Armadillo is omnivorous animals, are mostly found in South America and the central part of the United States.

There are 20 different breeds and breed armadillos were each given a name according to the physical characteristics. Some descendants of the nine-banded armadillo included, giant armadillo, large hairy armadillo three-banded armadillo, pink fairy armadillo, six-banded armadillo, armadillo northern naked-tailed armadillo and the pichi or dwarf. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo armadillo, which is 6 inches in height and the largest is the giant armadillo to 1.5 meters (5 ft) in height. The average life expectancy is 12-15 years armadillo.

Physical Characteristics Armadillos

Armadillo is said to have evolved from large, thin-shelled animals called glyptodon and panochthus. Comparatively, the armadillo is now the little critters, but still has a hard skin ancient counterparts. The armadillo's name is the Spanish word meaning "little armored", because the shell looks like a shield, consisting of small bones.

Armadillo have short legs, but they can move pretty quickly in times of danger. outer shell helps them move faster in dense forest, without getting hurt.

armadillo is believed to have the ability to roll into a ball when it senses any kind of danger. However, only three-banded armadillo can do this because the others are not flexible because they are hard cover. The nine-banded armadillo can jump 4 feet in the air, if surprised.

Armadillo can hold their breath under water for nearly six minutes and can swim in ponds and streams. In the water, the weight of their shells can easily make them sink, but interesting, they do not. They are able to float on water by filling their lungs and abdomen with air, which makes them swell twice its original size.

Armadillo have poor vision, but their strong sense of smell. This allows them to sense food and predators from a distance. They also have long, sticky tongue to catch insects.

Habitat armadillo

Armadillo is mostly found in South and Central America. The nine-banded armadillo is the only one to be found in the United States and is known as the state mammal of Texas.

Armadillo prefers a warm, because they have a low body temperature and can not survive in cold weather. They use their powerful claws to dig burrows and find their food. They prefer to live near moist areas such as rivers, streams, creeks, ponds and reservoirs, because these places have sandy soil is easy to dig.

Armadillo tend to dig burrows 10-15, which may be 20 inches to 20 feet, with a minimum of 4-5 emergency entrance to hide. They are nocturnal animals that prefer to work late into the night, until dawn and sleep all day.

Food Armadillos

Armadillo does not have strong teeth white enamel like other mammals and this limits their food for small insects such as ants, grubs, small birds, eggs, earthworms, termites, mole crickets, spiders, frogs, beetles and larvae. They also like to eat meat from carcasses of dead animals and humans. Because of this, they are known as 'grave digger' as. Armadillo also ate plants and some of them, such as giant armadillos can destroy agricultural land.

Pregnancy at Armadillos

armadillo has the ability to delay pregnancy for several months, and may, if sad, even delay birth until nearly two and a half years. Even after the fertilization of the egg, it can take several months for the implantation of the egg in the uterine lining. mammals give birth to four identical baby armadillo in one liter. The young are produced from a single fertilized egg and the same sex. Armadillo has a soft shell baby at birth, which will harden when they become mature adults.

Armadillo - Endangered Species

Armadillo has become an endangered species, due to habitat loss due to human encroachment. The species is hunted for meat, as it is delicious in South America, Armadillos are also hunted for their skins, which are used to make leather accessories such as handbags and belts. Only the nine-banded armadillo breed grow, while others such as the giant armadillo armadillos and pink-fairy fast becoming extinct.

Medical Research

Armadillo has been widely used in research for leprosy and also for cancer and HIV. Research on leprosy in armadillos has helped scientists discover vaccination against the disease.

armadillo is an invaluable asset to the world. It is the duty of every human being to preserve and protect precious wildlife from extinc