Can Armadillos Roll Into A Ball?

The only armadillo that is able to roll itself into a ball is the three-banded armadillo. This species of armadillo uses its shell as a defense mechanism. It is the only type of armadillo that can roll itself into a ball when endangered. It does so by folding its body in half and then tucking its head and legs into its shell. It then curls its tail beside the head and pulls in tight. Since the top of the head and tail of this armadillo are armored well, the end result leaves virtually no exposed flesh for a predator to hurt.

The key to this specie’s line of defense is its shell. Its shell is a combination of bone and tough tissue coating, called a carapace. About 2,000 tiny scales known as scutes are composed of the protein keratin and make up the carapace. The carapace is divided into the anterior scapular shield over its forequarters and the posterior pelvic shield over its hindquarters. Between these two shields are a series of bands that vary depending upon the species of armadillo. These softer bands look somewhat like an accordion and allow for mobility. In most armadillos, the two shields are attached to the skin on all sides.

However when it comes to the three banded armadillo, its shields are unattached along its lateral sides, which gives it the extra room between the skin and the shell it needs for tucking itself into its shell. Other armadillos can hunch over in an attempt to conceal most of their abdomens, however their shields do not provide a space for them to retract their limbs.

For armadillos that do not have the luxury of rolling themselves up into their shells for protection, they will often stand motionless for a moment to see if their predator will ignore them. If this doesn’t work, they will try to run away or dig away, and hide. Though they have poor vision, these creatures are good at finding cover or a burrow to scurry into during an attack. When threatened, armadillos are also known to jump straight up into the air in order to startle the predator, and then afterwards it will hoof it to the nearest spot of safety.

In the United States, some of the larger predators that armadillos have to watch out for include mountain lions, coyotes and bears.