Screaming Hairy Armadillo
The Screaming Hairy Armadillo is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay. Their
natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, temperate shrubland, subtropical
or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland
grassland, hot deserts, temperate desert, arable land, pastureland, and plantations.
Armadillos are prolific diggers, and many species use their sharp claws to dig for food
such as grubs, and to dig dens. Armadillos have poor vision but are not blind. The armor
is formed by plates of dermal bone covered in small, overlapping epidermal scales called
"scutes". This armor-like skin appears to be the main defense of many armadillos,
although most escape predators by fleeing (often into thorny patches, from which their
armor protects them) or digging to safety. Armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one",
referring to their outer skin that looks like armor. During the Great Depression, this
species was known as "Hoover Hog" by down-on-their luck Americans who had to eat
them instead of the "chicken in every pot" Herbert Hoover had promised as President.
Earlier, German settlers in Texas would often refer to the armadillo as Panzerschwein
("armored pig"). There are no major threats to their survival at present. However, this
species is locally hunted for its meat and carapace (including for charangos, a musical
instrument). Like with most species from similar regions, their wild habitat is
disappearing.
