How many armadillos are there

The only armadillo whose range extends into the United States is the nine-banded or long-nosed armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus , which actually has anywhere from seven to 11 armor bands. The nine-banded armadillo is one of seven species in the genus Dasypus, all but one of whose members have elongated snouts and barely any hair. The exception is the hairy long-nosed armadillo Dasypus pilosus of the southwestern Peruvian mountains.

At approximately 39 inches long and pounds, the elusive giant armadillo Priodontes maximus is the largest armadillo. It has up to teeth. The creature inhabits the Amazon rain forest, grasslands and woodlands.

A burrow-digger despite its size, the giant armadillo eats termites and ants. The three species called hairy armadillos have white to light brown hair that covers their legs and undersides and sticks out from spaces in their shell.

The little hairy armadillo Chaetophractus vellerosus , sometimes called the screaming hairy armadillo because of the sound it produces when it perceives danger, lives in semi-arid areas in western Bolivia, Paraguay and central Argentina.

The Andean hairy armadillo Chaetophractus nationi is found in high-altitude grasslands in Bolivia and northern Chile. Within the family Dasypodidae, there are twenty officially recognized species in nine genera. To see detailed information and photographs of a particular species, click the name of the species that interests you. You may also click the name of a genus to browse the information on the species included. Genus Chlamyphorus : The smallest armadillo One species.

They extend nearly 5. Their 8-inch middle front claws are the longest claws of any mammal. IUCN lists the giant armadillo as a vulnerable species. Their primary threats are hunting for meat and habitat loss. Additionally, poaching for the illegal pet trade further jeopardizes these giants. The pink fairy armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus is named for its pink armor and size.

It measures between 4 and 6 inches in length and weighs about 3. In addition to the armor on their back, they have a vertical rump plate used to backfill burrows. The species lives in the sandy plain and scrubby grasslands of central Argentina. IUCN lists these rarely seen armadillos as data deficient, but indicators suggest the species may qualify as near threatened. The species is primarily under threat due to habitat loss, while the animal's popularity on social media has led to an increasing number being captured for pets — a situation in which most of them die within eight days.

The screaming hairy armadillo Chaetophractus vellerosus has more than armor as a defense. It has a pair of screeching lungs. Anytime this species perceives a threat, it emits extremely loud, alarm-like vocalizations.

Hunters trap this species for its meat and carapace. Despite this harvest, it is a species of least concern across most of its range, covering portions of Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina. Armadillos spend most of their lives sleeping, but the pichi Zaedyus pichiy takes it a step further by hibernating every winter. After building up fat stores and settling down in a burrow, the pichi's body temperature drops from 95 degrees to 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

These armadillos also enter daily states of torpor, a type of mini-hibernation. This species is found in the Patagonian Steppe and Pampas. While the nine-banded armadillo population currently thrives, other species aren't as lucky.

IUCN lists the Brazilian three-banded and giant armadillo as vulnerable. The Pichi, Southern long-nosed, Northern long-nosed, Southern three-banded, and Chacoan naked-tailed armadillo species are listed as near threatened.

Five additional species are data-deficient and potentially endangered as well. Hunting and habitat loss are the primary threats to armadillos. Habitat loss drivers are mining and deforestation for palm oil plantations, cattle ranching, and other agro-industry factors.

The mining has increased due to the demand for copper to use in electronics. Known as charangos, these stringed instruments are an integral part of traditional Andean music in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.

While they were once commonly made from an armadillo's dried shell, contemporary charangos are generally made with wood or sometimes calabash gourds. Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities. In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation.

Nine-Banded Armadillo. Classification: Mammal. Description Approximately 20 species of armadillo exist, but the nine-banded is the only one found in the United States.

Range Nine-banded armadillos are found in the southeastern United States, but their range has been expanding continually northward for more than a hundred years. Diet These armadillos are generalist feeders and use their sense of smell to track down almost different foods, most of which are invertebrates such as beetles, cockroaches, wasps, yellow jackets, fire ants, scorpions, spiders, snails, and white grubs.

Life History Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical quadruplets. Conservation Populations of nine-banded armadillos are increasing. Fun Fact Armadillos have long been a source of food for humans. Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly.