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What the sources say

Nine-Banded ArmadilloDasypus novemcinctus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Nine-Banded Armadillo profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 56 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web

Dasypus novemcinctus. Animal Diversity Web.

The page sayssmells invertebrates up to 20 cm underground
The source sayscan smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surfaceNote: tagline
The page saysMost often forest and scrub, from Argentina and Uruguay through Central America into the southern United States
The source saysmost often inhabit forest and scrub-brush areas in tropical and temperate regionsNote: stats.habitat
The page saysfrom Argentina and Uruguay through Central America into the southern United States
The source saysfrom Argentina and Uruguay, through Central America and into the southern United StatesNote: stats.habitat
The page saysOne fertilized egg splits into four identical embryos
The source saysonly a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryosNote: stats.superpower
The page saysWhen the embryo implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryos
The source sayswhen a blastocyst finally implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryos
The page saysthe birth is almost always four identical quadruplets
The source saysThis embryonic process almost always results in the birth of four identical quadruplets.
The page saysThey are often born in early spring, after a gestation of about 4 months
The source saysThe quadruplets are often born in early spring, after about a 4 month gestation period.
The page saysTheir leathery skin does not harden for a few weeks
The source saystheir leathery skin does not harden into its characteristic armor for a few weeks
The page saysMales weigh slightly more than females: the average male weighs 5.5 to 7.7 kilograms, the average female 3.6 to 6.0
The source saysmales weighing slightly more than females (the average male weighs 5.5 to 7.7 kg, while the average female weighs 3.6 to 6.0 kg)
The page saysThe armor is made of bony plates called osteoderms, covered in leathery skin
The source sayscovered by an outer body armor made up of bony plates covered in a leathery keratinous skin. These scales (osteoderms)
The page saysIt adds up to about 16% of body weight
The source saysThe armor comprises about 16% of body weight
The page saysit typically has 9 visible bands, but the number can vary
The source saysTypically, nine-banded armadillos have 9 visible bands, but this number may vary
The page saysThis species is not capable of curling into a perfect ball like a three-banded armadillo
The source saysWhile nine-banded armadillos curl up, they are not capable of curling itself into a perfect ball like other species, such as three-banded armadillos
The page saysWhen threatened it usually freezes, though it can also jump straight up and sprint short distances
The source saysWhen agitated by a perceived threat, nine-banded armadillos usually freeze. They can also jump up straight in the air and sprint over short distances.
The page sayswhere it arches its back and braces its feet so it is hard to pull out
The source saysonce inside, arches its back and braces its feet so that it is difficult to remove
The page saysIts eyesight is poor and useless except at close distances
The source saysNine-banded armadillos have a poor sense of vision, which is useless except at close distances
The page sayssmell is its main sense
The source saysOlfaction is the primary mode of perception used by nine-banded armadillos.
The page saysIt travels with its nose just above the ground and can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface
The source saysNine-banded armadillos travel with their nose just above the ground and can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface.
The page saysTo dig a burrow it loosens the soil with its nose and forelimbs, then kicks the dirt away with its hind legs
The source saysNine-banded armadillos dig burrows by loosening soil with their noses and forelimbs and then kick the soil away with their hind limbs.
The page saysAlmost 500 separate food items make up the diet, and over ninety percent of it by volume is animal matter
The source saysAlmost 500 separate food items make up their diet, and over ninety percent of their diet (by volume) is made up of animal matter.
The page saysAdult and larval beetles may be the largest part, but it also eats termites, ants and earthworms
The source saysAdult and larval beetles may be the largest component, but nine-banded armadillos also feed on termites, millipedes, centipedes, ants, grasshoppers, arachnids, earthworms
The page saysIts teeth are simple pegs without enamel
The source saysTeeth are simple, small and cylindrical (peg-like). They lack enamel and continue to grow throughout the animal's lifetime.
The page saysThe nine-banded armadillo has the largest range of any living armadillo species, from Argentina and Uruguay through Central America and into the southern United States
The source sayshave the largest range of any extant species of armadillo, from Argentina and Uruguay, through Central America and into the southern United States
The page saysBeginning in the late 19th century it gradually spread to the northeast, and it is common as far north as Missouri
The source saysBeginning in the late 19th century, they gradually expanded their range to the northeast. They have been spotted as far east as Florida and are common as far north as Missouri.
The page saysCold probably limits how far north it can go
The source saysMigration and establishment of populations northward is likely limited by the severity of cold, winter weather
The page saysit lacks much hair or body fat
The source saysthis species does not have a significant amount of hair or body fat, it does not cope well with cold temperatures
The page saysit begins to shiver below 22 degrees Celsius
The source saysNine-banded armadillos begin to shiver at temperatures below 22°C
The page saysFour, almost always, and they are identical. Only one egg is fertilized, and the embryo later buds into four.
The source saysonly a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryos ... almost always results in the birth of four identical quadrupletsNote: FAQ 4
The page saysand keep growing for its whole life
The source saysThey lack enamel and continue to grow throughout the animal's lifetime.
The page saysOnly a single egg is fertilized
The source saysDuring conception, only a single ovum is fertilized.
The page saysOne Egg, Four Clones
The source saysonly a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryosNote: heading
The page saysNose First
The source saysOlfaction is the primary mode of perception used by nine-banded armadillos.Note: heading
The page saysA frightened one usually seeks a burrow
The source saysA frightened nine-banded armadillo usually seeks a burrow
The page saysHeading North
The source saysBeginning in the late 19th century, they gradually expanded their range to the northeast.Note: heading
The page saysOne fertilized egg buds into four identical embryos
The source sayswhen a blastocyst finally implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryosNote: vibe.reason

