The premaxillae are small, as are the lacrimals . They are homodont and simple. Armadillos lack canines , and most have no incisors . Most armadillos are not gregarious, living solitarily or in sometimes in pairs. A few sometimes travel in small bands.
All armadillos are strictly terrestrial, but some are strong swimmers.
All are strong diggers that live in burrows and find their food by scratching or digging. Most feed on insects or other invertebrates, although they may also consume carrion, small vertebrates, and in some cases, plant material. Armadillos evolved and diversified in that continent during the Tertiary, probably entering North America when a land bridge connected the continents in the Pliocene. 9-banded armadillos have recently been found as far north as Nebraska. Literature and references cited Barlow, J. C. 1984.