The name armadillo means “little armored
one” in Spanish.
An armadillo’s armor is made of many small
plates of bone which cover its body. When a baby armadillo is born, its armor is no
tougher than a finger nail. As it gets older, it hardens.
An armadillo can hold its breath for up to six
minutes. This helps them when they are digging tunnels. It also lets them stay underwater.
They are good swimmers, but they also travel by walking on the bottom of streams and
ponds!
Southern U.S., Central
