---
title: "What the sources say about the Nine-Banded Armadillo | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "56 claims from the Nine-Banded Armadillo profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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---

# What the sources say about the Nine-Banded Armadillo (*Dasypus novemcinctus*)

> 56 claims from the Nine-Banded Armadillo profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Nine-Banded Armadillo](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/nine-banded-armadillo/)

## Dasypus novemcinctus. Animal Diversity Web.

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dasypus_novemcinctus/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| smells invertebrates up to 20 cm underground | can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface (note: tagline) |
| Most often forest and scrub, from Argentina and Uruguay through Central America into the southern United States | most often inhabit forest and scrub-brush areas in tropical and temperate regions (note: stats.habitat) |
| from Argentina and Uruguay through Central America into the southern United States | from Argentina and Uruguay, through Central America and into the southern United States (note: stats.habitat) |
| One fertilized egg splits into four identical embryos | only a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryos (note: stats.superpower) |
| When the embryo implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryos | when a blastocyst finally implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryos |
| the birth is almost always four identical quadruplets | This embryonic process almost always results in the birth of four identical quadruplets. |
| They are often born in early spring, after a gestation of about 4 months | The quadruplets are often born in early spring, after about a 4 month gestation period. |
| Their leathery skin does not harden for a few weeks | their leathery skin does not harden into its characteristic armor for a few weeks |
| Males weigh slightly more than females: the average male weighs 5.5 to 7.7 kilograms, the average female 3.6 to 6.0 | males 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 armor is made of bony plates called osteoderms, covered in leathery skin | covered by an outer body armor made up of bony plates covered in a leathery keratinous skin. These scales (osteoderms) |
| It adds up to about 16% of body weight | The armor comprises about 16% of body weight |
| it typically has 9 visible bands, but the number can vary | Typically, nine-banded armadillos have 9 visible bands, but this number may vary |
| This species is not capable of curling into a perfect ball like a three-banded armadillo | While nine-banded armadillos curl up, they are not capable of curling itself into a perfect ball like other species, such as three-banded armadillos |
| When threatened it usually freezes, though it can also jump straight up and sprint short distances | When agitated by a perceived threat, nine-banded armadillos usually freeze. They can also jump up straight in the air and sprint over short distances. |
| where it arches its back and braces its feet so it is hard to pull out | once inside, arches its back and braces its feet so that it is difficult to remove |
| Its eyesight is poor and useless except at close distances | Nine-banded armadillos have a poor sense of vision, which is useless except at close distances |
| smell is its main sense | Olfaction is the primary mode of perception used by nine-banded armadillos. |
| It travels with its nose just above the ground and can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface | Nine-banded armadillos travel with their nose just above the ground and can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface. |
| To dig a burrow it loosens the soil with its nose and forelimbs, then kicks the dirt away with its hind legs | Nine-banded armadillos dig burrows by loosening soil with their noses and forelimbs and then kick the soil away with their hind limbs. |
| Almost 500 separate food items make up the diet, and over ninety percent of it by volume is animal matter | Almost 500 separate food items make up their diet, and over ninety percent of their diet (by volume) is made up of animal matter. |
| Adult and larval beetles may be the largest part, but it also eats termites, ants and earthworms | Adult and larval beetles may be the largest component, but nine-banded armadillos also feed on termites, millipedes, centipedes, ants, grasshoppers, arachnids, earthworms |
| Its teeth are simple pegs without enamel | Teeth are simple, small and cylindrical (peg-like). They lack enamel and continue to grow throughout the animal's lifetime. |
| The 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 | have the largest range of any extant species of armadillo, from Argentina and Uruguay, through Central America and into the southern United States |
| Beginning in the late 19th century it gradually spread to the northeast, and it is common as far north as Missouri | Beginning 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. |
| Cold probably limits how far north it can go | Migration and establishment of populations northward is likely limited by the severity of cold, winter weather |
| it lacks much hair or body fat | this species does not have a significant amount of hair or body fat, it does not cope well with cold temperatures |
| it begins to shiver below 22 degrees Celsius | Nine-banded armadillos begin to shiver at temperatures below 22°C |
| Four, almost always, and they are identical. Only one egg is fertilized, and the embryo later buds into four. | only a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryos ... almost always results in the birth of four identical quadruplets (note: FAQ 4) |
| and keep growing for its whole life | They lack enamel and continue to grow throughout the animal's lifetime. |
| Only a single egg is fertilized | During conception, only a single ovum is fertilized. |
| One Egg, Four Clones | only a single ovum is fertilized. ... it buds into 4 identical embryos (note: heading) |
| Nose First | Olfaction is the primary mode of perception used by nine-banded armadillos. (note: heading) |
| A frightened one usually seeks a burrow | A frightened nine-banded armadillo usually seeks a burrow |
| Heading North | Beginning in the late 19th century, they gradually expanded their range to the northeast. (note: heading) |
| One fertilized egg buds into four identical embryos | when a blastocyst finally implants in the wall of the uterus, it buds into 4 identical embryos (note: vibe.reason) |

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

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Nine-Banded-Armadillo

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| almost always gives birth to identical quadruplets | Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to four identical quadruplets. (note: tagline) |
| Mostly invertebrates such as beetles, plus small reptiles, amphibians and eggs | most 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 birds (note: stats.diet) |
| less than 10 percent fruit, seeds, fungi and other plant matter | Less than 10 percent of the diet is from fruit, seeds, fungi, and other plant matter. (note: stats.diet) |
| the unprotected young are extremely vulnerable to predators | the unprotected young are extremely vulnerable to predation |
| This armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is about 0.7 meters (2.5 feet) long from nose to tail tip and averages 5 kilograms (12 pounds) | are 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) |
| Small streams are no obstacle | Small streams are no obstacle for these amazing animals. |
| An armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes, and it can swim across or walk along the bottom of a river | The nine-banded armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes and can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers. |
| Small reptiles, amphibians and eggs are a smaller part | A lesser part of the diet is comprised of small reptiles and amphibians as well as eggs of mammals , reptiles, and birds |
| In the wild it typically lives 7 to 20 years, and one captive armadillo reached 23 | Nine-banded armadillos typically live from 7 to 20 years in the wild. One captive armadillo lived 23 years. |
| Cases of people catching leprosy by handling armadillos are extremely rare | cases of humans getting leprosy by handling armadillos are extremely rare |
| Around 2.5 feet (0.7 meters) measured from the nose to the end of the tail. On average it weighs 12 pounds (5 kilograms). | are 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) |
| No. 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. | only 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 startled (note: FAQ 2) |
| Wild ones usually live between 7 and 20 years. One kept in captivity lived to 23. | Nine-banded armadillos typically live from 7 to 20 years in the wild. One captive armadillo lived 23 years. (note: FAQ 3) |
| The newborns have no hard armor yet | At birth, the carapace of the offspring has not yet hardened |
| A Small Tank That Walks on Riverbeds | can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers (note: heading) |
| Riverbed walker | can swim or “walk” along the bottom of rivers (note: blockquote lead) |
| weightKg: 5 | weigh an average of 12 pounds (5 kilograms) |

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

https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2112.150501

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

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2026-1.rlts.t268513068a268516717.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN 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 IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |