State Prints - Treasures of TX Armadillo

The Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) became the "Official Small Mammal" of Texas in (1995).
The nine-banded armadillo, a relatively recent addition to the Texas fauna, is the only species of
armadillo that occurs in North America. The Texas armadillo is about the size of a large cat; its
overall length is about 2½ feet, and adults weigh from twelve to seventeen pounds. The armadillo's
diet consists chiefly of insects, grubs, and spiders, though it also eats such foods as earthworms, small
amphibians, and reptiles.

The Nine-banded Armadillo is an armored, insect-eating mammal. Similar in form to an anteater,
the bony, scaled shell of the armadillo protects it from attacks by predators. Unfortunately,
armadillos often fall victim to automobiles and are frequently found dead on roadsides. The
armadillo, is commonly found as far north and east as Oklahoma and Mississippi.

While the armadillo is occasionally considered a nuisance by home owners, the armadillo's habit of
digging up lawns is driven by its appetite for grubs, which can also harm lawns.