The Armadillo

Armadillos are mammals that live mainly in Latin America, though the nine-banded armadillo (pictured here) does live in the US. Armadillos typically have litters of 1-8.

As their name implies, armadillos have "armor": little bony plates that cover most of their body. These are used for protection. they are one of the only mammals to wear such shells.

The three-banded armadillo is the only one who can encase itself in it's shell like a hedgehog when threatened.

Armadillos live in warm climates like rain forests and grasslands. They live in burrows that they dig, and armadillos sleep for a good long time each day (up to 16 hours).

Armadillos eat insects, small vertebrates, small plants, and occasionally a carrion meal. Since they have poor eyesight, they use their keen sense of smell to hunt, their large claws to dig, and their sticky tongues to extract prey.



sources: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/armadillo/
Dickman, Christopher R. (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals.