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Armadillo is Spanish for “little armored one”
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Known for their leathery shell
Placental mammal = just like us!
Only surviving member of their Order
(Cingulata)
Closest living relative are sloths and anteaters
Over 20 species
Weigh 10-20 lbs
Body length is
15-23 inches
Tail is 5-19 inches
6-10 inches tall
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Nocturnal
Built for digging
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Food (grubs)
Dens
Nine-banded armadillo is
the only species found in
the US
Restricted to the
Southeastern US
Has recently expanded its
range northward
Giant armadillo 
Range of the nine-banded armadillo
Three-Banded
Armadillo
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Poor vision
Short legs, but can move quickly
Can stay underwater for up to 6 minutes
Armor is its main protection
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Formed by plates of dermal bone
Covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal
scales called "scutes"
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Nine-banded armadillos
always give birth to 4
identical babies
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Only mammal to do so
All develop from the same
egg and develop their own
placenta
After birth, the quadruplets remain in the burrow
for ~ 3 months
Babies leave the burrow to fend for themselves
after ~ 6 months
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Nine-banded armadillo is abundant in the US
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Jumps straight up in the air (3-4 ft ) when scared
Can be a particular danger on roads
All other species are threatened or
endangered
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Nuisance
Habitat loss