Nine-Banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

### Regions

USA, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay

## Habitat

### Water Area

182 m² +16 m²/ea. add'l
0 m²

### Temperature

0 m²
‒5‒43 ℃

## Social

### Fem. Bachelor

1‒2 (up to 1 make, up to 1 female)
1
1

### Sterility

2 years
Death

### Interbirth

7 months
12 months

## Taxonomy

### Order

Mammalia
Cingulata

### Genus

Dasypodidae
Dasypus

The **Nine-Banded Armadillo** (*Dasypus novemcinctus*) is a small American mammal featured in the Grasslands Animal Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** Unknown

Found in grasslands, rainforests and dried scrublands, the nine-banded armadillo (or Dasypus novemcinctus) is a species of armoured mammal native to North, Central, and South America. There are nine subspecies of nine-banded armadillo spread throughout its range, with a lot of variation in appearance between them. Generally, nine-banded armadillos are covered by a mottled pink-grey carapace made up of large plates across their shoulders and hips, and nine characteristic segmented plates over the torso, which merges into their long, plated tail. They have short legs with large feet and strong claws: four on the front feet and five on the hind feet. Their face is slender with a pointed snout and large ears. Nine-banded armadillos have a head-body length of 38cm to 58cm, with the tail adding another 26cm to 53cm. At the top of the shell they measure 15cm to 25cm in height. Males may be heavier than females, weighing 5.5kg to 7.7kg compared to 3.6kg to 6kg, but sexes are otherwise alike.

The nine-banded armadillo is not endangered and is classed as a species of Least Concern.

### Social

The nine-banded armadillo is a solitary creature, only found together during the mating season or in the case of a mother with her young.

### Reproduction

Both male and female nine-banded armadillos maintain territories, with males’ territories being significantly larger than that of females. In the mating season, occurring from July to August each year, pairs of armadillos locate each other, usually by the female passing through a male’s territory. The male will be aggressive towards rival males on his territory attempting to approach the female he is in the process of courting. The pair will spend time close together while foraging. Prior to mating, they may begin rubbing against each other and wagging their tails. The female armadillo will lift her tail when she is receptive. Mating occurs during ovulation, and involves the female lying on her back on the ground while the male climbs on top of her, so that her shell does not cause an obstruction. Shortly after, the pair parts ways and the male may search for another female on his territory.

The armadillo female may not get pregnant right away, instead the egg is often fertilised but implantation does not happen for 3 to 4 months. This is so that births can happen in optimal environmental conditions. After implantation, her pregnancy lasts 4 months. Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to 4 identical young because the zygote splits four-ways in the womb. Once she is ready to give birth, the female will find a burrow in which she gives birth to and cares for her young. The armadillo pups are born with soft shells and fully formed teeth, which allows them to eat solid food from the moment of birth. For the first weeks of their lives, they remain in the burrow and leave only once their shell has hardened. They begin foraging with their mother at 3 months old, and are fully weaned at 6 months of age.

Nine-banded armadillos will leave their mothers between 6 months and 1 year old, however only reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age. Growth continues until 3 to 4 years old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Slow Feeder · Forage Box · Termite Mound · Small Barrel Feeder
Herb Scent Marker · Rubber Duck · Small Ball Colourful · Small Ball Pumpkin · Small Ball · Small Ice Ball · Sprinkler

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* The nine-banded armadillo typically has nine bands on its shell, but they may have 8 to 11 bands depending on their subspecies or the geographical area they are from.
* The nine-banded armadillo is the most widespread armadillo species.
* Unlike other armadillo species, the nine-banded armadillo cannot roll into a ball. Instead, they escape threats by running away or digging a shallow mound where they are protected with their hard shell.
* Nine-banded armadillos make extensive use of burrows and may maintain multiple burrows at once within their territory.
* Nine-banded armadillos give birth to 4 identical pups due to the zygote splitting 4 ways in the womb early in pregnancy.