These tough guys prefer living on loose, loamy, or soft soil that is easy to dig. They dig out these nests using their short legs and tough claws. Where Do Armadillos Live?Īrmadillos live in nests called burrows. Opossums carry their young in a pouch and are the only marsupial native to the U.S. They’re Not Marsupials, EitherĪrmadillos are sometimes mistaken for opossums because they’re a similar size. Rodents have sharp incisors and a fondness for nuts and seeds. Some species of flying squirrel are described as “scaly tailed,” but there the resemblance ends. Are They Rodents?Īrmadillos are not rodents. Pangolins live in Asia and Africa, and armadillos live in the southwestern part of the U.S. These animals are native to different regions of the world. Also known as the scaly anteater, it resembles the armadillo in size and shape.īiologists originally thought these armored mammals were related, but now, they class pangolins in a separate category. The pangolin also has an armored body and a fondness for eating insects. Their babies are called pups, and twin births are common. They typically have large litters of up to 15 baby armadillos. A mother armadillo and her baby rooting for bugs in a log. They don’t give birth to live young, they don’t nurse their offspring, and they are cold-blooded rather than warm-blooded.Īrmadillos are not reptiles. On other counts, however, they miss the mark. Reptiles are not mammals, even though they share some characteristics with mammals, like a backbone. That tough, scaly hide looks like something a crocodile or lizard might have. It’s easy to see why some people might think they’re reptiles. The screaming hairy armadillo gets its name from its shaggy armor and its loud, piercing calls. The giant brown armadillo is the largest member of the family. It is a tiny creature that’s about six inches long, and its shell is a bright pink color. The pink fairy armadillo, however, stands out for its tiny size and bright color.
Most armadillos are fairly large and come in earth-toned colors of gray, black, and brown. Only the nine-banded armadillo lives in the U.S. Occipital condyles: You can’t see them under all that armor, but they’re there. Live young: Armadillos give birth to live young. Sweat glands: Armadillos have sweat glands, and they use various methods to regulate their body temperatures. In fact, it is made from keratin, which is one component of hair, horns, and fingernails. The armadillo is covered in a tough, scaly coat of armor that doesn’t seem like fur or hair. ©/6381380 Do Armadillos Have These Characteristics?įur or hair: This is where it gets confusing. The armadillo’s armored appearance makes it look reptilian, but this almost hairless animal is a mammal. A Nine-Banded Armadillo in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Now, let’s see how an armadillo compares to that list. Reptiles and fish have a single knob on their skull. Occipital condyles: This is the scientific name for two bony knobs at the base of an animal’s skull. They’re mammals who lay eggs but also nurse their young. Monotremes are the only exception to this rule. Live young: Only mammals give birth to live young. Some marine mammals don’t have sweat glands because they live in the ocean. The ability to sweat helps mammals regulate their body temperature. Sweat glands: Mammals are the only animals that sweat. Some marine mammals have no hair, but they meet the other requirements to be mammals. Other animals have backbones, but they don’t meet the other criteria for mammals.įur or hair: All mammals have fur or hair on their skin. Armadillos are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater.īackbone: Every mammal is a vertebrate, which is an animal with a backbone.Only the three-banded armadillo and Brazilian armadillo curl up into armored balls when they’re threatened.
Armadillos eat many insects, including fire ants.This animal looks like it’s wearing a suit of armor, and its name means “little armored one.” Some people think armadillos are amphibians or reptiles, but they’re not. Nature makes many odd creatures, but one of the strangest on earth must be the armadillo. All of your assumptions about the armadillo are probably wrong!.Despite being mostly known for roadkill, the armadillo has many great survival adaptations that make it stand out in the animal kingdom.These unique critters are tough to categorize because they have many characteristics of other animals.↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video Key Points
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