![]() They include nine-banded armadillos-the only U.S. Native only to the Western Hemisphere with ranges spanning most of South and Central America and into the United States, the 20-odd species of armadillos are indeed a quirky bunch. In 1675 a European naturalist declared that the long-eared, hard-shelled, burrowing beasts encountered by New World explorers must have descended from an awkward amour between a hedgehog and a tortoise. Mention armadillos and the nicknames fly: tactical possums, Texas speed bumps, pocket dinosaurs. When threatened, the three-banded armadillo (above right captive) can roll into an almost perfect defensive ball. In a Texas meadow, a nine-banded armadillo rises to catch a whiff of potential mates or approaching dangers. ![]() Armadillos aren’t just pests or punch lines, researchers say, yet these peculiar armor-plated mammals are certainly full of surprises. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |