The Armadillo, Distribution, Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Reproduction, Conservation, Threats, and The life span
The Armadillo
What is an armadillo?
The
armadillo belongs to the order (Cingulata), of the family (Dasypodidae), as
their closest living relatives are sloths and anteaters, together, and the real
evolution of these animals was for the first time nearly fifty million years
ago, and in what is now known as America Southern
Armadillos
are barrel-shaped animals covered with natural armor, and in fact, their name
in Spanish means (small armored), as the armadillo armor works well against
most predators, while not against cars, as it is also known by the name
(bumps). Hillbilly speed), according to its tendency to be run over by
vehicles, but the knowledge about this animal does not lie only in that, while
there is a set of information that must be known about the armadillo, as
follows
The size and description of the armadillo
There are
21 species of armadillo, and according to the Integrated Information System
(ITIS) information system, some armadillos are very small, while others are
huge, and the smallest is the pink fantasy armadillo, which reaches nearly 6
inches (15 cm) in length. In addition to the giant armadillo being the largest
species, it is about 5 feet (1.5 m) long, and according to National Geographic,
the armadillo is formed of overlapping plates that cover the back, head, legs,
and tail, but the number of bands of armor determines the different species,
and depending on the park San Diego is only one species, the three-banded
armadillo, that can roll into a hard armored ball in order to defend itself
against predators, while other armadillos simply dig a hole quickly and
barricade down, protecting its stomach. The kind and her armor is the only
obvious thing.
Distribution
A number of
different types of armadillos live in North, Central, and South America. Some
species, such as the nine-banded armadillo, have very large ranges. Other
species, such as the tiny pink fairy armadillo, live in a relatively small
area.
They live
as far north as the middle of the United States, and as far south as the tip of
South America.
Habitat
The
majority of armadillos stick to regions near the equator, where they like
temperate to warm regions due to their low-fat stores, and according to the
Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, armadillos are picky about
where they live based on the type of soil they are in. The area, and often,
armadillos prefers sandy, clayey soils that are loose and porous, making it
easier to dig for food and create burrows.
Diet
Armadillos
are omnivores, which indicates that they eat meat as well as plants, and
although 90% of an armadillo's diet is made up of insects and larvae, according
to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, with their long sticky
tongue, armadillos hunt ants, beetles Termites, termites, and other insects
after they are taken out of the ground will also eat plants, eggs, small
vertebrates, and some types of fruit, and at times, they will start looking for
dead animals.
Behavior
Armadillos are not social creatures and spend the majority of their time sleeping, often sleeping for up to 16 hours each day in burrows, and according to National Geographic, during the morning and evening, they feed on food, and it is often the only time they meet Armadillos are mating season, warm, or during cold times. Some armadillos can burrow together in order to share body heat. Sometimes, a seven-banded armadillo will share its burrow with others of the same sex.
These
creatures wander in search of food, using their keen sense of smell. They find
most of their prey either underground or in leaf litter.
Reproduction
After a
gestation period of two to five months, the female gives birth to one to 12
young in the burrow, and these burrows can be up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide,
and according to the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage, the armadillo is
known as (Pups), and according to the San Diego Zoo, twin births are common,
with the nine-banded armadillo having four identical cubs of the same sex in
each litter, and the seven-banded armadillo having eight to 15 identical pups
at the same time.
When the puppies are
born, their shells are velvety and gray, and they have the feel of leather.
Within hours after birth, they can coil up into a ball. Within a few days, the
shell hardens. For 2 to 4 months, the mother breastfeeds the pups. Armadillos reach
maturity between the ages of 9 and 12 months.
Conservation
Each type
of armadillo has a different diet, and for some species, animals in different
regions rely on completely different food sources. However, the vast majority
of armadillos are insects. Their diets consist primarily of ants, termites,
caterpillars, and other insects.
Some
species have highly specialized diets, eating only a few different types of
foods, while others feed on a variety of insects and small creatures.
Threats
Unfortunately
for armor, human interaction is usually a bad thing. As previously discussed,
armadillos are very susceptible to being hit by cars. Humans also intentionally
kill them to dig and destroy lawns and gardens.
In
different regions, habitat destruction also causes problems. Humans threaten
some types of armadillos through their activity, especially those with small
ranges and vulnerable populations.
The lifespan
An armadillo has a lifespan of 4 to 30 years.
Is an armadillo a pet?
No,
armadillos do not make good pets. They are wild animals, and in many places
owning one as a pet is illegal.
Interesting facts about the armadillo
Of course,
such an exotic-looking animal should be just as fun! Armadillos are unique
animals with unique traits and behaviors.
Ancient
animals - Scientists believe that the extinct glyptodont was related to modern
armadillos. These extinct creatures looked very much like modern-day
armadillos, except that they exploded hundreds of sizes larger. Researchers
estimate that the largest glyptodonts can weigh about 4,500 lbs.!
Ring and
Round - Despite popular myths, most types of armadillos cannot roll into a ball.
The only species capable of this unique behavior is the three-banded armadillo.
Identical
Babies – One type of armadillo, the nine-banded armadillo, gives birth to four
babies at a time. These babies are identical quadruplets, and they all grew up
from a single egg. They are 100% genetically identical to each other.
