Armadillos are expert diggers, and one of the ways they protect themselves is by burrowing into the ground . They live in these burrows, so if they feel threatened they may escape the situation by running home.
Some have found that armadillos have many natural predators , but they also have several ways to defend themselves. They can escape danger by running, burrowing, or digging themselves into the ground and clinging to the roots. One species of armadillo even has the ability to roll into a ball.
“The shell protects the armadillos from thorny shrubs, under which they can hide from predators ,” she says. Where do armadillos live in the desert? Armadillos live in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and semi-deserts.
Only one species, the three-banded armadillo, can roll itself into a hard armored ball to defend itself against predators . Other armadillo species simply dig a hole quickly and hunker down so that their tender stomach is protected and their armor is the only thing visible.
It is a physical adaptation . Their brownish-green coloring also helps them blend into the scrubby grasslands where they live so they are not easily seen. This camouflage is also a physical adaptation. Some armadillos can even roll up into a ball to cover their less protected undersides.
What are the Predators of the Armadillo?
Nevertheless, it still has a handful of predators that can strike at its soft, unprotected belly. In the United States, larger enemies include mountain lions, bears and coyotes . Since the armadillo can’t inflict a wounding bite or do much damage with its claws, how can it protect itself?
Are armadillos bulletproof?
Despite reports of bullets ricocheting off armadillos, these creatures aren’t bulletproof . Their shells are made of bony plates called osteoderms that grow in the skin. “The shell protects the armadillos from thorny shrubs, under which they can hide from predators,” she says. Where do armadillos live in the desert?
How tough is the armadillo’s shell?
The armadillo’s outer shell makes it look tough, at least to humans . Nevertheless, it still has a handful of predators that can strike at its soft, unprotected belly.
Can armadillos roll into a ball?
It is the only type of armadillo that can roll itself into a ball when endangered . Folding its body in half, the three-banded armadillo tucks its head and legs into its shell.