Hands Down Animals · Printable fact sheet
Armadillo
Dasypodidae
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Dasypodidae |
|---|---|
| Size | 13–150 cm (5–59 in) depending on species |
| Weight | 0.12–60 kg (0.25–132 lbs), species dependent |
| Lifespan | Average 10 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity |
| Diet | Primarily insectivorous—mainly ants, termites, beetles, grubs, but also plants, fruit, eggs, and small… |
| Habitat | Tropical and subtropical forests, Grasslands, Savanna |
| Where it lives | Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, Northern Argentina |
| IUCN status | Species-dependent; Least Concern to Vulnerable |
| Population | Unknown (varies significantly by species; Nine-banded… |
| Top speed | 48 km/h |
| Family | Dasypodidae |
About the armadillo
Armadillos are mammals of the Americas covered in bony plates under a leathery skin, and the roughly 20 species range from the pink fairy armadillo, about 12 centimetres long, to the giant armadillo, which can weigh over 30 kilograms. Only the three-banded armadillos can roll into a complete ball; the nine-banded armadillo, the one species found in the United States, instead jumps straight up when startled and has spread steadily north since the 1850s. Nine-banded females almost always give birth to identical quadruplets from a single egg.
Five things to know
- Armadillos are the only mammals with a complete hard shell made of bony plates.
- The Nine-banded Armadillo has rapidly expanded its range into the southern United States.
- Giant Armadillos can have up to 100 small teeth—more than any other terrestrial mammal.
- Pink Fairy Armadillos are so elusive that very little is known about their wild populations.
- Some armadillo species (like the Three-banded) can roll into a perfect ball for defense.
Homeschool unit: Animals homeschool guide — Habitats, adaptations and food chains as a graded unit, with the armadillo as one of its worked examples.