Armadillo (Nine-Banded)

Size

Nine-banded armadillos weigh 12–22 pounds (5.4–10.0 kg). Head and body length is 15–23 inches (38–58 cm), which combines with the 5–19 inches (13–48 cm) tail for a total length of 20–42 inches (51–110 cm). They stand 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) tall.

Food

They are generally insectivores. They forage for meals by thrusting their snouts into loose soil and leaf litter and frantically digging in erratic patterns, stopping occasionally to dig up grubs, beetles, ants, termites, and caterpillars, which their sensitive noses can detect through 8 inches (20 cm) of soil. They then lap up the insects with their sticky tongue. They supplement their diet with amphibians, small reptiles, fungi, tubers, and carrion.

Habitation

The nine-banded armadillo can be found in bottomland hardwood forests, scrub and brush lands. It prefers areas with soft soil that it can burrow into. It is usually found near water sources like streams, creeks and water holes. The armadillo may have more than one burrow.