They enjoy eating all sorts of vegetables such as lettuce, leafy greens, and pumpkin. Plant matter only makes about 8% of the armadillo’s diet.
They are quite fond of vegetable matter and love to eat delicate leaf roots. PlantsĪrmadillos also enjoy eating plants. When armadillos find nests of birds and reptiles, they will also feed on the eggs of these animals. This is however not a very common food source for these animals since they mostly prefer insects. Larger armadillo species will also hunt and eat small animals such as reptiles such as lizards and amphibians such as frogs and newts. They are especially fond of termites and love to dig around in termite nests for a tasty bite to eat. These animals will eat all sorts of insect types including termites, beetles, grubs, cockroaches, scorpions, centipedes, grasshoppers, larvae, just to name a few. They have long tongues that can reach deep down into holes so they can catch insects. InsectsĪrmadillos are mostly insectivores. Here is a quick look at some of the most common foods that these animals love to eat. They are also mammals and need their mothers to survive during the first few weeks after birth. They eat both plant and animal matter but they only eat certain types of plants and insects. What Do Armadillos Eat?Īrmadillos are omnivores. The pinky fairy armadillo is the smallest armadillo species and only reaches a length of up to 15cm. But the giant armadillo can grow up to 150cm in length and can weigh up to 54kg. Armadillos can reach an average length of 75cm including its tail. Some of the species of armadillo are distinguished by the number of bands they have on their armor. This armor gives them a very unique look.Īrmadillos are part of the Dasypodidae family and there are 21 species of this animal. These animals have hard armor to protect them from predators and they can roll themselves into a ball or barrel as further protection. Lifespan in the wild is unknown.As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Īrmadillos are some of the strangest looking animals in the world. Armadillo lizards attain sexual maturity when they reach body length of 4 inches.Īrmadillo lizard can survive up to 25 years in captivity. Unlike other reptiles, females take care of their babies.
Males are territorial and mate with females that live on their territories.įemale gives birth to one or two babies at the end of April (at the beginning of rainy season). Mating season takes place during the spring. In the case of danger, armadillo lizards curl into the ball that is unpalatable for most animals because of the spines on the neck and tail.Īrmadillo lizards are able to shed their tail in the case of danger.Īrmadillo lizards live in large groups that usually consist of up to 30 members (sometimes up to 60).
However, armadillo lizards move slowly and predators can catch them easily.Īrmadillo lizards are named that way because of the armadillo-like tactic which they use to avoid predators. Because of their flattened bodies, they can hide in tight rock crevices. Whenever possible, armadillo lizards will try to escape from predators. Besides them, they are often targeted by birds of prey. Humans are the biggest enemies of armadillo lizards. Its diet mainly consists of termites, but it also consumes scorpions, millipedes, spiders and certain types of plants. They are even able to break their own jaws during the feeding.Īrmadillo lizards are diurnal animals (active during the day).Īrmadillo lizard is an omnivore (it eats plants and other animals). They use sense of smell for detection of food and predators.Īrmadillo lizards have extremely strong bite. Front legs are longer than hind legs.Īrmadillo lizards have long, tube-like nostrils and excellent sense of smell. Unique coloration of the body provides camouflage.Īrmadillo lizards have triangular head and flattened body and tail. Chin is covered with black marks and throat with dark blotches.
They are light to dark brown on a dorsal side of the body and yellow on the bottom side. It has 14 to 16 inches long tail.īody of armadillo lizards is covered with square-shaped scales. Armadillo lizards are listed as vulnerable (they may become endangered in the near future).Īrmadillo lizard can reach 15 to 17 inches in length and 8 to 17 pounds of weight. High demand for armadillo lizards and well developed pet trade negatively affects their number in the wild. Because of their unusual look, armadillo lizards are collected from the wild and sold in the pet shops around Europe and North America. Armadillo lizard inhabits deserts, scrublands and dry, rocky areas. Armadillo lizard, also known as armadillo spiny-tailed lizard or armadillo girdled lizard is a reptile that can be found only on the western coast of South Africa.