These cute little plush toys shown above are a collection of Armadillos.
These animals include: Artie the Armadillo from Aurora, Tank the Beanie Baby Armadillo from Ty, Tex the Armadillo Puffkin, which was made by Swibco and Armour the Puffkin, which was made by Swibco. We also have the Wild Republic Cuddlekins Armadillo and the Pocketkins Armadillo. Our newest Armadillo is from Wildlife Artists in center. And we have a little Armadillo figurine from Safari Ltd. Check the Jeannie's Cottage Gift Shop to see if they have any Armadillos in stock.
Armadillo's (a Spanish word meaning "little armored one") are closely related to anteaters and sloths. They are about 16 inches long not including their tail. They
have skin like a lizard and a hard plated shell which is a good defense against predators. They are the only mammal with a true shell. Like the Badger, the Armadillo will try to escape by digging a hole or running into its burrow.
They can be found in brushy or rocky areas and forests. They prefer loose soils because it is easier to dig in and easier for them to feed on their favorite food: ants and termites. The female gives birth in her burrow, always to quadruplets that are all the same sex. This is because every year she produces only one egg that when fertilized divides into four embryos of the same sex.
Armadillo's do not hibernate and have little ability to accumulate fat. They have low body temperature for a mammal and their shells do not provide as much insulation as fur.
There are between 30 to 50 million Armadillos in the United States. The average adult eats 200 pounds of invertebrates a year. Armadillos have a very good sense of smell and can detect beetles, larvae or worms underneath the soil. They also eat amphibians, lizards, eggs and some plants. Armadillo's can live to 15 years of age.