Source
02

National Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Guide

Nine-Banded Armadillo. National Wildlife Federation, Wildlife Guide.

The page saysalmost always gives birth to identical quadruplets
The source saysNine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical quadruplets.Note: tagline
The page saysMostly invertebrates such as beetles, plus small reptiles, amphibians and eggs
The source saysmost of which are invertebrates such as beetles, cockroaches, wasps, yellow jackets, fire ants, scorpions, spiders, snails, and white grubs. A lesser part of the diet is comprised of small reptiles and amphibians as well as eggs of mammals , reptiles, and birdsNote: stats.diet
The page saysless than 10 percent fruit, seeds, fungi and other plant matter
The source saysLess than 10 percent of the diet is from fruit, seeds, fungi, and other plant matter.Note: stats.diet
The page saysthe unprotected young are extremely vulnerable to predators
The source saysthe unprotected young are extremely vulnerable to predation
The page saysThis armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is about 0.7 meters (2.5 feet) long from nose to tail tip and averages 5 kilograms (12 pounds)
The source saysare about 2.5 feet (0.7 meters) long from the nose to the tip of the tail and weigh an average of 12 pounds (5 kilograms)
The page saysSmall streams are no obstacle
The source saysSmall streams are no obstacle for these amazing animals.
The page saysAn armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes, and it can swim across or walk along the bottom of a river
The source saysThe nine-banded armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes and can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers.
The page saysSmall reptiles, amphibians and eggs are a smaller part
The source saysA lesser part of the diet is comprised of small reptiles and amphibians as well as eggs of mammals , reptiles, and birds
The page saysIn the wild it typically lives 7 to 20 years, and one captive armadillo reached 23
The source saysNine-banded armadillos typically live from 7 to 20 years in the wild. One captive armadillo lived 23 years.
The page saysCases of people catching leprosy by handling armadillos are extremely rare
The source sayscases of humans getting leprosy by handling armadillos are extremely rare
The page saysAround 2.5 feet (0.7 meters) measured from the nose to the end of the tail. On average it weighs 12 pounds (5 kilograms).
The source saysare about 2.5 feet (0.7 meters) long from the nose to the tip of the tail and weigh an average of 12 pounds (5 kilograms)Note: FAQ 1
The page saysNo. Only two armadillo species, both three-banded ones, can roll up completely. A startled nine-banded armadillo tends to jump straight up into the air instead.
The source saysonly two species of armadillo (both three-banded) are able to roll up completely. ... Nine-banded armadillos have a tendency to jump straight up into the air when they are startledNote: FAQ 2
The page saysWild ones usually live between 7 and 20 years. One kept in captivity lived to 23.
The source saysNine-banded armadillos typically live from 7 to 20 years in the wild. One captive armadillo lived 23 years.Note: FAQ 3
The page saysThe newborns have no hard armor yet
The source saysAt birth, the carapace of the offspring has not yet hardened
The page saysA Small Tank That Walks on Riverbeds
The source sayscan swim or “walk” along the bottom of riversNote: heading
The page saysRiverbed walker
The source sayscan swim or “walk” along the bottom of riversNote: blockquote lead
The page saysweightKg: 5
The source saysweigh an average of 12 pounds (5 kilograms)

Source
03

Sharma et al. 2015

Sharma et al. (2015). Zoonotic Leprosy in the Southeastern United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The page saysIt is also naturally infected with the leprosy bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae
The source saysNine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae
The page saysIn a screening of 645 armadillos from 8 locations in the southeastern United States, 106 (16.4%) had serologic or PCR evidence of infection
The source saysWe screened 645 armadillos from 8 locations in the southeastern United States ... 106 (16.4%) animals had serologic/PCR evidence of infection.

Source
04

Arteaga et al. 2026

Arteaga et al. (2026). Dasypus novemcinctus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2026: e.T268513068A268516717.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List (taxon 268513068, matching the DOI), recorded here as a check; the claim quotes the cached category line
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.