Dasypus novemcinctus-Nine-banded Armadillo

© Isaac Lord – (INaturalist)

Nine-banded Armadillos are the only species of Armadillo found in the United States. They are very unique animals, and are named for the (typically) nine moveable bands which are found on its body armor. They have spread rapidly over the past several decades, and are now found throughout most of the southern USA.

## **Size**

Head and Body 15-22 in. (38-57 cm), Tail 10-16 in. (28-43 cm), Weight 6-16 pounds (3-7 kg).

## **Description**

Nine-banded armadillos are approximately the size of a small dog. This animal is easily distinguishable from other North American mammals as it is the only mammal armored with heavy, bony plates in the USA. This unique animal is covered in scaly-looking plates from its head to its tail. Their armor features nine (although number varies) armor bands which allow its body to curl. Its tail is long and fully armored. They have a small, long head with prominent ears. Their underside is soft and vulnerable. Nine-banded armadillos are brownish or pink in color with scattered yellowish white hairs. However their color is often determined by the color of soil they have been digging in most recently. Their front feet have four toes, while their hind feet have five toes. Tracks often appear bird-like due to tracks usually showing only two large claw marks from the front feet and three from the hind feet. It is one of only a few mammals with no eyeshine.

## **Subspecies**

One subspecies is found in the southern USA.

* ***Dasypus* *novemcinctus* *mexicanus* (Peters, 1864)**

Found in the southern USA and into southern Mexico.

## **Range**

This species was first reported by John J. Audubon and John Bachman in southern Texas in the mid 19th century, but it has spread far throughout the eastern and central USA. They have now spread as far north as Nebraska and Illinois in the Midwest and North Carolina in the East. Human development has aided in the Nine-banded Armadillo's expansion through creating bridges across natural obstacles and reducing natural predator populations. However, this species has a low tolerance to long winters, and this will limit their northerly expansion. Outside of the USA, the nine-banded armadillo has a large range stretching all the way south through Central and South America to Argentina and Uruguay.

## **Range in South**

Originally only found in southern Texas in the 1800s, it is now found throughout much of the South. Its range has expanded rapidly due to human development and introductions into multiple southern states including Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas in the 20th Century. It is only absent from the north-eastern region of the South and drier regions of Texas and Oklahoma.

## **Habitat**

Nine-banded armadillos are found in woodland, scrub, fields, and brushy areas. They favor areas with soft soils and rotting wood. They are more abundant in areas with sandy soils over areas with clay soils, which is harder to dig in.

## **Behavior**

Nine-banded armadillos are mostly nocturnal in the summer months, but are active during the day or night in winter. These animals act oblivious and shortsighted, due to poor eyesight, but can run quickly with a stiff-legged gait. When initially alarmed, it will often jump vertically in the air. This animal cannot roll into a complete ball like other armadillo species, but can curl up to protect itself when cornered. An interesting ability these armadillos have is that they are capable of crossing rivers both by swimming across them or walking along the riverbed. If the body of water is of reasonable size it may walk along the bottom, but if it is of considerable extent the armadillo may choose to swim. To do this they will inject air and hold it in their digestive system to increase buoyancy, they are very good swimmers. Alongside swimming, they are also very proficient diggers. They have been reported to be able to disappear quickly by digging into loose soil. They also are known to dig burrows into the ground 3-16 feet in length to a depth of over 3 feet underground. Dens of several adults may be lumped together, and some adults may even have more than one den. Some burrows are breeding burrows, which feature a nest of leaves or grasses, while some burrows lack a nest and may be simply escape routes. This animal is known to produce low-volume sounds such as grunts, and mating pairs make a "chuckling" sound. While their eyesight is poor, their sense of smell is very strong, and they sometimes will stand nearly upright, supported by their tail, to sniff for food or danger. Some armadillos carry a form of leprosy, and have been used to research on the disease. According to researchers, exposure to fresh armadillo blood or tissue raises the risk of leprosy.

## **Reproduction**

Females and males will reach sexual maturity at 1-2 years of age. Nine-banded Armadillos typically mate in June or July in the northern hemisphere. They create a pair bond between a female and male of the species during mating season, which is unusual since the species is normally solitary. After a unusual delay of 14 weeks, in November the embryo is implanted in the uterine wall. During this time the egg divides into four identical quadruplets. The females give birth around March, but have been reported to give birth from February to May. Females usually only have one litter of young per year. This species gives birth to four identical young, weighing roughly three ounces, they are born highly developed with their eyes opened, being able to walk just hours after birth. However, the young's armor is soft making them vulnerable to predation. The young will accompany their mother on foraging trips within a few weeks of birth, and will become independent after several months following birth.

## **Diet**

Nine-banded armadillos feed mostly on invertebrates they dig out from the ground, including beetles and their larvae, termites, ants, earthworms, centipedes, and more. These armadillos are also known to consume small vertebrates, eggs, fruits, and carrion. Legends from the South have led people to call nine-banded armadillos "gravediggers" due to stories of them digging into human graves and dining on the contents.

## **Predation and Lifespan**

Wild cats, coyotes, alligators, large birds of prey, and humans are known to hunt armadillos. While humans cause thousands of armadillo's deaths per year from automobile collisions, they also are hunted in rural areas for their skin and meat. The decline of naturally occurring predators has been attributed to aiding the rapid expansion of this species' range. Because of the young being born with a soft armor, they are more vulnerable to predation than adults. Nine-banded armadillos are reported to live 7-20+ years in the wild, and have been reported to live to 23 years of age in captivity.

## **Status**

Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN (2014) with a stable population globally. Due to its range still expanding throughout the south, it is not in any risk of extinction in the near future. However in some areas, like Texas, this species has been reported to be experiencing declines. This is thought to be caused by the invasive feral hog population, hunting, and recent droughts. This species is also commonly roadkill.

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 [Reid, F. A. (2006). A field guide to mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company.]
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 [Bowers, N., Bowers, R., & Kaufmann, K. (2004). Field guide to mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin.]
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 [Whitaker, J. O. (1996). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American mammals. Knopf.]
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 [Kays, R., & Wilson, D. E. (2009). Mammals of North America. Princeton University Press.]
5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 [Schmidly, D. J., Bradley, R. D. (2016). The Mammals of Texas, Online Edition. University of Texas Press. https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nsrl/mammals-of-texas-online-edition/index.php]
6. ↑ [ITIS. (2022). *Dasypus* *novemcinctus*  Linnaeus, 1758. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search\_topic=TSN&search\_value=180103#null]
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 [Wilson, D. E., & Ruff, S. (1999). The smithsonian book of north american mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press in association with the American Society of Mammalogists.]
8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 [Larson, K. M. D. and J. (2011). *Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo)*. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasypus\_novemcinctus/]
9. ↑ [Whitaker, J. O., & Hamilton, W. J. (1998). *Mammals of the eastern united states*. Comstock Publishing Associates.]
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 [GBIF. (2022). *Dasypus novemcinctus Kerr, 1792*. https://www.gbif.org/species/2440779]
11. ↑ [IUCN (2013). Dasypus novemcinctus. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6290/47440785]