Nine banded armadillo- Day in the Life

Waking up early to forage for my early morning meal while the sun is still low on the horizon. In the distance i see a fallen log, which mean food!! I scurry along the dirt felling protected by my nine armed back side. Reaching the log I found an abundance of insects and was just like an all you can eat restaurant. After the amazing meal i scurry back to my whole that i had found the night before.

Nin banded armadillo- Reproduction

The Nine banded armadillos breed in late July. There young are born between February or March, a 5 month gestation period. The armadillos only have one baby each year. The young armadillos look like the adults except that they are smaller and their armor coat is soft and leathery. It take time for there armor coat  to harder.

Nine banded armadillos Diet

These nine banded armadillo feed primarily on insects. They also eat earthworms, scorpions, spiders, snails, and small vertebrates and some times their eggs. Armadillos consume large amounts of armyworms, cockroaches, ants, wasps, flies, beetles, and grasshoppers. They have been known to dig up entire yellow jacket nests. Armadillos usually search for food by digging in the ground, but if the armadillo can not find any insects they will also eat berries and mushrooms.

Habitat of a Nine banded armadillo

The nine banded armadillo is native to South America but can be found in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and south east Kansas. Also can be found southeastward to Georgia and Florida.  In those locations they prefer bottomland hardwood forests, scrubs and brushlands. They like soft soil so it is easy for the armadillo to burrow into the ground. They are most commonly located near water like streams, creeks and water holes.

Adaptations of a Nine banded armadillo

The Nine banded armadillo has evolved and adapted to the surrounding environment. The armadillo has scutes which are armored like plates that protect them selves from predators. They have large sharp claws that are used to help them dig and also to burrow in the the earth. There head had adapted to help the gather food easers and a long snout that helps out as well. They have migrated to warm temp.  because they cant handle the colder weather because that have very little fur to keep its self warm.

Characteristics of a Nine banded armadillo

The nine banded armadillo is about the same size of a house cat. They size ranges from 15 to 17 inches long. The armadillo also has a tail which is 14 to 16 inches in length. They have armored like plates that cover there back which are called scutes. They are equipped with a small pointed head with a long snout that helps them in the eating process. There front feet are large and have sharp claws the help them dig, searching for food.