ArmadilloArmadillo

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There are about 20 different types (species) of Armadillo, 9 types of Armadillo live in Paraguay.

Different types of Armadillo can be found in the southern states of North America (including Florida), and through Central America to most of South America.

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Click to see picture

Click to see picture

What habitat do they live in?

Some types of Armadillo live in rainforest.

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Different types of Armadillo live in different habitats.

Some types of Armadillo live in dry deserts.

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Why are they threatened?

The Giant Armadillo is also hunted for food, and the forests that this type of Armadillo lives in are being chopped down.

The habitat of many Armadillos is threatened.

People hunt Armadillo for food, or for sport.

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The Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo is hunted for food, and much of its habitat has been destroyed by farming and mining activities.

Can you think of reasons people might want to hunt Armadillo? Click for the answer

Click to learn why the Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo is threatened.

Click to learn why the Giant Armadillo is threatened.

How do they communicate? Armadillos communicate with each other using chemical smells. Armadillos are almost silent, but they can make noises such as low grunts or squeals.

What do they eat? Armadillos eat ants and termites, but sometimes they will also eat plants and bits of dead animals.

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How do you think they communicate? Click for answer

What do you think they eat? Click for answer

How long do they live? Armadillos only live for around four years.

How big are they?

The Nine-banded Armadillo can grow to 57cm long, and their tail can be between 24 and 45 cm long. The largest armadillo species, the Giant Armadillo, can grow up to 100 cm long with a tail that grows 50 cm long.

Different species of Armadillo are very different sizes.

This Three-banded Armadillo can be held with one hand.

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Click to find out more.

What do they look like?

The armour provides protection from predators and means that the Armadillo does not get hurt moving through thorny bushes.

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Armour

The armour of an Armadillo is called a shell and it is made up of strong bony plates and covered with horny scales.

Most Armadillos have armour covering their bodies, tail, legs and top of the head.

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Click

Why do you think Armadillos need armour? Click

Most Armadillos have strong front legs with sharp claws for digging.

Tell me about their babies:

The Nine-banded Armadillo gives birth to four identical babies (called quadruplets). The babies of the Nine-banded Armadillo are always identical and always either all girls or all boys.

Some Armadillos may have as many as 12 babies.

This Armadillo was caught on a camera trap at night in a forest

in Mexico.

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Click here to learn about the babies of the Nine-banded Armadillo.

The Nine-banded Armadillo can travel through deep water by inflating its stomach with air to make itself float. This Armadillo can also hold its breath for several minutes so that it can cross smaller streams by walking underwater.

Interesting facts:

The only unprotected area of an Armadillo is its tummy. Some Armadillos can roll into a ball, tucking in their legs and tail, to protect their tummy.

Armadillos have strong legs with sharp claws to help them dig insects out of the soil.

Click to find out why Armadillos roll into a ball.

Click to find out why Armadillos have sharp claws.

Click to find out how some Armadillos travel through water.

A story from the wild:Rebecca and Roger from the World Land Trust were in Paraguay, driving to a field station in the Chaco-Pantanal (this is an area where dry grassland and swampy wetland habitat meet).

The roads there are made of dirt, not tarmac and they were very quiet. Suddenly their guide, Pepe, stopped the car and jumped out. He ran into the bushes by the side of the road and got down on his knees.

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A story from the wild:

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Pepe had spotted an Armadillo in the bushes by the side of the road.

Rebecca had never seen an Armadillo before, so Pepe let her hold it. She said it was very smelly.

After she had looked at the Armadillo Rebecca put it back in the bushes.

If you choose Armadillos as your fundraising focus, your donation will be used to buy and protect land in Paraguay.

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