

Being solitary mammals the reproductive cycle starts when the female identifies a potential mate and the males successfully fertilizing her eggs.Īfter a successful mate, the male leaves the female and then the female takes care of everything on her own.Īrmadillos usually have a gestation period of 2 to 5 months depending upon the species. These pups get sexually matured within 12 months after birth and then they leave their mother in search of a mate.Īrmadillos reproduce sexually and they always give birth to identical quadruplesĪrmadillos are solitary mammals that reproduce sexually and give birth to their offspring. When compared to the other mammals, armadillo pups mature quickly and are weaned before they are 4 months old. They survive on their mother’s milk for the first 2 to three months. Irrespective of the species, all the newborn babies are helpless and are depended on their mother for survival. In fact, the closest relatives to an armadillo would be sloth & anteaters.Īrmadillo babies are born after a gestation period of 2 to 5 months depending upon the species. Neither do armadillo babies resemble a dog’s pup in any manner. Just because the armadillo babies are called pup doesn’t mean that they have got anything to do with dogs. Sounds quite difficult to believe huh? But yeah, armadillo babies are called pups. Whereas, some say that this might be due to an evolutionary quirk that somehow got into the genes of female armadillos! And there have been two schools of thought regarding this.Ī group of biologists says that this is done in order to avoid the risk of interbreeding among siblings. Scientists haven’t yet clearly identified as to why this happens. These fertilized eggs always break into four identical zygotes which yield quadruplets. It was found out that all the armadillo babies are born from a single fertilized egg and not from different eggs as that in the case of other mammals. The striking factor when it comes to armadillos is that they always give birth to identical quadruples and they always have the same gender.Īrmadillos giving birth to identical quadruples have been a matter of interest for most biologists and they did a lot of research trying to debunk the mystery.

Whereas, the giant armadillos have a gestation period of about months. For instance, the large hairy armadillos have a gestation period of about 2 months.

The gestation period may vary with the species of armadillos. Though armadillos have an unearthly appearance, they still are mammals and they give birth to their young.Īrmadillos have a gestation period of around 2 to 4 months. Traps can be used to catch this bothersome pest.9 Less Known Facts About Baby Armadillos Armadillos do not lay eggs If you suspect an armadillo, or more, on your property, contact your pest control specialist. They have been known to carry diseases, such as leprosy and rabies, which can be very problematic for humans or for family pets. They will dig their burrows in places that provide some protection, such as underneath brush piles, around tree stumps, or even around a home’s air conditioning unit.Īrmadillos and most animals will usually not move at all, when a person, or a pet, is in close proximity, but they will claw or bite a person or pet, if they feel threatened. Their burrows are usually about 7-8” in diameter and can be about 15 feet in length.

Armadillos are great diggers, and they create their homes in burrows in the ground. They are mostly nocturnal animals, so they will be more active during the nighttime hours. Location and Behavior:Īrmadillos can be found throughout the entire state of Florida, although they are not native to the area. The armadillo has a pointy nose, small eyes, and has small, wiry hairs along the sides of their body and along their belly. They are typically pink, gray, or brown in color, and they are distinguishable by their hard, banded shell. The fairy armadillo measures about 6 inches in length, while the giant armadillo can be up to five feet in length. Armadillos vary greatly in size and in color.
