Nine-banded Armadillo

The armadillo's twelve to seventeen pound body requires a lot of food, so the time spent above ground is occupied by searching for food. Over 90% of their diet is composed of animal matter. A keen sense of smell enables the armadillo to locate grubs, beetles, snails, worms, ants, and other invertebrates that may be buried under six inches of soil. It will also feed on small reptiles, amphibians, baby mammals, and bird eggs. Unlike some of its South American relatives, the nine-banded armadillo does not roll into a tight ball for protection. If startled, an armadillo may respond by leaping straight up before running. It can sprint over short distances to avoid predators, and often flees to the cover of dense, thorny underbrush or nearby burrows.