Nine-banded Armidillo

Description:

Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one” and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of these odd looking creatures. Armadillos are the only living mammals that wear such shells. Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They dig burrows and sleep up to 16 hours per day, foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants, termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and some fruit, as well as the occasional carrion meal.

Habitat:

This armidillo was foraging among the leaves in the forest at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville, florida.