Instead the body is covered with a protective shell of bony armor. There are nine movable bands across the back and the tail is covered with a series of overlapping rings. The underparts are covered with soft skin and a few long hairs. The armadillo is about the size of an opossum and weighs from 8 to 17 lbs. Its front feet are well adapted for digging.
Tracks made by an armadillo appear to have been made by a three-toed animal.
Armadillos normally produce only one litter a year, usually in March or April. The gestation period is about 5 months and the young are always quadruplets of the same sex. The young are usually born in a nest within the burrow. Armadillos have poor eyesight, but a keen sense of smell. In spite of their cumbersome appearance, armadillos can run fast when in danger.