O Armadillo

I have to admit I hadn’t thought about Armadillos much; that I would bump into one or even consider checking a box for this peculiar species on a data sheet in Florida. I just imagined they were out west under scorching sun, rooting in dust and dodging tumbleweeds, maybe near the Alamo-but even there they weren’t observed much till the late 1800’s.
The more familiar Nine banded Armadillo originated in South America along with numerous and fairly odd looking species relatives. And you wouldn’t necessarily have to be a scientist to recognize they are in the same family as anteaters and sloths (just look at them!) But maybe only a scientist would know Armadillos also have pouches for their young and slow(even slothful) metabolisms. I think the Aztecs were spot on Naturalists in naming them “turtle rabbits”.

I was surprised to read even now Nebraska provides habitat for the Armadillo -they don’t have many natural predators with their tough armored shell. So who knows, given some transmigration of the species, and in 50 years Fishers Island may also be home to the Armadillo-they are good swimmers!

Today under the shady canopy of a maritime forest at Canaveral National Seashore is a place where I see Armadillos rooting vigorously for grubs and insects. They prefer to burrow alone-so I often just observe one.  An Armadillo’s tiny eyes are slow to spot me on a sunny day, but with those rabbit-like ears, my presence is detected and this beautifully camouflaged, and yes, weird looking creature scurries away.