The Armadillo Page!

What is an armadillo?

Life History

Armadillos enjoy eating ants and they can devour up to 40,000 in one meal. Each armadillo eats up to 200 lbs of bugs a year. That's over 6 billion lbs of bugs for the entire US population of 'dillos per year.  They also eat some plant foods such as cedars and beautyberries and carrion (you know, dead meat or roadkill.)

Did you know that Armadillos sleep over 17 hours a day, with 3 hours of REM sleep? Humans only have 2 hours of REM sleep.

There are 20 different species of armadillos that range in size from 6 to 60 inches (15-152 cm) long, but The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a cat-sized, armored, insect-eating mammal.  Similar in form to an anteater, the bony, scaled shell of the armadillo protects it from attacks by predators.  Unfortunately, armadillos often fall victim to automobiles and are frequently found dead on roadsides, this qualifies them for varmint status because so many folks hit em with cars.  Also included in that number of 20 are the three, six, and nine-banded armadillos. They are named for the number of bands in their armor. The nine-banded armadillo is the only one to range into the United States.

Armadillos are known by many names. Armado in Guatemala, Panama. Cachicamo in Venezuela, Carachupa in Peru, Cusuco in Costa Rica, Kapasi in Suriname, Mulita Mayor in Argentina, and Tatu Galinha in Brazil. The Aztec name for armadillos was Azotochtli, which means “turtle-rabbit.”  The Latin name for nine-banded armadillos is Dasypus novemcinctus. The name Dasypus is derived from the word for rabbit. Combining novem, (nine) with cinctus, (band) you have a nine-banded rabbit. The nine-banded armadillo without its shell resembles a rabbit.

A prolific digger, armadillos dig many burrows, as well as dig for food. Distribution is often determined by soil conditions, since the animal will not survive in areas where the soil is too hard to dig. Many other wildlife species use and benefit from these abandoned burrows.

Armadillo teeth have no enamel and they also have very few teeth (just a few peg-like molars). Since they mostly eat bugs, they don't have to do a lot of chewing. Although occasionally considered a nuisance by home owners, the armadillo's habit of digging up lawns is driven by it's appetite for grubs, which can also harm lawns.  The armadillo Eats insects and other invertebrates, and is skilled at digging for grubs. They occasionally eat berries and bird eggs.

Did you know that Armadillos can hold their breath up to 10 minutes and walk across the bottom of a creek?

The nine-banded armadillo mates as early as July and as late as December and gives birth during the months of March and April, when not stressed or when climate conditions are at there best. Armadillos are the only mammals that always give birth to four identical young.  All four young, always of the same sex, are identical quadruplets and developed from the same egg. They even share a single placenta while in the womb. Armadillos are the only mammals in which multiple young form from a single egg with any regularity. They can walk a few hours after birth and accompany their mother looking for food a few weeks later.

Female armadillos have the ability to delay implantation of a fertilized egg up to 2 years. This tactic is one reason why they are so good at colonizing new areas.

Habitat & Distribution

In 1849 nine-banded armadillos were first reported in the United States. John James Audubon also "discovered" it in Texas in 1854. When civilization advanced in North America, most mammals withdrew, yet the nine-banded armadillo expanded its territory under this pressure.

The armadillo is the state mammal of Texas. Originally native to South America, the armadillo now ranges as far north as Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana, (but still wishes he was in Texas). Found in all but the western Trans-Pecos portion of Texas in a variety of habitats; brush, woods, scrub and grasslands. Estimates show between 30 to 50 million armadillos in the United States with The most numerous one being the nine-banded armadillo.

Armadillo Ancestors

The Beautiful Armadillo

The beautiful armadillo (scientific name Dasypus bellus) was a larger cousin of the modern nine-banded armadillo found throughout the southeastern U.S.

The body of the beautiful armadillo was covered with armor composed of thousands of bony scutes. These were probably very effective in protecting the slow armadillo from predators.

In the midwestern U.S. the beautiful armadillo has been found at sites from Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri. Like many other Pleistocene large mammals, it went extinct approximately 11,000 years ago.

Glyptodon

An extinct South American quaternary mammal, related to the armadillos. It was as large as an ox, comparative in size to a Volkswagen Beetle and was covered with tessellated scales, and had fluted teeth. The glyptodon- which means "carved tooth"- had short legs with clawed toes, a dome-shaped bony shell composed of plates measuring 0.4 to 2.8 inches (1 to 7 cm) thick, rings of bony armor on its tail and armor on its head. The glyptodont's body shell alone was as much as 1.5 m (5 feet) long. Glyptodon lived in South America during the Pleistocene epoch, between about 1.6 million and 10,000.

