by Dixie Thomason

Created on: June 04, 2010

There are 20 different varieties of armadillo. All of these are separated into nine genera and dispensed throughout America from Argentina to the south eastern corner of the United States. The most popular armadillo is the nine banded variety which spreads from South America north into Kansas and Missouri in the U.S. The biggest armadillo is that of the giant armadillo which resides in eastern South American forest. This armadillo grows to three feet in length and weighs up to a130 pounds. This creature has the odd feature of possessing up to one hundred teeth. Then there is the naked tailed armadillo of central and southern America. These critters have five big claws on their front paws, the middle claw is unusually big and shaped like that of a sickle. The apara, or there banded armadillo, resides in Bolivia; Matto Grosso, Argentina and Brazil. This is the only armadillo who has a carapace separated from its skin round the sides of its body. This allows the animal to roll up and tuck its legs, head and tail.

In western Argentina we have the fairy armadillo. This one has less armour than the rest. Its carapace consists of bands jointed together and only covers the creature's back. It's attached to the critter's body by only a slim lining of skin down running along its spine. Another shield covers the rear of the animal and its armoured tail peeks out from that. Soft white fur covers the rest of this critter's body. The fairy armadillo stays underground more than the others.

A lot of armadillos are nocturnal. These critters dwell in dens when inactive. There may be one or several armadillos in any given den. Their dens are two to three feet underground and do not branch off.

Oddly enough, rivers are no threat to armadillos. Even though they have heavy bodies due to their armour, they swallow air in order to inflate their intestine which helps them float. Plus, the nine banded armadillo can stay submerged for up to six minutes. Some armadillos have an abnormal walk. The bottom of their back feet press against the ground while the front paws are raised on their powerful claws.

Armadillos enjoy a varied diet. They feast upon insects and other invertebrates, plants, carrion and small vertebrates like snakes and lizards. Giant armadillos have been known to dig up fresh graves and eat off corpses. The diet of naked tailed armadillos consists primarily of ants and termites. Hairy armadillos like maggots and grubs, often burrowing into the ground or carcasses to

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