty different varieties of Armadillo. 25 Kickass Random Facts List #570 jazz. One odd fact about armadillos is that, along with their xenarthran cousins sloths and anteaters, they have relatively sluggish metabolisms and low body temperatures. Different species are identified by the number of scales they have on their body. They are special because of the fact that they have an outer shell like covering much akin to tortoise. 4 Adorable Baby Armadillo Videos ; Armadillos are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants, though 90% of an armadillo’s diet is made up of insects and larvae. These animals … For some more interesting facts and amazing information about Armadillo… Fun Facts The smallest species of armadillo is the pink fairy armadillo - only 5-6" long and less than 1 lb in weight. Armadillo sizes span from 5-59 inches (12-150cm) in length and 3-120 pounds (1.3-54 kg) in weight. Armadillos have very poor eyesight, and use their keen sense of smell to hunt for food. Unlike the horns of rhinos or the fingernails and toenails of humans, the plates of armadillos are made of solid bone. armadillo (är´mədĬl´Å), New World armored mammal of the order Edentata, a group that also includes the sloth [1] and the anteater [2], characterized by peglike teeth without roots or enamel. The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is by far the most familiar, but armadillos come in an impressive range of shapes and sizes, and with some of the most amusing names. Such an ability can make armadillos very beneficial to humans. Starting about three million years ago, the appearance of the isthmus facilitated the Great American Interchange, when various armadillo species migrated north (and, in turn, other types of mammals migrated south and replaced the native South American fauna). However, they are versatile animals and are proficient in swimming and digging. The holes can be a huge nuisance to homeowners, who may have no choice but to call a professional exterminator. Armadillos are classified as xenarthrans, a superorder of placental mammals that also includes sloths and anteaters. Armadillos are among the most distinctive-looking of all mammals. 25 Kickass Random Facts List #569 jazz. Pangolins and aardvarks, which superficially resemble armadillos and anteaters, respectively, are unrelated mammals, the features of which can be chalked up to convergent evolution. Follow Us. The term “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish, and refers to the presence of bony, armor-like plates covering their body. This interesting fact will have your taste … Armadillo Facts. This is really incredible and unique to the armadillo. Armadillo eye sight is weak but they are good hunters due to their well developed sense of smell. This is why we have compiled a list of Baby armadillo photos, videos & facts in this article that our readers might have never known. 2) Armadillos were once a popular food source. The hard shell of this species is made up of 24 bands that enable it to curl up into a ball. The most common type of armadillo in the United States is the nine-banded armadillo. In the face of accumulated genetic evidence, the superorder Xenarthra was split into two orders: Cingulata, which includes armadillos, and Pilosa, which comprises sloths and anteaters. Armadillos are one of the few animals who consume fire ants as part of their diet. Ancient Animals– Scientists believe that the extinct glyptodont was related to modern-day armadillos. There are more than 21 species of armadillo from as tiny as 6 inches, the Pink Fairy Armadillo to giant ones which can measure 1.5 meters. The Nine-banded armadillo is the official state small mammal of Texas, nicknamed the ‘hillbilly … 1. The word Armadillo is a Spanish word which means “little armored one”. Fact List. Details Written by Jeff Mayhew f Share. Armadillos of the genus Dasypus give birth to four genetically identical young that split from the same embryo; i.e. They’re little leapers. Other armadillos are too unwieldy to pull off this trick and prefer to escape predators by simply running away or, like the nine-banded armadillo, executing a sudden vertical leap three or four feet into the air. There Are 21 Identified Armadillo Species, Armadillos Live in North, Central, and South America, The Plates of Armadillos Are Made of Bone, Armadillos Feed Exclusively on Invertebrates, Armadillos Are Closely Related to Sloths and Anteaters. Its armor is flattened at the rear so it is able to compress the dirt behind while digging. 2. The animal originated in South America and remained land locked and isolated for a major part of time before the formation of the Isthmus of Panama in the early Pleistocene which enabled them to migrate to North America. Until the arrival of European settlers in South America 500 years ago, leprosy was unknown in the New World, so a series of unfortunate armadillos must have been picked up (or even adopted as pets) by Spanish conquistadors. Today, most armadillos live exclusively in Central or South America. 11. Only one of the twenty-odd varieties of armadillos — the three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) — is able to roll up. 0 . Armadillos are unique animals, with unique traits and behaviors. While armadillos are common sights in certain parts of North, Central, and South America, they remain objects of intense curiosity—and for good reason.

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