Nine-Banded Armadillo
NPS Photo / Soren George-Nichol
Dasypus novemcinctus
Armadillos are found throughout the southeastern United States and get their name from their distinctive body armor. Armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish. While they are typically more active at night, armadillos are frequently seen during the day. Armadillos are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of invertebrates from insects to snails. They also eat eggs and small reptiles when they can get them! Armadillos do eat plant matter, but it is not as large a part of their diet as small animals are.
Armadillos' natural predators can include coyotes, bobcats, and alligators. However, the biggest threats to armadillos are vehicles. Armadillos' eyes don’t shine in the dark the way a deer’s eyes do and are frequently impossible to spot at night. They also have a defense mechanism of jumping up to three feet in the air when they feel threatened, which puts them directly in the way of most vehicles' bumpers. Despite this, armadillos are not threatened or endangered and continue to thrive throughout Texas and many other southern states. Armadillos are about the size of a large house cat and can live 7-10 years.
Did You Know?
