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From The Observer News
(www.observernews.net) Saturation Point If you were to stand on our back porch, it is quiet enough to hear the leaves rustle and pinpoint an anole jumping for its food. The other day, while my mom was out watering her plants she heard a very LOUD rustle, followed by two little creatures scuttling through our bushes. She motioned for me to come outside and take a look at what she had found—two baby armadillos, pink and gray, making their way through our foliage to find some dinner. I sat in one position in the grass with my camera and the babies continued on with their mission, hardly giving me a second thought.
Armadillos are funny looking creatures that used to be known mostly in Central and South America. Years back when my uncle visited I asked him whether he had seen any armadillos on his journey south to see us. He laughed and said that armadillos are only in Texas. Unfortunately he was wrong, but most people do associate armadillos with Texas because of how they are portrayed in movies and I think they even have the armadillo as school mascots. However, can you believe that the 9-banded armadillo has been found as far north as Nebraska? These little guys can move! What is even more interesting is that we are looking at ancient creatures that have evolved. According to Ask.com, armadillos are an ancient group that evolved and diversified in what is now South America during the Tertiary, probably entering North America when a land bridge connected the continents.
Most of these creatures (and there are over 8 different kinds of armadillo species) are not really social. They usually live by themselves or maybe in a pair. These babies were traveling together to look for food close to where their home burrow was located. Another neat fact is that all the babies are the same sex and there are usually four babies born at a time. They don’t really like water, but have been known to hold their breath and walk along the bottom of small waterways to get to the dryer side. They are actually weighted down by their heavy shell, which is also used as their protective armor. When they are threatened, they roll up like a little roly-poly bug, protecting their soft belly. Although the armadillo may be a common sight down here in Florida, why not stop and give them a second look? They truly are a unique animal. © Copyright 2008 by The Observer News Publications and M&M Printing |
