North American hairy armadillo (SciiFii)

The North American hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus communis) is a species of hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus), most closely related to the screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, and deserts across North America to help boost biodiversity. The North American hairy armadillo averages a tail length of 3 to 7 inches and a body length of 8 to 16 inches. North American hairy armadillos have more hair growth than other armadillo species, allowing them to keep these armadillos insulated in more colder temperate regions. The North American hairy armadillo has 18 bands of which six to eight are movable bands. The hair on the dorsum is light brown in colour. The North American hairy armadillo is nocturnal by summer and diurnal in winter. It can subsist for long periods without water. It often burrows at the base of bushes and shrubs. It has multiple burrows in its range, and each burrow may have more than one entrance. When an animal is occupying a burrow, the entrance is usually sealed. A burrow may be 20 to 38 cm (7.9 to 15.0 inches) in diameter and may be several metres long or more. The home range of the North American hairy armadillo is recorded to consist of a minimum area of 3.4 ha (8.4 acres). The animal does not build a nest in its burrow. When not in its burrow, the animal spends most of its time foraging. The armadillo is omnivorous; its diet consists of insects, carrion, vertebrates and plant material, varying considerably depending upon the season. The animals increase their weight by up to 10% in winter, forming a layer of subcutaneous fat 1 to 2 cm (0.39 to 0.79 inches) thick. Vertebrates form a significant part of the North American hairy armadillo's diet, ranging from 27.7% by volume in summer to 13.9% in winter, the most common vertebrate species it preys on being lizards, birds, frogs, and small rodent species. This armadillo ingests a lot of sand while feeding, and it may occupy as much as 50% of the volume of its stomach at a time. The gestation period of the North American hairy armadillo is 60–75 days. The North American hairy armadillos become sexually mature at 9 months and produce two litters per year. The conservation status of the North American hairy armadillo is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American hairy armadillo's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii