| Armadillos |
Armadillos are most unusual animals. They have
protective armor of "horny material" on there head,
body, and tail. This bony armor has nine movable
rings between the shoulder and hip shield. The head
is small with a long narrow, pig like snout. The long
tapering tail is encased in 12 bony rings. The
armadillo is about the size of an opossum weighing
from 8 to 17 pounds
The armadillo prefers sandy or loam soils that are
loose and porous.
More than 90% of the armadillo's diet is made up of
insects and their larvae. Armadillos also feed on
earthworms scorpions, spiders, and other
invertebrates. There is evidence that the species will
eat some fruit and vegetable matter such as berries
and tender roots in leaf mold, as well as maggots and
pupae in carrion. Vertebrates are eaten to a lesser
extent, including skinks, lizards, small frogs, and
snakes, as well as the eggs of these animals.
The armadillo is active primarily from twilight through
early morning hours in the summer. In winter it may be
active only during the day. The armadillo usually digs
a burrow 7-8 inches in diameter and up to 15 feet long
for shelter and raising young. Burrows are located in
rock piles, around stumps, brush piles, or terraces
around brush or dense woodlands. Armadillos often
have several dens in an area to use for escape.
The armadillo has poor eyesight but a keen sense of
smell. In spite of its cumbersome appearance, the
agile armadillo can run well when in danger. It is a
good swimmer and is also able to walk across the
bottom of small streams.
protective armor of "horny material" on there head,
body, and tail. This bony armor has nine movable
rings between the shoulder and hip shield. The head
is small with a long narrow, pig like snout. The long
tapering tail is encased in 12 bony rings. The
armadillo is about the size of an opossum weighing
from 8 to 17 pounds
The armadillo prefers sandy or loam soils that are
loose and porous.
More than 90% of the armadillo's diet is made up of
insects and their larvae. Armadillos also feed on
earthworms scorpions, spiders, and other
invertebrates. There is evidence that the species will
eat some fruit and vegetable matter such as berries
and tender roots in leaf mold, as well as maggots and
pupae in carrion. Vertebrates are eaten to a lesser
extent, including skinks, lizards, small frogs, and
snakes, as well as the eggs of these animals.
The armadillo is active primarily from twilight through
early morning hours in the summer. In winter it may be
active only during the day. The armadillo usually digs
a burrow 7-8 inches in diameter and up to 15 feet long
for shelter and raising young. Burrows are located in
rock piles, around stumps, brush piles, or terraces
around brush or dense woodlands. Armadillos often
have several dens in an area to use for escape.
The armadillo has poor eyesight but a keen sense of
smell. In spite of its cumbersome appearance, the
agile armadillo can run well when in danger. It is a
good swimmer and is also able to walk across the
bottom of small streams.
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| Armadillo Den |
| Armadillo Damage |