Armadillo: Difference between revisions
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{{otheruses}} |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Armadillos |
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| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Paleocene|Recent}} |
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| image = Nine-banded_Armadillo.jpg |
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| image_caption = [[Nine-banded Armadillo]] |
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| image_width = 200px |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| superordo = [[Xenarthra]] |
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| ordo = '''Cingulata''' |
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| ordo_authority = [[Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger|Illiger]], [[1811]] |
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|<!-- familia = '''Dasypodidae''' |
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| familia_authority = [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1821 [this should get own page; it is an awkward arranbement at present --> |
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|subdivision_ranks = [[Family (biology)|Families]] |
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|subdivision = |
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* †[[Pampatheriidae]] (prehistoric) |
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* †[[Glyptodontidae]] (prehistoric) |
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* '''Dasypodidae''' |
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}} |
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'''Armadillos''' are small [[placenta]]l [[mammal]]s, known for having a leathery [[Armour (zoology)|armor]] shell. The '''Dasypodidae''' are the only surviving [[family (biology)|family]] in the [[order (biology)|order]] '''Cingulata''', part of the superorder [[Xenarthra]] along with the [[anteater]]s and [[sloth]]s. The word ''armadillo'' is [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "little armored one." |
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There are approximately 10 [[Extant taxon|extant]] [[genus|genera]] and around 20 extant [[species]] of armadillo, some of which are distinguished by the number of bands on their armor. Their average length is about 75 [[centimeter]]s (30 in), including tail; the [[Giant Armadillo]] grows up to 1.5 m (5 ft) and weigh 59 kg (130 lbs), while the [[Pink Fairy Armadillo]]s are diminutive species with an overall length of 12–15 cm (4–5 in). All species are native to the [[Americas]], where they inhabit a variety of environments. |
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In the [[United States]], the sole resident armadillo is the [[Nine-banded Armadillo]] ''(Dasypus novemcinctus)'', which is most common in the central southernmost states, particularly [[Texas]]. Their range is as far east as [[South Carolina]] and [[Florida]] and as far north as [[Nebraska]], and while cold winters have slowed the expansion of their range (due to a lack of sufficient body fat), they have been consistently expanding their range over the last century due to a lack of natural predators and have been found as north far as [[Illinois]] and [[Indiana]], and are expected to eventually reach [[Ohio]] before the cold winters inhibit their expansion. |
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==Habitat and anatomy== |
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Armadillos are prolific diggers. Many species use their sharp claws to dig for food, such as [[grub]]s, and to dig dens. The Nine-banded Armadillo prefers to build [[burrow]]s in moist soil near the creeks, streams, and [[arroyo (creek)|arroyos]] around which it lives and feeds. The diet of different armadillo species varies, but consists mainly of [[insect]]s, grubs, and other [[invertebrate]]s. Some species, however, are almost entirely formicivorous (feeding mainly on ants).{{Fact|date=July 2008}} |
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Armadillos have poor vision. |
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The armor is formed by plates of dermal bone covered in relatively small, overlapping epidermal scales called "[[scute]]s," composed of bone with a covering of horn. In most species, there are rigid shields over the shoulders and hips, with a number of bands separated by flexible skin covering the back and flanks. Additional armor covers the top of the head, the upper parts of the limbs, and the tail. The underside of the animal is never armored, and is simply covered with soft skin and fur.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Dickman, Christopher R.|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 781-783|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref> |
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This armor-like skin appears to be the main defense of many armadillos, although most escape predators by fleeing (often into thorny patches, from which their armor protects them) or digging to safety. Only the [[South America]]n three-banded armadillos (''Tolypeutes'') rely heavily on their armor for protection. When threatened by a [[predator]], ''Tolypeutes'' species frequently roll up into a ball. (Other armadillo species cannot roll up because they have too many plates.) The North American Nine-banded Armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when surprised, and consequently often collides with the undercarriage or fenders of passing vehicles.<ref>[http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/armadillo.html How high can a nine-banded armadillo jump? (Everyday Mysteries: Fun Science Facts from the Library of Congress)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Armadillos have short legs but can move quite quickly, and have the ability to remain underwater for as long as six minutes. Because of the density of its armor, an armadillo will sink in water unless it inflates its stomach with air, which often doubles its size and allows it to swim across narrow bodies of water.<ref>[http://www.flex.net/~lonestar/armadillo.htm Armadillos - Nine-Banded Armadillo - Texas Wildlife<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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Armadillos use their claws for digging and finding food, as well as for making their homes in burrows. They dig their burrows with their claws, only making a single corridor where they fit themselves. They have five clawed toes on the hindfeet, and three to five toes with heavy digging claws on the forefeet. Armadillos have a large number of cheek teeth, which are not divided into [[premolar]]s and [[Molar (tooth)|molar]]s, but usually have [[incisor]]s or [[canine (tooth)|canine]]s. |
