Clayton Hicks, age 11, of Shreveport, La., for his question:

HOW LARGE IS THE ARMADILLO?

An armadillo is a mammal that appears to be wearing a heavy coat of armor. The creature is related to the anteater and sloth and varies in size from the giant armadillo, which is almost three feet long excluding the tail, to a species only six inches long.

You'll find the armadillo living in South and Central America as well as in Texas, southern Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and parts of Florida. The peba, or nine banded armadillo is the species found in the United States.

The bony plate that protects the animal against predators is formed by the ossification of the greater part of the skin. In some species even the tail is so protected.

In most species except the giant armadillo (which is found in South America), the shoulders and rump are each covered by transverse bands that are movable and articulated, so that the animal can contract and curl up to cover its unprotected abdomen. The nine banded armadillo can roll itself into a ball.

Despite short legs, the armadillo moves relatively quickly.