![]() Almost 500 separate food items make up their diet, and over ninety percent of their diet (by volume) is made up of animal matter. Nine-banded armadillos are generalist, opportunistic feeders. fungus ( Paracoccidiodies brasiliensis).fan-tailed warblers ( Euthlypis lachrymosa). ![]() Louisiana pine snakes ( Pituophis ruthveni).In addition, nine-banded armadillos may force Gopherus polyphemus, an endangered Floridian tortoise, from their burrows and claim them for itself. Nine-banded armadillos were introduced to Florida, and there is concern that they may be exerting predation pressure on endangered endemic Florida reptiles. It has been proposed that nine-banded armadillo carrion resulting from road kill is becoming an important food source for some species of birds. However, these burrows may also pose a threat to large terrestrial vertebrates that accidentally step in them. The abandoned burrows of nine-banded armadillos may be occupied by pine snakes. Yet the fungus was detected in the animals’ lymph nodes, indicating illness.įan-tailed warblers have been observed following nine-banded armadillos while they forage, searching for prey revealed by the armadillos’ activities. For example, nine-banded armadillos infected with the fungus, Paracoccidiodies brasiliensis, which causes a mycosis in humans, appear healthy. It is unclear whether these fungi function as commensalists or parasites. Because they inhabit damp, dirt-filled environments, nine-banded armadillos harbor several species of fungi, some of which are responsible for human diseases. Nine-banded armadillos are also associated with some parasitic ticks, such as Amblyomma auricularium. Thus, nine-banded armadillos are host to a variety of bacterial and protozoan parasites, perhaps the most notable being Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium responsible for leprosy. These characteristics result in a poor immune system. They have a relatively lower body temperature than other mammals and their carapace makes them poor thermoregulators. ![]() Perception Channels: visual tactile acoustic chemicalĪrmadillos are scavengers and consumers of many kinds of invertebrates. Dasypodidae species have fewer taste buds than other mammals, so it is likely that nine-banded armadillos have a poor sense of taste as well.Ĭommunication Channels: tactile acoustic chemical Nine-banded armadillos have a poor sense of vision, which is useless except at close distances, and they are thought to have a poor sense of touch. Mating pairs also communicate with a “chucking” sound. Nine-banded armadillos also have a good sense of hearing, which the animals use in avoiding predation or other sources of potential danger. The animals’ reliance on scent is reflected by corresponding development in their forebrains. Smell may also be important for nine-banded armadillos to orient themselves and recognize familiar places, although there is no evidence that they employ scent trails. They can also stand bipedally, bracing themselves with their tail and sniff the air to locate food. Nine-banded armadillos travel with their nose just above the ground and can smell invertebrates up to 20 cm below the surface. Accessed June 28, 2019.Olfaction is the primary mode of perception used by nine-banded armadillos.
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