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Armadillo

A Family Affair: Armadillos belong to the same family as anteaters and sloths. Like their relative the anteater, armadillos are insectivorous.

Armadillo Species: Some species of armadillo are the giant armadillo, nine-banded armadillo, large hairy armadillo, northern naked-tailed armadillo and the pichi. The giant armadillo, by far the largest of the armadillos, can weigh more than 60 pounds. They are found in the Amazon River basin of South America but are endangered throughout their range due to hunting and habitat loss. The endangered status of other species of armadillo is not known.

Armored for Protection: Slight differences in appearance exist in each armadillo species, as each of their names suggest, but all armadillos are covered in armored plates of hardened skin on their back, sides, limbs and tail, a great source of protection against predators. Armadillos also have a huge claw on their front feet, which is used to dig up soil in search of food items such as insects and other small animals.

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Identical Armadillos: Armadillos usually produce four identical offspring, all from the same egg.

When in Water: The armadillo can remain submerged for up to 6 minutes to avoid predators. It has to inflate its stomach with air when swimming to avoid drowning.