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[[Gestation]] lasts anywhere from 60 to 120 days, depending on species, although the nine-banded armadillo also exhibits [[delayed implantation]], so that the young are not typically born for eight months after mating. Most members of the genus ''Dasypus'' give birth to four [[homozygous]] young (that is, identical quadruplets), but other species may have typical litter sizes that range from one to eight. The young are born with soft leathery skin, which hardens within a few weeks, and reach sexual maturity in 3-12 months, depending on the species. Armadillos are solitary animals, that do not share their burrows with other adults.<ref name=EoM/> |
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==Classification== |
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'''Order CINGULATA''' |
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* †'''Family [[Pampatheriidae]]''': giant armadillos |
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** Genus †''[[Machlydotherium]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Kraglievichia]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Vassallia]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Plaina]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Scirrotherium]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Pampatherium]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Holmesina]]'' |
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* †'''Family [[Glyptodontidae]]''': glyptodonts |
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** Genus †''[[Glyptodon]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Doedicurus]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Hoplophorus]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Panochthus]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Parapropalaehoplophorus]]'' |
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** Genus †''[[Plaxhaplous]]'' |
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* '''Family [[Dasypodidae]]''': armadillos |
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** Subfamily [[Dasypodinae]] |
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*** Genus ''[[Dasypus]]'' |
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****[[Nine-banded Armadillo]] or Long-nosed Armadillo, ''Dasypus novemcinctus'' |
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****[[Seven-banded Armadillo]], ''Dasypus septemcinctus'' |
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****[[Southern Long-nosed Armadillo]], ''Dasypus hybridus'' |
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****[[Llanos Long-nosed Armadillo]], ''Dasypus sabanicola'' |
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****[[Great Long-nosed Armadillo]], ''Dasypus kappleri'' |
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****[[Hairy Long-nosed Armadillo]], ''Dasypus pilosus'' |
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****[[Yepes's Mulita]], ''Dasypus yepesi'' |
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****†[[Beautiful Armadillo]], ''Dasypus bellus'' |
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** Subfamily [[Euphractinae]] |
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*** Genus ''[[Calyptophractus]]'' |
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**** [[Greater Fairy Armadillo]], ''Calyptophractus retusus'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Chaetophractus]]'' |
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****[[Screaming Hairy Armadillo]], ''Chaetophractus vellerosus'' |
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****[[Big Hairy Armadillo]], ''Chaetophractus villosus'' |
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****[[Andean Hairy Armadillo]], ''Chaetophractus nationi'' |
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***Genus †''[[Peltephilus]]'' |
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**** Horned Armadillo, ''Peltephilus ferox'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Chlamyphorus]]''[[Image:Guertelmaus-drawing.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pink Fairy Armadillo]], ''Chlamyphorus truncatus'']] |
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****[[Pink Fairy Armadillo]], ''Chlamyphorus truncatus'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Euphractus]]'' |
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****[[Six-banded Armadillo]], ''Euphractus sexcinctus'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Zaedyus]]'' |
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****[[Pichi]], ''Zaedyus pichiy'' |
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** Subfamily [[Tolypeutinae]] |
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*** Genus ''[[Cabassous]]'' |
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****[[Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo]], ''Cabassous centralis'' |
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****[[Chacoan Naked-tailed Armadillo]], ''Cabassous chacoensis'' |
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****[[Southern Naked-tailed Armadillo]], ''Cabassous unicinctus'' |
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****[[Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo]], ''Cabassous tatouay'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Priodontes]]'' |
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****[[Giant Armadillo]], ''Priodontes maximus'' |
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*** Genus ''[[Tolypeutes]]'' |
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****[[Southern Three-banded Armadillo]], ''Tolypeutes matacus'' |
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****[[Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo]], ''Tolypeutes tricinctus'' |
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† indicates extinct taxon |
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==Armadillos and humans== |
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===In science=== |
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Armadillos are often used in the study of [[leprosy]], since they, along with [[mangabey]] [[monkey]]s, [[rabbit]]s and [[Mouse|mice]] (on their footpads), are among the few known non-human animal species that can contract the disease systemically. They are particularly susceptible due to their unusually low body temperature, which is hospitable to the [[Mycobacterium leprae|leprosy bacterium]]. |
