Quick Facts Armadillos are the only living mammals with armor-like shells.

. Armadillos have a very low body temperature that ranges between 33 C to 36 C. A female nine-banded armadillo can give birth to 56 pups in her lifetime, all of which are born as identical quadruplets. Armadillos have a strong olfactory sense, and can smell up to 20 cm below the ground. Armadillos sleep for 18-19 hours a day and are active during the night.

About Armadillos Scientific name: Cingulata Anatomy Armadillos are of dark-brown, yellow, black, gray or pink color. The name 'armadillo' is a Spanish word, which means 'little armored one', because its shell looks like an armor, comprising many small bones. These animals have poor vision, but they have a strong sense of smell. Habitat Armadillos are found only in the South and Central America. Out of the 20 varieties, nine-banded armadillo is the only one which is found in the United States. Armadillos are solitary animals, and they do not like to share their burrows with others. They prefer to live near moist regions like streams, rivers, creeks, ponds, reservoirs and tropical forests, because these places have moist soil that is easy to dig. Food Armadillos prefer to go out in search for food in the night. Armadillos are omnivores, and eat small insects like ants, grubs, small amphibians, spiders, small reptiles, snails, earthworms, termites, worms, mole crickets, frogs, beetles, larvae, etc. Survival Armadillos have a very low body temperature, hence they need to burrow in places that are warm. Also, they do not survive in places where the ground is too hard as they have to dig the soil for shelter and finding food. Medical Research Research on leprosy in armadillos has helped scientists to find a vaccination against the disease. They are also used in research on Chagas disease. Humans and Armadillos In the times of depression, armadillos were often consumed by people. In 1995, the State of Texas made the nine-banded armadillo its 'official state small mammal'. As armadillos are suspected to be the carriers of Mycobacterium leprae (a bacterium responsible for causing leprosy), its undercooked meat can lead to infection in humans. Armadillos may act as pests in destroying farms, landscapes or gardens. That's why, many farmers kill these animals to protect their properties. Only the population of nine-banded armadillo species is growing, while the remaining are threatened or on the verge of extinction. Armadillos are valuable for maintaining the ecological balance and carrying out medical research. It is the duty of every human being to preserve and protect these precious wild animals from extinction.