VERY INTERESTING: ARMADILLOS

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Things You Didn't Know About Armadillos

Armadillo means "little armored one," and that armor consists of bony plates covered in keratin. There are about 20 species of armadillo, and all of them descend from South American ancestors. They are diverse in size, behavior, and their habitats.

The IUCN considers two species vulnerable and five as near threatened. Five additional species are data deficient and likely threatened. In 2016, scientists divided the greater long-nosed armadillo into three separate species. Scientists have not evaluated those species since the new classification.

Here are 5 fascinating facts you may not know about armadillos.

1. The Nine-Banded Is the Only Species Found in the United States

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the only armadillo species that migrated to North America. They were long limited to humid subtropical areas of the United States. Now, armadillos are found as far north as Nebraska and Illinois. Warmer winters caused by climate change may further expand their range.

They always give birth to identical young formed from the splitting of a single fertilized egg. Among mammals, this is unique to nine-banded and other Dasypus armadillos. When startled, the animal jumps 3-4 feet straight up.

2. Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillos Are Lazarus Species

Brazilian three-banded armadillos were believed extinct until 1988 Since then, researchers have found scattered, small populations. Animals that are wrongly believed extinct are called Lazarus species.

This species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and is considered endangered by Brazil. The total population is unknown because of the difficulties in accurately counting this nocturnal animal. Much of its habitat is being converted to sugarcane and soybean fields. Poaching is another significant threat to the species.

3. Giant Glyptodonts Are Their Extinct Kin

Glyptodonts were heavily armored, dinosaur-sized, early mammals. In 2016, scientists determined glyptodonts were a subfamily of armadillos that first appeared 35 million years ago. They became extinct around the end of the last ice age, while their smaller and more lightly armored relatives survived. Humans hunted these two-ton animals for meat. They then created shelters from the bony carapace.

4. They Sleep Up to 16 Hours Each Day

As nocturnal animals, armadillos perform most activities — foraging, eating, burrowing, mating — at night. During the daylight hours, they spend up to 16 hours sleeping, usually in burrows. Armadillos rarely share their burrows with other armadillos, although they do share them with tortoises, snakes, and rats. When awake, armadillos spend more time foraging than most mammals. Only two marsupials and ground squirrels spend more active time feeding.

5. They Spread Leprosy

Armadillos are the only nonhuman animals to spread leprosy, now called Hansen's Disease. The bacteria that causes the disease thrives due to the armadillo's low body temperature. Researchers believe armadillos acquired Hansen's disease from 15th-century explorers. Humans contract armadillo-borne Hansen's disease through hunting them or eating their meat. In some cases, people become infected from inhaling armadillo fecal spores.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking