The armadillo is the only armored mammal in North America. Its body is covered with heavy, bony plates. The name is Spanish for “little armored one.” In its midsection are 9 (sometimes fewer) jointed bands that allow the body to bend. The head is small and has a pair of upright ears. It’s about the size of a house cat. The armadillo in the far-left photo has 8 bands, the others have 9.
Armadillo is pronounced “aar · muh · di · low” in English and “ar · ma · di · io” in Spanish.
Armadillos in North America
Armadillos are found throughout the Americas, where 21 species occur. The pink fairy armadillo is the smallest. It’s 3½–4½ inches long and weighs only 4½ ounces. It is found in the sandy plains, dunes and scrubby grasslands of central Argentina. The nine-banded armadillo is the only armadillo we have in North America. it occurs in Florida and Georgia, then west to Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, and its range is expanding.
Armadillos do not hibernate but are active all winter long. They cannot survive prolonged freezing weather. I suspect that global warming is allowing them to expand into areas that were formerly too cold for them. The last picture is of an armadillo at its burrow entrance surrounded by snow. I saw it on February 9, 2010.
Armadillos dig burrows in which they live. The burrows are 10–15 feet long. Their home range is 3–10 acres.
Armadillos typically search for food, mostly insects, during the morning, evening and at night. Armadillos have poor eyesight and rely in their keen sense of smell to search for food. While working outside, I’ve had them come right up to me and sniff my boots, then think, “Oh darn, I’m not supposed to be doing this,” before hurrying off.
Armadillos always have four young; all are either male or female. This results from a fertilized egg that divides into four identical quadruplets.
Armadillos and Leprosy
Some armadillos carry the bacteria that cause leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease. It was re-named in honor of the Norwegian physician Armauer Hansen who, in 1873, discovered the organism that caused leprosy. This was the first bacterium to be identified as causing human disease.
DNA studies have shown that the leprosy bacteria in armadillos and in humans is the same. It’s not clear how armadillos became infected, possibly by digging in contaminated soil. Surveys in the Gulf states found that up to 20% of the armadillos were infected. The risk of infection from handling an armadillo is minimal.
Armadillos are the only animals that can be infected with leprosy. Because of this, they have become the animal research model for studying the disease. A scientist friend, who worked at the Hansen’s Disease Research Institute in Carville, LA, used armadillos in his research. They tried unsuccessfully to breed armadillos in captivity. Even wild-caught pregnant armadillos would resorb their fetuses once caught. To get armadillos for research, they had to run them down at night on the levees using large nets.
The Institute no longer does leprosy research. Instead, it has become the National Hansen’s Disease Museum. Leprosy research is now conducted at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge.
Armadillo Burrows
The armadillo burrows in pastures can be a hazard for livestock. A cow or horse could break a leg stepping into one of the holes.
The Amazing Armadillo
Armadillos are almost entirely beneficial. They destroy many insects, their burrows serve as homes for other mammals, the meat is eaten, and the shells are made into baskets.
Read more Nature Notes.
