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(The leprosy bacterium is difficult to culture and armadillos have a body temperature of 34 °C (93 °F), similar to human skin.) [26] Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat. [27] [28] Armadillos are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
Armadillos have dorsal armor that is formed by osteoderms, plates of dermal bone covered in relatively small, overlapping keratinized epidermal scales called "scutes".Most species have rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with three to nine bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks.
Young nine-banded armadillos tend to forage earlier in the day and are more wary of the approach of an unknown animal (including humans) than are adults. Their known natural predators include cougars (perhaps the leading predator), maned wolves , coyotes , black bears , red wolves , jaguars , alligators , bobcats , and large raptors .
A video shows a rare sighting of armadillo quadruplets in Texas. Here are 8 fun facts about the species that you probably don't know.
Some giant armadillos have been reported to have eaten bees by digging into beehives. [19] In a long-term study on the species, that started in 2003 in the Peruvian Amazon, dozens of other species of mammals, reptiles and birds were found using the giant armadillos' burrows on the same day, including the rare short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis).
"The limiting factor for northern movements of armadillos is temperature, as they do not hibernate so need to forage year-round, and when temperatures ... 'Hoover Hogs' are on the move into Kansas ...
Osteoderms are uncommon in mammals, although they have occurred in many xenarthrans (armadillos and the extinct glyptodonts and mylodontid ground sloths). The heavy, bony osteoderms have evolved independently in many different lineages. [1] The armadillo osteoderm is believed to develop in subcutaneous dermal tissues. [2]
“The authors have done a solid job of demonstrating through qualitative and quantitative analyses that the cut marks on the armadillo fossils are most likely to have been made by humans,” said ...