Caryl Mirau, age 13, of Staten Island, N. Y., for his question:
What kind of shell has the armadillo?
When a swamp is drained or when a desert is irrigated, many animals lose their homes and their feeding grounds. As mankind advances, the wild creatures retreat. But not so the armadillo. As civilization advances, this odd animal is extending his range. One reason for his success is his fang proof, talon proof coat of armor plating.
He tips the scales at 15 pounds; and from the tip of his donkey type nose to the tip of his long, tapering tail, he measures about two feet. But this sturdy Armadillo is a match for man and dog, and few other foes can better him. He is fitted with an armor plated coat which is why the Spanish who discovered him in the New World named him the armadillo,, meaning the little armored one. The plates of tough armor are small tiles of bony material fused together in solid sections. Fringes of bristly hair peep out from under the dome of the shell Which covers his back. The bony tiles, then, are not related to the scales of fishes Or lizards. They are modified hairs. The donkey type face, the short, sturdy legs And the rounded tail are all protected with rows and circles of this armor plating. His leathery, donkey type ears, however, are unprotected.
Several species of armadillo Enjoy life in Central and South America. One species has made himself at home in the southern part of North America. A hundred years ago, this nine banded armadillo lived only near the Rio Grande. Now he is found through Texas, Louisiana, Florida and many other southern states. The nine bands across his back are separate, overlapping strips of armor. They form hinges so that the little walking tank can bend his spine, and if he chooses he can roll himself into a bail.
As a ru1e, he does not defend himself by rolling into a ball. A toothy dog Cannot pierce his shell, an eagle's talon cannot scratch it. When caught, his claws become furious tearing weapons. He can evade his enemies by digging fast into the soft ground or by swimming. He can walk on the bottom of a stream or puff himself full of air and swim on the surface.
The armadillo is one of our allies against the pesky insects that devour our crops. He is an insectivore or insect eater. He dines on eggs, grubs and adult insects of all kinds. Ants form one of his favorite foods, which is why he may be ca11ed an anteater. At a single meal, the sturdy armadillo can devour 40,000 ants.