Armadillo

Armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one" which is appropriate considering they are from South America and have shells on their backs. Some people may associate armadillos with dead carcasses on the side of the road, but I think cake from the 1989 Steel Magnolias movie when the groom is presented with a bleeding armadillo cake. How gross? Apparently, the film's popularity left an impression. Almost twenty years later, the cake is still requested by people. I was further surprised to learn there are twenty something species. I wonder which one was used as a model for the cake.

Armadillos' Top Ten Common Traits: Armadillos' family classification is Dasypodidae in the order Cingulata. There are no other surviving families in this order. They are placental mammals with two mammary glands. The top part of their bodies is covered with a series of bony plates called scutes forming a protective shell hence not a flexible creature. Armadillos are the only mammals with a shell. Short, sturdy legs and claws help them escape predators. Legs are efficient for speed and jumping, and claws are capable burrow diggers. A diet of insects including ants, beetles and termites along with plants makes for satisfying meals. The claws also play a role in eating by digging in soil and rotting wood for insects. Blunt teeth shaped like pegs resembling mini-marshmallows chew soft food and primarily invertebrates. All armadillos' teeth eventually fall out except for their molars. It's a good thing they are not carnivores. Such a diet leaves armadillos with little fat for insulation making them sensitive to cold weather. While spotting an armadillo as far north as Nebraska is possible, the occurrence is rare because they prefer warm climates. Armadillo species are decreasing in number except for the nine-banded armadillo who attempts to live in cold regions. Human development, domestic dogs, hunting and slash and burn farming contribute to the declining population. They tend to live solitary lives. Researchers frequently study armadillos because they are one of the few non-human species to contract leprosy systematically. Leprosy bacteria thrive in armadillos' low body temperatures. Armadillos are primarily nocturnal and dine on carrion making them more susceptible to being hit by a car. They also tend to jump up in the air when frightened increasing chances of colliding with a vehicle.

Thanks to Carolus Linnaeus, an 18th century botanist from Sweden, we have a classification system to help sort out all the species of armadillos as well as other animal and plant life. Venture on for the nitty-gritty of the armadillo species.

Dasypodinae subfamily contains the Dasypus genus including the Nine-Banded, Seven-Banded, Southern Long-Nosed, Llanos Long-Nosed, Great Long-Nosed and Hairy Long-Nosed species.

Dasypus
Nine-Banded live in areas stretching from Peru to northern areas of Argentina as well as central and southeastern parts of the United States. Except for the Hairy Long-Nosed that does not stray outside Peru, other species are found throughout South America in areas with limestone structures and dense shade. Carapaces are yellowish, brown and a few scraggly, pale yellow hairs grow on their underbellies. Nine-Banded always produce four identical pups unfortunately making them a favorable subject for medical research projects. Great Long-Nosed have bony scutes covering their knees in 2-3 rows. Peru placed Hairy Long-Nosed on its protective species list when The World Conservation Union (IUCN) declared their status vulnerable. The Llanos Long-Nosed, Seven-Banded and Southern Long-Nosed bunk in burrows with other armadillos of the same sex.

Euphractina subfamily contains five genus and their respective species are Calyptophractus (Greater Fairy), Chaetophractus (Screaming Hairy, Big Hairy, Andean Hairy), Chlamyphorus (Pink Fairy), Euphractus (Six-Banded) and Zaedyus (Pichi).

Calyptophractus
Greater Fairy lives in Argentina's northern most parts and the Chaco regions of Brazil and Paraguay. They prefer dry grasslands and sandy areas. Greater Fairy has whitish, yellowish brown scutes and whitish hair. To compensate for poor burrowing skills, this armadillo cries out like a human infant. Like the Hairy Long-Nosed, their status is vulnerable.

Chaetophractus
Screaming Hairy and Big Hairy live in almost desert regions of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Andean Hairy lives in parts of Bolivia and Chile but prefers grasslands at high altitudes. The Hairy names more than appropriately describe these hairy armadillos. Whitish to light brown hairs emit from their underbellies and shell. Probably due to their hairiness, these armadillos are nocturnal during the summer but diurnal during winter months.

Chlamyphorus
Pink Fairies live in Argentina's dry grasslands and sandy regions. Pink refers to the color of their shell. Wispy, fine white hairs cover their legs and underbelly. Pink Fairies fail to thrive in captivity. Sadly, they are on the endangered species list.

Euphractus
Six-Banded live in areas throughout Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. They prefer dry savannah regions. Six-Banded are yellowish to red-brown with an average amount of hair covering their body. In comparison to other armadillo species, they store deposits of fat under their skin in large quantities.

Zaedyus
Pichi live in some areas of Argentina and Chile. They burrow in firm, sandy ground just beneath shrubs. The carapace is dark brown with white edging starkly contrasting a yellow tail. Thin, soft black and yellow tinged hairs cover the shell while the underbelly hairs are coarse and yellowish. Pichi have been known to hibernate.

Tolypeutinae subfamily has three genus including Cabassous (Northern Naked-Tailed, Chacoan Naked-Tailed, Southern Naked-Tailed, Greater Naked-Tailed), Priodontes (Giant Armadillo) and Tolypeutus (Southern Three-Banded, Brazilian Three-Banded).

Cabassous
Northern Naked-Tailed live in Mexico's southernmost plateau regions as well as in parts of Belize, Colombia and Venezuela. Chacoan Naked-Tailed is found in Argentina's northern areas and parts of Bolivia and Paraguay. Southern Naked-Tailed ranges from areas of Venezuela into parts of Brazil. Greater Naked-Tailed exist in areas including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. All of the armadillos in this genus prefer grassland to moist habitats except for the Northern Naked-Tailed. They share common characteristics, such as coloring with an almost black shell edged in yellow and yellow-gray underbellies and reproductive always producing just one pup.

Priodontes
Giant Armadillo, the largest of all armadillos, lives in parts of Venezuela and Argentina. Their preferred habitat consists of a water source and undisturbed forest area. Giant Armadillo have a dark brown shell with a white band. The endangered status is the result of human encroachment and hunting.

Tolypeutus
Southern Three-Banded live in marshy parts of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina while the Brazilian Three-Banded is found in tropical areas of Brazil. Both species have blackish brown shells containing 3 moveable bands making them the only armadillos capable of almost rolling themselves into a ball. This ability is used for protection. Their young are born completely developed.

While the armadillos regardless of species look similar in many photos found online, they are quite different from another. Who would have thought there were so many different species, yet so few in the population? Hopefully with increased awareness made by The World Conservation Union and Humane Organizations, armadillos' numbers can begin to grow. It will be a shame if all we have left to remember armadillos by is the bleeding armadillo cake.