Are Armadillos Part of the Rodent Family?

Armadillos are no more related to rodents than humans are. These creatures are not from the rodent family, the marsupial family, or anything else like that for that matter. They are actually part of the mammalian family. Armadillos are New World placental mammals with a leathery armory shell. In Spanish, the word Armadillo literally means “little armored one.” The Aztec referred to them as azotochtli, Nahuatl for “turtle rabbit.” Dasypodidae is the only surviving family in the order Cingulata, part of the super order Xenarthra along with anteaters and sloths. While members of the rodent family would belong to the order Rondentia.

There are at least 20 different species of armadillos, some being distinguished by the number of bands on their armor. All species are native to the Americas and have been known to inhabit a wide variety of environments. Many species of armadillos are endangered.