armadillo

Everyday

An armadillo is a small mammal from the Americas with a body covered in hard, bony plates like armour, which digs for insects with strong claws. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons armadillos show protection adaptations: their shell is made of bony plates covered in tough skin. Only the three-banded armadillo can roll fully into a ball; others run or dig to escape. The nine-banded armadillo almost always has identical quadruplets. The name is Spanish for «little armoured one». Phrases: «roll up like an armadillo», «nine-banded armadillo», «giant armadillo».

Examples

• The armadillo rolled into a tight ball. tree →
• Armadillos dig for ants and termites with their claws. tree →
• The name «armadillo» means «little armoured one» in Spanish. tree →
• Nine-banded armadillos usually have four identical babies. tree →
• An armadillo's shell is made of bony plates. tree →
• Armadillos live in Texas and South America. tree →
• The giant armadillo is as long as a child is tall. tree →

Note

Plural «armadillos». Use «an»: «an armadillo». Myth: most armadillos cannot roll into a ball; only the three-banded ones can.