Six-banded armadillo
Scientific name
Euphractus sexcinctus
Size and weight
40 to 50 cm long
3.2 to 6.5 kg
Diet
Insects and other invertebrates, fruit, vegetables and sometimes a bit of carrion
Conservation status
Least concern
Native habitat
Rainforest, shrubland and forest in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay
lifespan
15 years
Meet our six-banded armadillo
Milo the armadillo loves to snooze – except when there’s food around. His favourite food is morio worms and he’s partial to a bit of broccoli too. Milo is a keen digger and has an excellent sense of smell, so his keepers often hide food in his enclosure for him to find. He enjoys snuffling around to find it, and it never takes him long. Milo also enjoys scent trails, using herbs, spices and even aftershave, which are great for animals with a strong sense of smell. We also give him balls, boxes and puzzle feeders to keep him busy.
Milo is a very friendly, greedy little chap. Why not get up close and personal with him on our armadillo afternoon tea experience, bookable on the link below.
About six-banded armadillos
Six-banded armadillos have armour made of bony plates called osteoderms that grow out of their skin. Their six bands of armour let them bend their bodies while still being protected. They’re pretty fast too, so they can run away from predators if they need to.
Six-banded armadillos have long, strong claws, using them to make dens to sleep in and to dig up tasty bugs. Their role as pest control is important for a healthy ecosystem.
Baby armadillos are called pups and when they’re born, their shells are soft, grey, and leathery, but they harden up within a few days.
Six-banded armadillos are under threat from habitat loss.
Did you know?
- the word ‘armadillo’ means ‘little armoured one’ in Spanish
- armadillos have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell
- six-banded armadillos are also known as yellow armadillos
- even though they have scales on the outside like reptiles, armadillos are mammals
- they’re related to sloths and anteaters
- scientists have copied the structure of osteoderms to make protective clothing for humans
