Anatomy: Armadillos are protected by plates of bony armor covered with skin. The Nine-Banded Armadillo is the size of a cat, about 1.5 feet (46 cm) long.

Diet: Armadillo are primarily insectivores (insect-eaters). They dig into the earth using their large claws to find food. They use their long tongue to get ants, beetles, termites, worms, grubs, other small animals and eggs. They have peg-like teeth.

Reproduction: The Nine-Banded Armadillo always has identical quadruplets (4 babies that come from one egg).

Classification: Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Edentata (anteaters, sloths, and armadillos), Family Dasypodidae (armadillos), Genus Dasypus, Species D. novemcintus.