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Chlamyphorus |
Armadillos are any of several small mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell.
Their average size is about 75 centimetres (30 inches) total length including tail.
It is a placental mammal of the order Xenarthra, related to the anteater. There are several species of armadillo, distinguished by how many bands are visible on their armor.
All species of armadillos are native to the American continents, where they inhabit a variety of environments. In the United States, armadillos are most common in the warmer states, particularly Texas.
Armadillos eat mostly insects, grubs, and other invertebrates.
The armadillo is a prolific digger, and uses its sharp claws to burrow both to feed on grubs and to dig dens.
Its main defense is its armor-like outer skin. When threatened by a predator, the armadillo will roll up into a ball.
Armadillos are often used in the study of leprosy, since they are one of the only other animal species that can contract the disease. They are particularly susceptible due to their unusually low body temperature, which is hospitable to the leprosy bacterium.
Family Dasypodidae
- Subfamily Chlamyphorinae
- Pink Fairy Armadillo, Chlamyphorus truncatus
- Pichiciego, Chlamyphorus retusus
- Subfamily Dasypodinae
- Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Cabassous centralis
- Cabassous chacoensis
- Cabassous unicinctus
- Tatouay, Cabassous tatouay
- Little Hairy armadillo or Screaming Hairy armadillo, Chaetophractus vellerosus
- Hairy Armadillo, Chaetophractus villosus
- Chaetophractus nationi
- Nine-banded Armadillo or Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus
- Seven-banded Armadillo, Dasypus septemcinctus
- Dasypus hybridus
- Dasypus sabanicola
- Dasypus kappleri
- Hairy Long-nosed Armadillo, Dasypus pilosus
- Six-banded Armadillo or Yellow Armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus
- Giant Armadililo, Priodontes maximus
- Southern Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes matacus
- Three-banded Armadillo, Tolypeutes tricinctus
- Pichi or Dwarf Armadillo, Zaedyus pichiy