By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use.Birds Farm Animals Fish Insects Wildlife and Exotic Animals Reptiles, Rodents and Small Animals House Pets How Thick Is the Shell of an Armadillo By Ben Team Video of the Day Brought to you by Cuteness Tom BrakefieldStockbyteGetty Images The peculiar armadillos strong and flexible shell is unlike the exterior of any other animal on the planet.They have to move quickly on land, so their shells cannot impede their movement, and they must be light and flexible.
Armadillo Protection Skin To FormArmadillos have thousands of thin, bony plates that develop from within the skin to form shells that protect their bodies yet still allow them to burrow, hunt and even swim. Meet the Family Twenty-one living armadillo species, inhabiting North, Central and South America, form taxonomic family Dasypodidae. Sloths and anteaters combine with the armadillos to form the group Xenarthra, which also contains extinct species such as giant ground sloths and animals called glyptodonts. In spite of broadly similar morphology, biology and diet, armadillos are diverse; members of the smallest species, pink fairy armadillos (Chlamyphorus truncatus), weigh less than a quarter pound, while the largest, giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus), sometimes exceed 100 pounds. The only North American armadillos, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are born weighing about 4 ounces but reach about 12 to 14 pounds at maturity. Maintaining Mobility Unlike some other animals with protective shells, armadillos are nimble. To get the best of both worlds, armadillos have evolved thin but strong bony plates. Embedded within the skin, the bony plates are called osteoderms. The thickness of the shell varies between the species, but in no case is the shell thick; nine-banded armadillo shells are roughly one-tenth of an inch thick. Even though the bones are very thin, the shell can account for up to 15 percent of an armadillos weight. Defending Themselves from Prey Though the shell likely evolved for defensive purposes, it may provide protection against abrasion, which occurs as a byproduct of their subterranean, tunneling lifestyle. Additionally, the thick bony plates may protect the armadillos from biting or stinging prey. While many armadillos are omnivores and prey generalists that consume a wide variety of plants and prey, some species primarily consume ants. When Armor Fails Armadillos cant rely solely on their shell to protect them, so they dig deep burrows in which they can hide, sleep, mate and raise young. References (5) Animal Diversity Web: Dasypodidae Animal Diversity Web: Xenarthrans Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials: Armadillo Armor: Mechanical Testing and Micro-Structural Evaluation The Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group: Species University of California, Berkeley: Introduction to the Xenarthra Resources (1) The New York Times: Armadillos Can Transmit Leprosy to Humans, Federal Researchers Confirm Photo Credits Tom BrakefieldStockbyteGetty Images See More Animals Difference in Porcupines Hedgehogs The Animals That Look Like Armadillos What Are the Main Characteristics of Echinodermata Can Turtles Retract Their Head Legs Into the Shell Related Posts Special Characteristics of Armadillo Skin The Types of Armadillos Animals With Protective Armor How Do Armadillos Raise Their Young How Do Scorpions Reproduce Popular Posts Animals With Shells how-koala-protect-itself How Does a Tortoise Protect Itself From a Predator The Unique Behavioral Characteristics of Armadillos Hedgehogs Porcupines Editors Picks The Difference Between Gastropods Cephalopods What Are Turtles Defenses Science: How Many Legs Does a Crab Have A List of Insect-Eating Mammals Are Mollusks Invertebrates Home Wildlife and Exotic Animals How Thick Is the Shell of an Armadillo Empower Her. Be Her Village. Shape The World. About Privacy Terms Contact Advertising Eu Consent Manager MOM.COM CAFEMOM MAMSLATINAS BABY NAME WIZARD LITTLETHINGS REVELIST 2020 WILD SKY MEDIA. PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA FAMILY PARENTING.
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