Native Armadillos

Nine-Banded Armadillos

• Name: Dasypus Novemcinctus.
• Located: Southern United States, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay.
  Forests, shady areas, palmettos, dense foliage.
• Body: 9-22 inches, 5-19 inch tail.
• Weight: 2 to 22 pounds.
• Color: Grey, black, brown, pink.
• Diet: Bugs, beetles, ants, termites, and small animals.
• Gestation: 4 months.
• Activity: Semi-nocturnal, but can often be seen throughout the day.
• Temperament: When threatened they run for cover or into a burrow. Many seem jittery and will run at the slightest sound or provocation. At hight population densities they may be aggressive and have been seen chasing or boxing one another. They do this by balancing on the hind legs and striking with the front claws. This behavior has been observed by me, and the encounter was brief. Later, the two armadillos seemed to get along fine.
• Description: Short legs, armored body and tail, very little hair.
  They live in burrows that are up to 20 feet long and contain beds of leaves and grass.
  In summer or fall they mate and four identical young are born. They are weaned from 4 to 5 months. They are mature at 1 year and have lived up to 20 years in captivity.
  Due to the unique production of four identical young, and relatively low body temperatures, they are useful for medical research into diseases such as leprosy, typhus, and trichinosis. They susceptible to leprosy. Also research is done for multiple births, organ transplants, and birth defects.
  Armadillos have been accused of destroying eggs, burrowing under foundations, and crop destruction. But they are considered to be ecologically important due to their eating of unwanted insects. Many other small animals use abandoned armadillo burrows as shelter. They are easily tamed, but do not do well in captivity and do not mate in captivity.
• History: These armadillos entered Texas around 1850 from Mexico, and were introduced into Florida in the 1920's. They have expanded their range northward into Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. In pre-historic times (Pleistocene era) there were large armadillos living in this same area. These are called "Beautiful Armadillos" and were the size of a refrigerator. They died out in the ice age but the present members of genus Dasypus are related to the "Beautiful Armadillos".

Other Armadillos

Six-Banded Armadillo

• Name: Euphractus Sexcinctus.
• Located: Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Dry areas.
• Body: 15-20 inches, 9-14 inch tail.
• Weight: 7-14 pounds.
• Color: Brown.
• Diet: Mostly plants, also bugs and meat.
• Gestation: 2 months.

• Description: They have six or more bands on the shell, and two to four bands around the base of the tail. Holes on the plates above the base of the tail are openings for scent glands.
  Up to 3 young are born per litter, each weighing between 3 and 4 ounces. They are weaned after 1 month and are mature in 9 months. They live in burrows about six feet into the ground and can live 18 years in captivity.

Three-Banded Armadillo

• Name: Tolypeutes Matacus, Tolypeutes Tricinctus.
• Located: Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
  Forests and marshy lands.
• Body: 8-11 inches, 2-3 inch tail.
• Weight: 2-3.5 pounds.
• Color: Brown, black.
• Diet: Bugs, beetles, ants, termites, fruit.
• Gestation: 4 months.
• Description: These are the only type of armadillo that can roll itself into a complete ball.
  They live in and use the burrows of other animals instead of digging they're own. Only one baby is born per litter and is born between November and January. They are weaned at 72 days and mature between 9 and 12 months. They may live 20 years in captivity, and do breed in captivity.
• History: Because of over hunting, they may become endangered.

"Screaming" Hairy Armadillo

• Name: Chaetophractus Vellerosus.
• Located: Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Chile.
  Desert areas and grasslands.
• Body: 8-16 inches, 3-5 inch tail.
• Weight: 5 ounces at birth.
• Diet: Bugs, small animals, and plants.
• Gestation: 2 months.
• Activity: Nocturnal in summer, diurnal in winter.
• Temperament: They screech like a pig when threatened.
• Description: They have bristles covering their bony armor, 6 to 8 moveable bands, and are the hairiest of armadillos.
  They are sound sleepers and won't wake if you pick it up while it's sleeping. They survive by burrowing into sand dunes, digging burrows several yards long. In Autumn they breed and produce two young. After 2 months they are weaned and they are mature at 9 months. They can live 30 years in captivity.
  Also, there are two other species of Hairy Armadillo.
• History: Local people hunt them for food and use their armor to make roofing and musical instruments.

Giant Armadillo

• Name: Priodontes Maximus.
• Located: South American Andes, from Venezuela to Argentina.
  Forests and grasslands.
• Body: 29-40 inch, 19 inch tail.
• Weight: Up to 100 pounds.
• Color: Dark brown.
• Diet: Termites, grubs, worms, ants, and other bugs.
• Gestation: 4 months.
• Activity: Nocturnal.
• Description: They have claws up to 8 inches long, 11 or more bands, 100 peg-like teeth and massive claws which they use to dig.
  No more than 2 young are born. They are weaned after 4 to 6 weeks and are mature after 12 months. They may live up to 15 years.
• History: Over hunting and habitat loss have caused population declines but many countries protect them as an endangered species.

