Wildlife Guide · Central America & South America

Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus and relatives (order Cingulata)

The Americas' armour-plated insect hunters

Varies; nine-banded armadillo Least Concern (IUCN)

A nine-banded armadillo foraging on leaf-littered ground, showing its leathery banded bony shell, long pointed snout, sturdy digging claws and tapering armoured tail.

Image: Source: Global Animal Guide (WARN) — verify license before production

In brief

An armadillo is a small to medium New World mammal of the order Cingulata, protected by a distinctive shell of bony plates covered in leathery skin. Around 20 species live across the Americas, digging burrows and feeding mainly on insects, grubs and other invertebrates.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated June 2026

Armadillos are small to medium-sized mammals of the Americas, instantly recognised by the bony, leathery shell that armours their back, head and tail. Around 20 living species make up the order Cingulata, ranging from the tiny pink fairy armadillo to the giant armadillo. They are powerful diggers that feed mainly on insects, grubs and other invertebrates, using a long, sticky tongue to raid ant and termite nests. The familiar nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) has spread north into the southern United States and is classed as Least Concern, while some specialised species, such as the giant armadillo, are far more threatened. Armadillos are the only mammals with a true bony shell.

~20

living species in the Americas

identical quadruplets per nine-banded litter

~85 g to 54 kg

weight, fairy to giant armadillo

~34 C

low body temperature

Figures sourced from Armadillo (Wikipedia), Nine-banded armadillo (Wikipedia), Giant armadillo (Wikipedia) and other references on this page.

Armadillo: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Armadillo
Common name	Armadillo
Group	Order Cingulata (~20 living species)
Best-known species	Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Range	The Americas, mainly South America
Habitat	Grassland, forest, scrub and semi-desert with diggable soil
Diet	Insects, grubs and other invertebrates; some plant matter
Size range	~13 cm / 85 g (pink fairy) to ~1.5 m / 54 kg (giant)
Defence	Bony shell; digging; rolling into a ball (three-banded only)
Body temperature	Unusually low, around 34 C
Lifespan	Around 12 to 15 years (nine-banded, in the wild)

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Armadillo
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Superorder	Xenarthra
Order	Cingulata
Families	Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae
Example species	Dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Varies by species. The widespread nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern with a stable, expanding range, while more specialised species are threatened; the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is listed as Vulnerable. Armadillos as a group are not globally threatened, but several species face pressure from habitat loss, hunting and road mortality.
Population: No reliable single global figure; the nine-banded armadillo is abundant and increasing, whereas rarer species such as the giant armadillo occur at low densities.
Trend: Stable to increasing for the nine-banded armadillo; decreasing for several threatened species such as the giant armadillo.
Assessed: Nine-banded armadillo last assessed by the IUCN in 2014 (Least Concern).
CITES: Several armadillos are listed on CITES; the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is on CITES Appendix I.

Because the group spans common and threatened species, conservation needs differ widely; the main shared threats are habitat loss and hunting.

Key Facts: Armadillo

Armadillos are the only living mammals with a true shell of bony plates (osteoderms) covered by tough skin.
There are around 20 species, all native to the Americas, from the tiny pink fairy armadillo to the dog-sized giant armadillo.
The widespread nine-banded armadillo is Least Concern and has expanded north into the southern United States, but the giant armadillo is assessed as Vulnerable.
Only the three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) can curl into a fully enclosed ball; most species rely on digging or fleeing to escape predators.
The nine-banded armadillo almost always gives birth to four genetically identical quadruplets from a single fertilised egg.
Armadillos eat mainly insects, grubs and other invertebrates and are valuable natural controllers of ants and termites.

What does an armadillo's shell actually do?

The armadillo's most famous feature is its carapace, a layer of small bony plates called osteoderms set into the skin and overlaid with tough, leathery scales. Across the back this armour is divided into rigid shoulder and hip shields joined by a series of flexible bands, which is why several species are named for the number of bands they show, such as the nine-banded armadillo. The bands let the animal bend and move while still protecting the body, head and tail. Despite the popular image, most armadillos cannot roll into a ball: only the two three-banded species of the genus Tolypeutes can tuck head, tail and feet inside and close up into a near-perfect armoured sphere. For the rest, the shell is partial protection against thorns, predators' teeth and rough burrows, but their main defences are speed, sharp digging claws and the ability to dig themselves out of sight remarkably quickly. The soft underside is left unarmoured, so a threatened armadillo will often press its belly to the ground or wedge into a burrow.

How many armadillo species are there and where do they live?

There are roughly 20 living armadillo species, all confined to the Americas. Diversity is highest in South America, especially around Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, but the group ranges from the southern United States down through Central and South America. The smallest is the pink fairy armadillo of Argentina, weighing only around 85 grams and measuring some 13 to 15 centimetres in total length; the largest is the giant armadillo, which can reach about 1.5 metres including the tail and weigh up to roughly 54 kilograms. The nine-banded armadillo is the most familiar and widespread species and the only one found in the United States, where it has steadily expanded its range northward into states such as Texas and Florida over the past century, helped by its adaptability and lack of natural predators in the north. Armadillos occupy a wide variety of habitats, including grasslands, rainforest, scrub and semi-desert, generally favouring areas with loose soil suitable for digging the burrows in which they shelter and raise young.

