![]() ![]() The North Carolina Wildlife Commission is interested in knowing about your observations of the Nine-banded Armadillo. They can also swim, and they have been known to walk on the bottom of a lake while holding their breath! They can defend themselves by releasing a foul-smelling spray, and when frightened, they can jump straight up several feet! The Nine-banded Armadillo can climb fences, but they are not known to climb trees. If approached, an armadillo protects itself by running through thick brush. The Nine-banded Armadillo has numerous natural predators including feral hogs, dogs, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons, and their nocturnal habits of feeding on invertebrates make them susceptible to being struck by motor vehicles at night. Once they sniff out their prey of grubs, insects, and other invertebrates, they capture them using their long, sticky, and flexible tongue. They are mainly nocturnal and have poor vision but a great sense of smell. Their habitat needs are dependent on precipitation levels and winter temperatures, and because they make burrows, armadillos prefer clay or sandy soils. After leaving its mother’s care, a young southern three-banded armadillo may share a home range with its mother for a short time.The Nine-banded Armadillo is a solitary animal that has adapted to many habitats including scrubland, grasslands, pine forests, salt marshes, and deciduous forests. Young armadillos are raised by the female only, and are independent in just 72 days. The infant armadillo looks like a smaller version of the adult, but has softer scutes. After a 120-day gestation period, females give birth to one offspring. After mating, each quickly returns to its own burrow. Males and females may have overlapping home ranges that help them find mates. Their known natural predators include cougars (perhaps the leading predator), maned wolves, coyotes, black bears, red wolves, jaguars, alligators, bobcats, and. Not much is known about three-banded armadillo reproduction and raising of young. Their defense strategy of curling into a ball makes these armadillos easy for humans to catch, meaning that humans can potentially become a major threat to southern three-banded armadillos. Southern three-banded armadillos are occasionally hunted by people for food, scute collecting, or the pet trade. Because their predators are mainly nocturnal, young armadillos will venture out in the late afternoon to return to the safety of their burrows earlier in the evening. ![]() ![]() However, large mammals like jaguars and maned wolves can successfully hunt members of this species. The bony armor of three-banded armadillos protects them from most animals. Small gaps between the curled-up armadillo’s scutes can pinch the skin or fingers of predators that try to pry open this potential meal. When threatened, a southern three-banded armadillo can roll completely into a ball, shielding its soft belly. In southern three-banded armadillos, this protective adaptation goes a step further. The bony plates (scutes) of armadillos make them instantly recognizable. If none are available, they will make temporary nests out of grasses and leaves. Southern three-banded armadillos rarely dig their own burrows, prefering to take over the abandoned burrows of other animals. During the day these armadillos rest in burrows to keep cool and safe. Thanks to this armor, three-banded armadillos can move around confidently each night in search of ants and termites. Often found in home gardens and landscaped areas across the country, sowbugs (Porcellio scaber) and pillbugs (Armadillidium vulgare), also known as roly polies, feed primarily on decaying plant matter and are important in the decomposition process. Southern three-banded armadillos are small mammals covered in an armor of hard, bony plates called scutes. Although mainly nocturnal, armadillos may be a bit more active during the day when the weather is cooler. They can also be found in and around agricultural fields. Southern three-banded armadillos are found primarily in dry forests and grasslands of Argentina, Boiva, Brazil, and Paraguay. Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion. ![]()
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