All Armadillos Aren't Able To Roll Up

Only one of the twenty-odd varieties of armadillos is able to roll up in order to escape it's predators.

Picture from Save The Armadillo

Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to roll into a ball. Only the three-banded armadillo is able to do so. The other types are covered with too many bony plates to allow them to curl up. Other armadillos have to rely on their armored shells for defense.

Armadillos Can Spread Leprosy

 Armadillos are often used in the study of leprosy, since they are among the few known species that can contract the disease systemically. 

Picture from Armadillos.info

It's the armadillos unusually low body temperature that makes them susceptible to the leprosy causing bacterium. Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat.  It is believed that armadillos originally contracted the disease from humans sometime in the late 15th Century.

Protecting the Armadillos

Armadillos have an armor of plates on their back, head, legs and tail. This shell serves as protection, but only the 3-banded armadillo can actually curl up into it. The common 9-banded one (found in the United States) cannot. They live in warm climates because they have an extremely slow metabolism. In fact, unexpected cold weather can wipe out entire populations.

Cool Armadillo Fact

Armadillos can be housebroken.

Our selection of armadillo items are very popular.

The Walking Armadillo

An armadillo can walk under water.