The armadillo is one of Texas’s most recognizable animals, often encountered across the landscape. Characterized by its bony, segmented shell, this peculiar, insect-eating creature was officially designated as the state’s small mammal. It is a common resident across the region, symbolizing the state’s diverse wildlife.
The Nine-Banded Armadillo
The species found throughout Texas is the Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). This cat-sized mammal typically weighs between eight and seventeen pounds. It is covered by a carapace made of bony plates and scales. The shell’s midsection features flexible, jointed bands, which give the animal its common name and allow for flexibility.
The Nine-banded Armadillo possesses a unique reproductive strategy among mammals called monozygotic polyembryony. After a period of delayed implantation, a single fertilized egg divides into four identical embryos. This process results in the female almost always giving birth to a litter of four genetically identical quadruplets.
Regional Distribution in Texas
The armadillo’s presence in Texas is a relatively recent phenomenon, having migrated into the state from Mexico across the Rio Grande Valley in the mid-1850s. The population expanded rapidly from South Texas, moving north and east, reaching the Texas Hill Country and the Austin area by the late 1800s. This expansion continued throughout the 20th century, cementing its place across the central and eastern portions of the state.
Today, the armadillo is abundant across most of Texas, particularly in the central, eastern, and southern regions. This includes the dense woodlands of the East Texas Piney Woods, the brushy habitats of the South Texas Plains, and the varied terrain of Central Texas. Their distribution is generally limited to areas east of the Pecos River.
The animal is absent or only sparsely populated in the far western and northern parts of the state. The arid conditions of the Trans-Pecos region and the cold temperatures of the Panhandle restrict their range. Armadillos have a low tolerance for extended periods of freezing weather and rely on softer soil conditions not present in these drier environments.
Ideal Habitat and Burrow Construction
The armadillo thrives in environments that provide two conditions: cover and easily excavated soil. They prefer areas with dense vegetative cover, such as brush, woodlands, and especially riparian zones along creeks and rivers. This cover offers protection from predators and helps them maintain a stable body temperature.
The preference for loose, moist soil is due to their primary method of foraging and shelter. They rely on sandy or loamy soil, which is soft enough for them to dig into while searching for insects, grubs, and other invertebrates. This need for softer ground explains why they often concentrate near water sources, as the soil there is consistently easier to penetrate.
Armadillos are prolific diggers and maintain extensive burrow systems for shelter and nesting. A single individual may maintain an average of four to five main burrows within its home range, although some may utilize up to twelve. These burrows are typically substantial, often reaching depths of seven feet and extending up to twenty feet in length.