What do armadillos eat and how do they live?

Armadillos are mostly insectivorous, feeding on ants, termites, beetle larvae, grubs and other invertebrates, with some species, including the giant armadillo, specialising almost entirely on ants and termites. They locate prey largely by smell, then dig rapidly with strong forelimbs and claws and lap up insects with a long, sticky tongue. Many also take some plant matter, small vertebrates, eggs and carrion. Most species are solitary and largely nocturnal or crepuscular, spending the day in burrows they excavate themselves. Reproduction in the genus Dasypus is unusual: the nine-banded armadillo produces a single fertilised egg whose implantation is delayed by several months, after which it splits to yield four genetically identical offspring, a reliable case of polyembryony found in no other mammal genus. Armadillos also have an unusually low body temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius. This makes them one of the few animals besides humans able to harbour the bacterium that causes leprosy, and handling or eating wild armadillos carries a small risk of transmission.

Three-banded armadillo vs nine-banded armadillo

Feature	Three-banded (Tolypeutes)	Nine-banded (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Rolls into a ball	Yes, fully enclosed sphere	No
Number of movable bands	Three	Usually eight to nine
Range	Parts of South America	South and Central America into the southern USA
Typical litter	Single young	Four identical quadruplets
IUCN status	Near Threatened or Vulnerable depending on species	Least Concern

What WARN Does

World Animal Rescue Network does not run field projects dedicated to armadillos, which live across the Americas rather than in the countries where WARN's partners work. This guide is part of WARN's free educational work, which aims to make accurate, well-sourced wildlife information freely available to everyone. The same pressures that threaten the more specialised armadillos, above all habitat loss and conversion of wild land, also harm the animals WARN does protect, so learning about one species helps support care for many.

If this guide helped you understand armadillos a little better, a small gift helps keep WARN's free wildlife education and hands-on animal care going.

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How does the armadillo compare?

Armadillo vs Pangolin →

Armadillo: Frequently Asked Questions

Can all armadillos roll into a ball?

No. Only the two three-banded armadillos of the genus Tolypeutes can curl into a fully enclosed ball, tucking in their head, tail and feet so the armour forms a near-perfect sphere. Most armadillos, including the common nine-banded armadillo, cannot do this and instead rely on digging, fleeing or wedging their armoured back against a burrow wall to protect their soft underside.

Are armadillos endangered?

It depends on the species. The widespread nine-banded armadillo is assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern and is even expanding its range, so armadillos as a group are not generally endangered. However, several specialised species are at risk; the giant armadillo, for example, is classed as Vulnerable, mainly because of habitat loss and hunting across its South American range.

What do armadillos eat?

Armadillos are mainly insectivores. They feed on ants, termites, beetle grubs and other invertebrates, which they sniff out and dig up with strong claws before lapping them up with a long, sticky tongue. Some species, such as the giant armadillo, specialise almost entirely on ants and termites. Many armadillos also eat some plant material, small vertebrates, eggs and carrion when available.

Why do nine-banded armadillos have identical quadruplets?

The nine-banded armadillo normally produces four young that are genetically identical, because a single fertilised egg splits into four embryos. This reliable polyembryony is unique among mammals. After mating, implantation of the egg is delayed for several months; once it implants, it divides, so each litter is effectively a set of natural identical quadruplets sharing one placenta and the same sex.

Do armadillos really carry leprosy?

Yes, some can. Armadillos have an unusually low body temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius, which suits the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae that causes leprosy. Wild nine-banded armadillos in parts of the southern United States and Latin America can carry it, and a small number of human cases have been linked to handling or eating them. The overall risk is low, but it is sensible to avoid contact with wild armadillos.

Where do armadillos live?

All living armadillos are native to the Americas. Most species occur in South America, with the greatest diversity around Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, but the group ranges through Central America and into the southern United States. Only the nine-banded armadillo reaches the United States, where it has spread north into states such as Texas and Florida. Armadillos favour habitats with loose, diggable soil.

Are armadillos dangerous?

Armadillos are not aggressive toward people. Their main defences are a bony leathery shell, powerful digging and — in the three-banded armadillo only — rolling into a ball. Wild nine-banded armadillos in parts of the southern United States and Latin America can carry the bacterium that causes leprosy, so avoiding contact with wild individuals is sensible.

How long do armadillos live?

The familiar nine-banded armadillo lives around 12 to 15 years in the wild according to this guide's quickFacts. Around 20 living species make up the order Cingulata, ranging from the tiny pink fairy armadillo at roughly 85 g to the giant armadillo at about 54 kg.

How big is an armadillo?

Size varies sharply by species. The pink fairy armadillo measures about 13 cm and weighs around 85 g, while the giant armadillo reaches roughly 1.5 m and 54 kg. The widespread nine-banded armadillo has spread north into the southern United States and is classed as Least Concern.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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