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Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Cingulata is an order of armored placental mammals.Members of this order are called cingulates, or colloquially, armadillos.They are primarily found in South America, though the northern naked-tailed armadillo is found mainly in Central America and the nine-banded armadillo has a range extending into North America.
The word armadillo means ' little armored one ' in Spanish; [2] [3] it is derived from armadura ' armor ', with the diminutive suffix -illo attached. While the phrase little armored one would translate to armadito normally, the suffix -illo can be used in place of -ito when the diminutive is used in an approximative tense. [4]
The nine-banded armadillo has been rapidly expanding its range both north and east within the United States, where it is the only regularly occurring species of armadillo. The armadillo crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico in the late 19th century, and was introduced in Florida at about the same time by humans.
Armadillidium vulgare may reach a length of 18 millimetres (11 ⁄ 16 in), and is capable of rolling into a ball when disturbed; this ability, along with its general appearance, gives it the name pill-bug and also creates the potential for confusion with pill millipedes such as Glomeris marginata. [3]
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†Beautiful armadillo (Dasypus bellus) is an extinct armadillo species found in North and South America about 2.5 million to 11,000 years ago. It is much larger than current-day species at about 2.5 times the size of the normal nine-banded armadillo and had much thicker, more robust armor. [15] [16]
Hunted throughout its range, a single giant armadillo supplies a great deal of meat, and is the primary source of protein for some indigenous peoples. In addition, live giant armadillos are frequently captured for trade on the black market, and invariably die during transportation or in captivity. [23]
The northern naked-tailed armadillo is relatively small for an armadillo, with adults measuring 31 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) in length, with an 11 to 18 cm (4.3 to 7.1 in) tail, and weighing from 2 to 3.5 kg (4.4 to 7.7 lb). They have a short, broad snout, large, funnel-shaped ears, and small eyes.