It's most likely a three banded armadillo, which are the only armadillos that can roll themselves into a ball. They live in S. America around Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, etc.
Holy moly, anonymous, you're right. I had no idea. Once study showed that one in six armadillos in Texas and Louisiana carried leprosy!
December 20, 2006
Anonymous said...
During the 70's in Louisiana a LSU graduate student was doing a study of Amadillos and was paying $10 a head for them. The reason you see so many dead Dillos is because even when you swerve to miss them if the wheels miss them they will jump up to 3' high and are hit by the undercarrige of the vehicle no matter how high of the ground it is.
January 22, 2009
This photo gives me some insight as to why Texans are so into their football. This man isn't palming some pigskin - no, he's holding a curled-up armadillo for the camera. There are several types of armadillos - seven-banded & nine-banded, for instance - but I can't count the bands on this one, so I don't know if he's from Texas or not. Wherever this one is from, he'll most likely end up being thrown around at the next game.
They're armored for their protection, of course. Unfortunately, they haven't upgraded to kevlar recently. They are often found flattened on the roadside. Be careful out there, people!
Thanks for the photo, Patrizio.
UPDATE: A reader has identified this as a three-banded armadillo - the only armadillo that can ball itself up. Thanks.
5 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formIt's most likely a three banded armadillo, which are the only armadillos that can roll themselves into a ball. They live in S. America around Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, etc.
November 04, 2006
Thanks for the proper ID, anonymous.
November 05, 2006
Although uncommon, armadillos DO carry leprosy. More so the nine banded type, but I would still avoid playing bowls with them.
December 19, 2006
Holy moly, anonymous, you're right. I had no idea. Once study showed that one in six armadillos in Texas and Louisiana carried leprosy!
December 20, 2006
During the 70's in Louisiana a LSU graduate student was doing a study of Amadillos and was paying $10 a head for them. The reason you see so many dead Dillos is because even when you swerve to miss them if the wheels miss them they will jump up to 3' high and are hit by the undercarrige of the vehicle no matter how high of the ground it is.
January 22, 2009