Animal Guide

Nine-Banded Armadillo

24 destinations · 16 states

Native Range: Southern United States, Central America, and northern South America

The nine-banded armadillo may look like a tiny tank, but watch one for a few minutes and its busy personality starts to show. Its bony shell is divided into flexible bands, allowing it to walk, dig, and squeeze through surprisingly tight spaces. At a zoo or wildlife exhibit, the long snout is often the first clue that this animal is constantly searching. Armadillos use their strong sense of smell to locate insects and other food beneath leaves and soil, then rely on powerful claws to dig them out. When one gets moving, it may cross the enclosure with its nose close to the ground, stopping every few steps to investigate a new scent. They are also capable swimmers, sometimes using air held in their digestive tract to help them stay afloat. A quiet armadillo can suddenly become an energetic excavator, making its digging behavior one of the best things to watch closely.

Nine-Banded Armadillo

Where to see Nine-Banded Armadillo

24 destinations across 16 states

24 destinations

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