Aaaah the armadillo, an animal many in the southern United States associate with road kill. But there are 20 species of armadillos in the world, each one neat in their own respects. We went looking for the biggest armadillo of the them all- the giant armadillo! This species is not to be confused with the extinct Glyptodon – a car sized relative of the armadillo that lived during the Pleistocene epoch! Our giant armadillo friend is not that big- but they are cool!
Giant Armadillo Fun Facts:
- The giant armadillo has 11-13 bands.
- They can grow up to 39 inches long and weigh up to 72 lbs. There have been a few found that weigh 180 lbs.
- They have the most teeth of any mammal- 80 to 100 per armadillo!
- These solitary nocturnal animals live in burrows.
- Giant armadillos are insectivores. They eat termites, ants, worms and spiders. They can consume the entire population of one termite mound.
- They have the proportional claw of any mammal. This is their 3rd curved claw.
- Giant armadillos can not roll up completely in to a ball.
- Due to hunting, giant armadillos are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
These giant armadillos are so amazing! Little is known about them in the wild. No scientists have ever seen a juvinelle giant armadillo in the wild!