Six-banded armadillo

Description

It is of medium size, with a yellowish colour, and a flat, pointed head. Its hard covering which protects it from predators is notable, it being the only animal to possess it. This covering has 6 to 8 moveable bands which allow it to move with a certain flexibility, but it cannot fully roll into a ball like other types of armadillo.

Ethology

They are solitary, diurnal animals. They mark their burrows to repel intruders. When they feel threatened, they protect their soft lower section by pressing against the ground, impeding predators from feeding on them. Litters are usually of 1 to 3 pups born after 60-65 days of gestation.

Interesting facts

Six-banded armadillos are not currently an endangered species. However, populations of almost all species of armadillos are threatened by the loss of habitat and excessive hunting for their meat and shell, and for sale as pets. They are also hunted by farmers who consider them pests.