Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

The nine-banded armadillo is one of the strangest mammals in North America.

It looks part piglet, part turtle, part garden shovel.

Instead of fur covering most of its body, the armadillo wears a flexible shell made of bony plates. This armor protects the head, shoulders, back, hips, and tail. The middle section has movable bands that allow the animal to bend as it walks, digs, and squeezes through brush.

Despite the name, a nine-banded armadillo may not always have exactly nine bands. Most have nine, but the number can vary.

These animals are common across the Texas Gulf Coast. They turn up in woods, yards, roadsides, parks, pastures, and anywhere with loose soil and enough insects to justify a little excavation project.

Description

The nine-banded armadillo is about the size of a large house cat or small dog. Adults usually weigh between 8 and 17 pounds.

Its shell, or carapace, is made of bony plates covered in tough skin. The armor is not one solid piece. It includes shoulder armor, hip armor, and flexible bands across the back.

The head is narrow and pointed. The ears are tall, triangular, and surprisingly expressive. The legs are short but powerful, with claws built for digging.

The tail is long, armored, and tapered. When an armadillo trots away, the tail often sticks straight out behind it like a tiny prehistoric antenna.

How to Identify a Nine-Banded Armadillo

The nine-banded armadillo is easy to recognize once you know the basics.

Look for:

• Gray-brown armored body
• Long, pointed snout
• Small eyes
• Large upright ears
• Short legs
• Strong digging claws
• Long, tapered tail
• Flexible bands across the middle of the shell
• Low, snuffling walk with the nose close to the ground

Armadillos often look like they are wandering without a plan. They are not. Their nose is doing most of the work.

They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell. When foraging, they shuffle along with their nose near the soil, stopping to dig when they smell insects, larvae, or grubs.

Quick Facts

Diet: What Do Armadillos Eat?

Nine-banded armadillos are mostly insect-eaters.

Their menu includes:

• Beetle larvae
• Grubs
• Ants
• Termites
• Earthworms
• Spiders
• Millipedes
• Centipedes
• Grasshoppers
• Small invertebrates
• Occasional fruit, fungi, eggs, or carrion

The nine-banded armadillo is a generalist feeder. Most of its diet is animal matter, especially insects and other invertebrates.

In yards and gardens, armadillos are often blamed for damage. Sometimes that blame is fair. Their digging can disturb lawns, beds, mulch, and young plants.

But they are not digging out of spite. They are hunting.

In fact, they eat many grubs and soil insects that can damage plants. So, depending on the location, an armadillo can be both pest control and pest.

Classic armadillo behavior. Helpful and annoying. Nature likes mixed reviews.

Habitat and Range

Nine-banded armadillos prefer warm areas with soft soil and enough cover for shelter.

They are found in:

• Woodlands
• Brushy areas
• Grasslands
• Pastures
• Suburban yards
• Creek edges
• Roadsides
• Gardens
• Scrubby coastal habitats

Along the Texas Gulf Coast, they are common in wooded edges, rural roadsides, fields, and neighborhoods with loose soil. They do especially well where insects are abundant and digging is easy.

Armadillos live throughout most of Texas. They use brush, woods, scrub, and grassland habitats.

The species has expanded across much of the southeastern United States. Its spread is helped by warm climates, adaptable habits, and high reproductive success. Cold weather still limits how far north it can thrive because armadillos do not hibernate.

Behavior

Nine-banded armadillos are usually solitary.

Most are active at night, especially during hot weather. In cooler seasons, they may forage during the day. This is why you might see one wandering a roadside in winter or early spring.

They spend much of their time searching for food. Their foraging style is slow, nosy, and determined. They sniff, dig, pause, dig again, and continue like a tiny armored rototiller.

Armadillos also dig burrows. These burrows provide shelter, protection, and resting places during heat or cold.

Abandoned armadillo burrows can be used by other wildlife, including rabbits, opossums, skunks, cotton rats, and burrowing owls.

They can also swim. When crossing water, a nine-banded armadillo may swim or walk along the bottom for short distances. Yes, because apparently armor-plated snorkeling was on the mammal checklist.

Life History and Reproduction

Nine-banded armadillos have one of the strangest reproductive habits among North American mammals.

Females usually give birth to four identical young. These quadruplets develop from the same fertilized egg, so they are genetically identical and the same sex.

Breeding usually happens in summer, but development can be delayed. This means young are often born months later, commonly in spring.

The young are born with softer skin that hardens as they grow. They begin walking quickly and follow their mother while learning to forage.

This reproductive strategy helps armadillos expand into new areas. One successful female can produce multiple sets of identical quadruplets during her lifetime.

