Armadillos are relic animals, contemporaries of dinosaurs. Once it was a huge family, now in nature there are only a few species. Their sizes also changed: the glyptodon, the largest known representative, was the size of a modern rhinoceros. Now they do not even reach one and a half meters in length, and the average height is thirty centimeters.
The armadillo (pictures are presented) got its name from the shell of hard plates, reminiscent of knightly armor. Hence the Spanish name for the animal is armadillo (dressed in armor). The parts of the body that are outside the shell are covered with wrinkled, warty skin.
The family is divided into species primarily by the number of belts in the shell: nine-belt, seven-belt, three-belt. "Belts" are articulated with each other by connective tissue, which provides the animal with relative flexibility. The most flexible is three-belt: it curls up into a ball, like our wood urchins. In addition, the species vary in size. The smallest animal is the shield bearer: only thirteen centimeters long.
Medium sizesthe most common species is distinguished - the nine-banded armadillo. It is about fifty centimeters long and weighs between four and eight kilograms.
The armadillo lives mainly in South and Central America. Prefers fields and sandy plains, digs deep holes. Nine-banded species are less whimsical than other species: they do not disdain thickets of shrubs, they climb mountains up to three kilometers. They are more prone to migration than others: it was this species that colonized Texas, other southern US states and continues to move north.
Armadillos are animals with a short lifespan. Nine-banded live for about four years. Animals have developed muscles. Despite the shell, they run fast, stand on their hind legs and even bounce in place. But their main way to escape from danger is to quickly burrow into the ground.
Armadillos are nocturnal animals. They sleep during the day and hunt at night. Their main delicacy is ants. In addition to insects and larvae, the diet includes shoots and fruits of plants, mushrooms, small lizards and frogs. Animals are classified as edentulous: this detachment lacks fangs and tooth enamel. They have an excellent sense of smell and very poor eyesight. The armadillo has one more advantage: it consumes little air and is able to hold its breath for a long time. Thanks to this feature, the animal is an excellent swimmer and is very good at digging.
An armadillo litter most often consists of four cubs that are identic altwins. They are born with a soft skin covering, which after some time stiffens and turns into armor. Babies are born with their eyes open, after a few hours they stand on their paws, and in a year they fully mature.
Armadillos are animals prone to leprosy. It is a disease of a relatively small number of mammals. The risk group includes humans, monkeys, mice. On armadillos, they tested drugs for this serious disease, which is still widespread in tropical countries.
