Six-banded armadillo

There are 20 species of armadillo scattered across South America and the largest living armadillo is the giant armadillo, which can grow up to 1.5 metres long. The smallest representative of the family is the dwarf armadillo, which is only 15 centimetres long.

Armadillos, along with anteaters and sloths, belong to a very old group of mammals called munchers.

The armadillo is the only mammal that wears armour, but armour does not protect against predators. A dog, for example, can easily bite through the armour and kill it. An armadillo that feels threatened will immediately flee into the nearest dense thicket. Here the armour protects the animal, allowing it to escape from enemies.

Indians in the Amazon rainforest kill and eat armadillos.
Armadillos can be both diurnal and nocturnal, digging in the ground with their snout and using their highly developed sense of smell to sniff out food. An armadillo can eat up to 100 kilos of insects in a year.

The armadillo has adapted to the human way of life in several areas and is good at finding food in rubbish bins and private gardens.

Males and females live separately and are only together to mate.

• Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay
• Stock: Stable
• Weight: 3-8 kilos
• Body length: 40-50 centimetres
• Neck length: 10-20 centimetres
• Sexual maturity: After 9 months
• Gestation: 60-64 days
• Number of cubs: 1-3 cubs
• Food: Insects, amphibians, reptiles, worms, eggs, carrion, roots and fruit
• Lifespan: 10-15 years
• Latin name: Euphractus sexcinctus