Dwarf Armadillo ("Piche")

• Name: Zaedyus Pichiy.
• Located: Patagonia, Argentina, and Chile.
  Sandy, open areas, cold.
• Body: 10 inches, 3-6 inch tail.
• Weight: 5 pounds.
• Color: Dark brown.
• Diet: Bugs and worms.
• Gestation: 2 months.
• Activity: Hibernates in the winter to survive the cold.
• Temperament: They survive in captivity and some people keep them as pets.
• Description: They have a radial pattern on their armor, small ears and thin black fur.
  They can breed year round and produce up to three young. At 6 months they are weaned, and mature at 1 year. They can live for about 9 years.
• History: They live farther into the southern hemisphere than any other armadillo.

Naked-tailed Armadillos

• Name: Cabassous Chacoensis.
• Located: Mexico, Belize, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
  Forests, grasslands, marshes, and dry areas.
• Body: 11-28 inches, 3-7 inch unarmored tail.
• Weight: 4-7 pounds.
• Color: Dark.
• Diet: Bugs, ants, termites.
• Activity: Nocturnal.
• Description: They have at least 10 bands and a bare tail.
  They only produce a litter of one.
• History: They may be endangered.

Fairy Pink Armadillo

• Name: Chlamyphorus Truncatus.
• Located: Argentina
  Sandy dry areas.
• Body: 3-5 inches, 1-2 inch tail.
• Weight: 2 ounces.
• Color: Light pink.
• Diet: Bugs, worms and roots.
• Activity: Nocturnal.
• Temperament: Very elusive.
• Description: They have soft fur on their legs and underside, large claws, and small eyes.
  They are the smallest armadillos, and have been compared to a cross between a mole and a caterpillar. Often, they make their burrows near ant hills.
• History: These armadillos do not survive in captivity and are vulnerable to extinction.

Not Necessarily Armadillos...

The Armadillo Lizard - There is a little lizard, about 10 inches long, that rolls on its back and sticks its tail in its mouth when things get tough. It has hard scales and spines on its head and tail, so the idea is that it resembles an armadillo. Whatever.

The scientific families Armadillididae and Armadillidae - One would think that these scientific classifications would refer to armadillos. But they actually refer to crustaceans. Little itty-bitty crustaceans, like roly-polys or pill bugs or whatever you want to call them. This is science for you. Where's the logic here? Call the armadillos armadillidae. And worse, they couldn't make up their mind which term to use. Just pick one, and give it to the armadillos!

The Armadillada  - In 1588, Spain set out in a bunch of boats to attack England with armadillos.

Armadillos and Leprosy

 Armadillos CAN have leprosy, but that does not mean that they all do.  In Texas, about 4% to 10% of armadillos seem to have it.  In Louisiana, up to 53% have been found to be infected.  In Florida, 3 thousand armadillos were examined over 12 years. None were found to be infected, but the method of examination used was not very accurate.

 Humans and armadillos are the only animals known to be susceptible to leprosy. This is because the disease needs a cool body temperature to develop.  Leprosy attacks the cooler parts of the body such as the nose and ears. Armadillo body temperatures range between 82.4 and 91.4 degrees F, compared to 98.6 degrees F for Humans. Because of this, leprosy in armadillos is more severe than in Humans.

 Not very many people have gotten leprosy from armadillos. In the USA, leprosy is rare in Humans. People who have gotten it from armadillos are suspected to have eaten under-cooked armadillo meat, or handled armadillos frequently.

Armadillos are not dangerous if they are treated with respect. If any armadillos in your area are infected, it's a good idea to avoid touching them. If one shows signs of infection, definitely avoid contact. Also, armadillos do not bite, but they may claw if handled wrong.

 It takes three years or more must elapse between infection of Humans and development of active disease. Armadillos develop symptoms much faster; several months to a year.

 The symptoms are that one or more hypopigmented skin lesions that have decreased sensation to touch, heat, or pain. Also skin lesions that do not heal after several weeks to months numbness or absent sensation in the hands and arms or feet and legs muscle weakness resulting in signs such as the toe dragging when the foot is lifted to take a step.

 You should contact your local health department or wildlife agency to find out if armadillos in your area are infected. If you want to eat them, the meat should be well-cooked to kill any diseases or parasites. If you need to handle them, or their raw meat, gloves should be worn and discarded.

Research is being done with armadillos and might someday help cure leprosy. No other animal has previously been found that regularly contracted the most virulent form of the disease. Because the disease only tends to grow in cooler parts of the body, large amounts of bacteria could not be grown. The armadillo, however, has a lower body temperature than most mammals, resulting in rapid development of the disease following inoculation.  Because of the armadillo, scientists have been able to develop a vaccine against leprosy.

