Armadillos are cool little creatures. They are in the same order as sloths and anteaters but are much smaller. They have an armor-like protective shell they use for defense in the wild and live mostly in warmer environments.
Function
While to the casual observer Armadillos seem to have no function at all, through history they have been used by humans quite a bit. They were known as "Hoover Hogs" in the 1930s during the Great Depression because Americans who were affected and lost their homes sometimes had to catch and eat these animals, and President Hoover was thought to be largely responsible. They are also used by scientists to study leprosy.
Geography
Armadillos generally like warm climates due to their lack of body fat. They are found mostly in Southwest states including Texas, although they have been seen as far east as Florida. They are naturally from South America, where several types exist. In the states, only the "Nine-Banded" species are found. They get this name from the number of "bands" found on their shells.
Features
Armadillos feature a very unique body. They dig for most of their food, so they have very sharp claws and eat mostly insects.They do not see very well but are not completely blind. They use their noses and sense of feel to find food. Their hard shells are a composite of bone and very sturdy epidermal scales. While they sometimes use this outer shell for defense, they are much more likely to run into sticker bushes to escape possible predators. They have very few natural enemies. Unfortunately, the Nine-Banded species is prone to jumping straight up when scared, and this causes them to be hit by automobiles quite often.
Size
The average length of armadillos is around 30 inches including their tails. They have very short legs and can remain under water for several minutes, inflating their lungs greatly in order to float along. They have a large number of small teeth that are not arranged in any particular order. Their eyes are very small and are located on the sides of the head.
Types
As mentioned, the only type of armadillo that resides in the United States is the Nine-Banded variety. Several others exist in other parts of the world. For instance, the Giant Armadillo can get to an impressive size, weighing up to 130 pounds and growing to over 5 feet long. The Pink Fairy Armadillos are a tiny species, with an average size of 4 to 5 inches. Most of the other species are noted by the number of bands on the shell. The only one known to rely on its back armor for protection is the Three-Banded Armadillo from South America, which often will roll into a ball when attacked.
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