Wild About Illinois Armadillos!

Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nourishment. There cells do not have cell walls. Most animals are capable of movement at least in some portion of their life cycle. Reproduction is generally sexual, but in some animals asexual reproduction may be utilized at certain times.
Phylum: Chordata - The Phylum Chordata contains the vertebrate animals. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are included in this phylum. These animals have a notochord at some point in their development. They have a tubular nerve cord along the back. Gill slits and a tail are present at some point in their life cycle. They have an internal skeleton.
Class: Mammalia (Mammals) - Mammals are warm-blooded. Most mammals have young born after developing inside the mother's body in a special organ called a uterus. After birth, the young are fed with milk produced in the female’s mammary glands. A mammal has a large and complex brain.
Order: Cingulata (Armadillos) - Armadillos have bony plates in the skin that covers the top, sides, head and tail of the body. They are land-based and primarily eat insects.
Family: Dasypodidae (Armadillos) - Armadillos have a bony armor under a leathery skin that covers the upper body. Most species have the armor in shields over the hip and shoulder regions with bands of armor separated by flexible skin on the back and sides. There is an armor covering on the head, too, and on the tail. The teeth are simple in structure. There are no incisors or canines. The diet is mainly composed of insects and other small invertebrates.

nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
Photo © Mary Kay Rubey

FEATURES
The nine-banded armadillo is covered with bony plates of armor under a leathery skin. There is a bony shield on top of the head. This mammal has a long, pointed snout. Its ears are large, and its tail is long and encased in bony rings. The feet have long, stout claws. There are four toes on the front feet and five toes on the hind feet. The body is about 23.5 – 31.5 inches long plus a tail of 9.5 to 15.0 inches in length. The teeth are peg-shaped. There are no incisors or canines.

BEHAVIORS
Not a lot is known about the life history of the armadillo in Illinois since it has recently expanded its range and moved into the state, so its life history information in this account is based on its activities in states further south and southwest. In Illinois, it has been found throughout the state, but it probably cannot survive the winter conditions in the northern half of the state. It digs burrows in the ground in stream banks, under stumps and logs, under shrubs and under buildings. Some burrows will contain a nest of plant materials. Armadillos are usually active at night, dusk and dawn, although they are more likely to be active during the day in winter. They do not hibernate. They can swim, and they can also walk on the bottom of small streams and ponds for several minutes. They have poor vision but good senses of smell and hearing. They can dig extremely fast. Insects are the main component of their diet, but they also eat other small invertebrates, fruits, fungi, dead animals and other items. Mating occurs in summer. The implantation of the embryos is delayed until November or December with the young born in spring. A litter is typically formed of four, identical individuals that developed from a single egg.

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Dasypodidae