     This information was found on the internet at several reputable sites.

Armadillo Help

Do you have an armadillo infestation or have an injured armadillo?  Armadillos are unpredictable and there is no definite solution.  However, the following items have been tried and recommended by various people.  There are professionals for hire to remove the animal. In your phone book they may be listed under "Wildlife Services", "Wildlife Trapping and Relocation", or "Pest Control".  There are many products here to control your wild Armadillo:

•  "Whole Control" that claims it "Inhibits the formation of burrows". It is supposed to be a natural and biodegradable repellent.

•  “Armageddon Armadillo” Repellent claims to repel them.

• "Ropel". You spray it on plants so that armadillos leave them alone

• “Armadillo Repellent” It is sprayed on the lawn/non-toxic

• You can also cut up soap bars and sprinkled around your lawn

• Mix one quart of ammonia with 5-10 gallons of water and apply over 2500 square feet. (ammonia can be dangerous.)

• Use Moth balls, Armadillos do not like the smell.  The moth balls are thrown into the burrow.

• Red pepper powder or chili powder. Sprinkle in the area where the armadillo digs.

• You can also use a short fence slanted outward, a 40-degree angle is best, buried at least 18-inches.

Insects may thrive and they attract armadillos, keep your insect population under control. An untended yard will also encourage burrowing, take care of your lawn, remove brush, rock piles and tall grass.

Fun with Armadillos!!!

Armadillo Jokes

An Armadillo's  Favorite Songs!

Armadillo's  Rules for crossing the road safely

• Stop & look both ways

• Stick nose to the road to feel for rumbling of cars.

• Stop & look both ways

• Get ready to run...

• Stop & look both ways

• Run like hell!

• If you meet a truck halfway across, roll up like a ball & it won't notice you.. he might treat you like a soccer ball, but he won't notice you.

• If all else fails.. JUMP!! (I know we really did good holes, but have you ever tried to dig thru asphalt??)

• If you don't make it the first time, (and live) Try again.

Armadillo Horror!

1    Armadillo      1/2 c  Salad oil 3/4 c  Vinegar 2    c  Water 1  tb  Salt 1  Onion sliced 1  lb  Smoked pork sausage Cut into bite size pieces. 1 Lemon 1  bn  Parsley, chopped	Sally's Armadillo Something or Other	2   lg   Onions chopped     4   Stalks celery, chopped 1   bn  Green onions, chopped      1  lg   Bell pepper, chopped    2   Cloves garlic, chopped      1   sm  Can mushroom steak sauce  4  tb   Worcestershire      1  tb Monosodium glutamate    1  lg  Can mushrooms   1 1/2    c  Dry red wine
Method: Armadillo is cleaned similarly to turtle.  Clean and cut into serving pieces. Marinate the meat in a sauce made by combining salad oil, vinegar, water, salt and onion.  Marinate for 24 hours.  Drain meat and place in a glass container.  Pour 1 quart of red wine over meat and let it stand for 6 to 8 hours in refrigerator.  Remove meat and let drain for 1 hour.   Place oil in black iron pot brown sausage and armadillo.  Remove armadillo, but leave sausage in the pot.  Add onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic and sautee with sausage until vegetables are tender.   Add the steak sauce, Worcestershire, salt pepper and monosodium glutamate. Stir until well mixed.  Put armadillo meat back into pot. Add enough water to cover meat.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer covered for one hour. Turn pot by handle back and forth to stir.   Add mushrooms and wine, slowly stirring them into pot. Sprinkle parsley and onion tops and lay thin lemon slices on top. Simmer without cover for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over rice.

1 1/4 cups dry white wine       1/2 cup oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional) 1/4 cup butter Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 tsp. thyme	ARMADILLO IN MUSTARD SAUCE	1/2 tsp. rosemary    1 med. onion, sliced thin 1 armadillo, cleaned and cut into serving pieces     1 1/4 cups light cream 1 tbsp. brown mustard (e.g. Gulden's) or Poupon Dijon     1 tbsp. cornstarch
Method: Mix all ingredients of marinade and add armadillo. Marinate about 8 hrs., turning meat occasionally. Remove armadillo and reserve marinade.  Melt butter in deep skillet and brown armadillo pieces. Pour in marinade and bring to a boil. Stir in seasoning, cover and simmer until tender (about 1 - 1 1/4 hours.) Remove skillet from the fire and place armadillo pieces on a warmed platter. Mix mustard and cornstarch, then mix in cream. Return skillet to low heat and stir in this mixture a little at a time. Stir sauce until hot, but not boiling, and thickened. Pour sauce over armadillo. Serve with steamed rice.

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