Conservation Status

The nine-banded armadillo is not considered threatened.

The species is listed as Least Concern because it has a wide range, large population, and tolerance for disturbed habitats.

In Texas, armadillos are common and familiar. They are also the official state small mammal, designated in 1995.

Their biggest everyday threats include roads, dogs, habitat disturbance, and conflicts with people over yard damage.

Are Armadillos Dangerous?

Armadillos are wild animals, but they are not aggressive.

Most would rather waddle away than confront anything. If startled, they may jump straight up, bolt into brush, or dig quickly into loose soil.

The main concern is handling. Some armadillos in the southern United States can carry the bacteria that cause Hansen’s disease, also called leprosy. The risk to people is very low, but it is still best to avoid touching armadillos.

For wildlife photography, the rule is simple: admire, photograph, and leave them alone.

That is also the rule for most things with claws and mystery germs.

Fun Facts About Nine-Banded Armadillos

• The word “armadillo” means “little armored one” in Spanish.
• Nine-banded armadillos almost always give birth to identical quadruplets.
• They are related to anteaters and sloths.
• Their armor is flexible, not solid like a turtle shell.
• They can dig surprisingly fast when startled.
• They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell.
• They may hold their breath while crossing water.
• They are mostly nocturnal but may appear during daylight in cooler weather.
• Their digging can annoy gardeners, but they also eat plant-damaging grubs.
• They are one of the most recognizable mammals in Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Armadillos

What kind of armadillo lives in Texas?

The armadillo commonly found in Texas is the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus. It is widespread across most of the state.

Are armadillos native to Texas?

Nine-banded armadillos are native to the Americas and naturally expanded into Texas from the south. They are now one of the state’s most familiar mammals.

What do armadillos eat?

Armadillos mostly eat insects, larvae, grubs, ants, termites, worms, and other small invertebrates. They may occasionally eat fruit, eggs, or carrion.

Why do armadillos dig holes in yards?

They dig while searching for food. Soft lawns, gardens, mulch, and moist soil can attract them because those areas often contain grubs and insects.

Are armadillos good for the garden?

Sometimes. Armadillos eat grubs and other insects that can damage plants. However, their digging can disturb lawns, flower beds, and young roots.

Do armadillos roll into a ball?

Nine-banded armadillos do not roll into a tight ball. That trick belongs to some three-banded armadillos. The nine-banded armadillo relies on armor, digging, and escape.

Are armadillos nocturnal?

They are mostly nocturnal, especially in warm weather. During cooler months, they may be active during the day.

Can armadillos swim?

Yes. Armadillos can cross water by swimming or by moving along the bottom for short distances.

Can armadillos carry leprosy?

Some armadillos can carry the bacteria that cause Hansen’s disease. The risk to people is very low, but it is best not to touch or handle armadillos.

What should I do if I find an armadillo?

Watch it from a distance. Do not handle it, corner it, or try to relocate it yourself. For injured wildlife, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local wildlife authority.

Naturalist’s Note

The nine-banded armadillo is easy to overlook because it is so common along the Gulf Coast. Spend a few minutes watching one, though, and it quickly becomes unforgettable.

This odd little mammal wears armor, digs with serious purpose, and sniffs through leaf litter like it has an important appointment underground. Its eyesight may be poor, but its nose does most of the work.

Along trails, roadsides, pastures, and quiet neighborhoods, armadillos are part of the warm-evening wildlife scene. They shuffle through the dark, searching for insects, grubs, and anything else hiding in the soil.

Familiar wildlife can still be fascinating. Sometimes the best nature sightings are not rare or dramatic. Sometimes they are small, armored, slightly awkward, and minding their own buggy little business.

Similar Species

• Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) — A common nocturnal mammal with gray fur, a pale face, and a long naked tail. Often seen at night, but lacks the armadillo’s armor and digging behavior.
• Raccoon (Procyon lotor) — A larger nighttime mammal with a black facial mask and ringed tail. Raccoons use their paws to search for food, while armadillos rely on their nose and claws.
• Nutria (Myocastor coypus) — A large, semi-aquatic rodent with brown fur, orange teeth, and a rat-like tail. Usually found near marshes, ponds, and bayous rather than rooting through dry soil.
• Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) — A black-and-white nocturnal mammal that may dig small holes for insects. Much fluffier than an armadillo and best appreciated from a respectful distance.
• Feral Hog (Sus scrofa) — Can leave rooting damage in fields and yards that may be confused with armadillo digging. Hog damage is usually much larger and more destructive.