

The term “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish, and refers to the presence of bony, armor-like plates covering their body. approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded is the only one found in the United States. Reproduction: Reproduction for the nine-banded armadillo begins in early summer, and the breeding period lasts about 2-3 months. However because of the armadillos’ relatively low body temperature, the nine-banded species in North America tends to change its habits in the cooler months and emerge during the day to take advantage of the warm sun.

What are the habits of the nine-banded armadillo? Nine-banded armadillos are about 2.5 feet (0.7 meters) long from the nose to the tip of the tail and weigh an average of 12 pounds (5 kilograms). In reality, only two species of armadillo (both three-banded) are able to roll up completely. Armadillos are nocturnal animals, meaning they are awake at night and sleep during the day.Ī common misconception is that nine-banded armadillos can roll up into spherical balls. This of course begs the query “How much do armadillos weigh?”īy way of comparison, the South American armadillo is called the Giant Armadillo and for good reason, too, because it can weigh up to 60 to 70 pounds. During winter the 9 banded Armadillos come out during the day to take advantage of the warm sun to regulate their body temperature. Some authors claimed armadillos have relatively lower body temperature so in the North American regions they tend to change their habits during winter. One species in particular – the nine-banded armadillo – has made its way into the southern United States, and is the focus of this page.Īnother popular question is “Do armadillos come out in the winter?”. What kind of animal is an armadillo?Īrmadillos are western mammals known for their unique armor-like shell and notorious for their digging habits. When awake, armadillos spend more time foraging than most mammals. Armadillos rarely share their burrows with other armadillos, although they do share them with tortoises, snakes, and rats. They have a low metabolic rate and maintain a low body temperature with poor thermoregulation making them best suited for semitropical environments.ĭuring the daylight hours, they spend up to 16 hours sleeping, usually in burrows. One source stated the Nine-banded Armadillos are nocturnal or crepuscular and are normally solitary but travel in pairs during breeding season. While writing we ran into the query “Are nine banded armadillos nocturnal?”. They have very poor eyesight and hearing, but to make up for these deficits, they possess phenomenal senses of smell. Īrmadillos are nocturnal animals, meaning they are awake at night and sleep during the day. During the daylight hours, they spend up to 16 hours sleeping, usually in burrows. Accessed June 28, 2019.As nocturnal animals, armadillos perform most activities - foraging, eating, burrowing, mating - at night.

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