15 Solid Facts About Armadillos
Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd-looking creatures. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. Armadillos are mammals with a shell of armored plates that protect them from predators.
Only one armadillo species (nine-banded armadillo) lives in North America. The other 19 types live in South America. They inhabit grasslands, rainforests, and semi-arid areas. Most armadillo species are threatened because of habitat loss and hunting.
Here are 15 solid facts about Armadillos.
- The giant armadillo (Priodontes Maximus) is the largest of the armadillo species and can reach up to 150 centimeters (59 inches) including the tail and weigh up to 54 kilograms (119 pounds).
2. Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold is their enemy, and spates of intemperate weather can wipe out the whole population.