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The [[Nine-banded Armadillo]] also serves science through its unusual [[Reproduction|reproductive]] system, in which four [[Genetics|genetically]] identical [[Multiple birth|quadruplets]] are born in each litter.<ref |
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name="ufl">[http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW082 The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name="valdosta">http://www.valdosta.edu/~jloughry/Reprints/AmSci.pdf</ref><ref name="hamlet">http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0033-5770(193309)8%3A3%3C348%3APITAGO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q</ref> |
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Because they are always genetically identical, the group of four young provides a good subject for scientific, behavioral or medical tests that need consistent biological and genetic makeup in the test subjects. This is the only manifestation of [[polyembryony]] in the class [[mammalia]], and only exists within the genus ''[[Dasypus]]'' and not in all armadillos, as is commonly believed. Other species which display this trait include parasitoid wasps, certain flatworms and various aquatic invertebrates.<ref name="valdosta" /> |
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Armadillos (mainly ''Dasypus'') make common roadkill due to their habit of jumping to about [[fender (vehicle)|fender]] height when startled (such as by an oncoming car). Wildlife enthusiasts are using the northward march of the armadillo as an opportunity to educate others about the animals, which can be a burrowing nuisance to property owners and managers.<ref name="ufl"/> |
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===In American culture=== |
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During the [[Great Depression]], this species was known as "Hoover Hog" by down-on-their luck Americans who had to eat them instead of the "chicken in every pot" [[Herbert Hoover]] had promised during his presidential campaign.<ref name="hbot"/> Earlier, German settlers in [[Texas]] would often refer to the armadillo as ''Panzerschwein'' ("armored pig").{{Fact|date=April 2008}}<!-- this is generally attributed to German WWII POWs stationed in Texas, not German settlers --> In 1995, The Nine-banded Armadillo was, with some resistance, made the state small mammal of Texas,<ref>[http://www.shgresources.com/tx/symbols/smallmammal/ Texas Symbols, Small Mammal: Armadillo - SHG Resources]. Accessed [[March 2]], [[2008]].</ref> where it is considered a pest and is often seen dead on the roadside. They first forayed into Texas across the [[Rio Grande]] from Mexico in the 1800s, eventually spreading across the southeast United States.<ref name="hbot">{{Handbook of Texas|id=AA/tca2|name=Armadillo}}</ref> |
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[[David Schwimmer]] portrayed The Holiday Armadillo in an episode of [[Friends]]. |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
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*{{MSW3 Gardner|pages=94-99}} |
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==External links== |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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{{wikispecies}} |
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{{commons}} |
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*[http://seabed.nationalgeographic.com/splat_ngx_pathfinder/templates/output/articles/gallery.tmpl?DB_NUM_PARAMS=2&DB_PARAM_0=0503&DB_PARAM_1=2 Photographs of armadillo rolling into a ball] |
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{{mammals}} |
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{{Cingulata}} |
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[[Category:Armadillos]] |
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[[Category:Spanish loanwords]] |
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[[gn:Tatu]] |
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[[ay:Khirkhi khiwiña (uywa)]] |
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[[bg:Броненосци]] |
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[[ca:Armadillo]] |
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[[da:Bæltedyr]] |
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[[de:Gürteltiere]] |
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[[el:Αρμαντίλλο]] |
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[[es:Dasypodidae]] |
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[[eo:Dazipo]] |
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[[fa:آرمادیلو]] |
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[[fr:Tatou]] |
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[[gd:Armadillo]] |
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[[ko:아르마딜로]] |
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[[io:Armadilo]] |
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[[id:Armadillo]] |
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[[it:Dasypodidae]] |
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[[he:ארמדיליים]] |
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[[la:Dasypodidae]] |
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[[lt:Šarvuotiniai]] |
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[[hu:Övesállatok]] |
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[[nah:Āyōtōchtli]] |
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[[nl:Gordeldieren]] |
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[[ja:アルマジロ]] |
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[[no:Beltedyr]] |
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[[pl:Pancerniki]] |
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[[pt:Tatu]] |
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[[qu:Khirkinchu]] |
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[[ru:Броненосцы]] |
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[[simple:Armadillo]] |
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[[fi:Vyötiäiset]] |
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[[sv:Bältdjur]] |
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[[th:อาร์มาดิลโล]] |
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[[vi:Cingulata]] |
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[[tr:Armadillo]] |
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[[uk:Броненосці]] |
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[[zh:犰狳科]] |
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