Armadillos are recognized for the distinctive shell that covers their body, a feature that makes them stand out among placental mammals. Their young, commonly referred to as pups, emerge looking like miniature versions of their parents, yet they possess several temporary characteristics that distinguish them from adults.
Immediate Physical Description
Newborn armadillo pups are small, weighing around 85 grams at birth (less than a quarter of a pound). They are born with a soft, pliable outer layer that is a pale, pinkish-gray color, appearing almost translucent in some areas.
This skin is leathery, unlike the hard, bony texture of an adult’s armor. Their eyes are generally closed when they are born, requiring them to rely heavily on smell and touch to navigate the birthing burrow.
While their skin is initially soft, their claws are already robust and sharp, which they use for digging and foraging.
The Unique Structure of the Armor
The defining feature of the armadillo, its shell, is present at birth, but its composition is markedly different from the adult’s hardened carapace. Pups are born with the pattern of the armor plates, or scutes, visible, covering the back, head, and tail. These initial scutes are not yet bony; they are small, separated by loose connective tissue, and feel soft to the touch.
This flexible armor is a temporary adaptation, allowing for the rapid growth the pups undergo in their first few months of life. The banding, which gives the Nine-banded armadillo its name, is discernible even on the soft shell of the pup. Unlike the fully protected exterior, the armadillo’s underside is never armored and remains covered only by soft skin and a small amount of hair.
Growth and Developmental Milestones
A remarkable biological detail for the Nine-banded armadillo is that the female nearly always gives birth to a litter of four genetically identical pups. This occurs through polyembryony, where a single fertilized egg divides into four embryos. These identical quadruplets are of the same sex and represent a unique reproductive strategy among mammals.
The pups remain in the safety of the burrow, relying on their mother’s milk for the first several weeks. Their eyes open within a few weeks of birth, and the soft, leathery skin slowly begins to ossify and harden into the familiar bone-plated armor of the adult. The young begin to leave the burrow and forage alongside their mother at about two to three months old.
The growth rate of armadillo pups is quick, and they are weaned by the time they are two to four months of age. They continue to stay with the mother for several additional months, learning survival skills before dispersing. This rapid development leads to the pups reaching sexual maturity in under a year.