Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), Merritt Island, Florida
In spite of their scaly appearance, armadilloes are not reptiles; they are mammals. They are related to anteaters and like them they are insectivores, capable of digging for subterranean prey with the powerful claws of their forelegs. Their seemingly cumbersome "armour" notwithstanding, they are capable of jumping 1 metre vertically into the air if frightened. Armadilloes are creatures of warm climates and the nine-banded is found from the southern US to northern Argentina. Despite the name, the species does not always have exactly nine bands around its middle.
100401 329
Neunbinden-Gürteltier
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), Merritt Island, Florida
In spite of their scaly appearance, armadilloes are not reptiles; they are mammals. They are related to anteaters and like them they are insectivores, capable of digging for subterranean prey with the powerful claws of their forelegs. Their seemingly cumbersome "armour" notwithstanding, they are capable of jumping 1 metre vertically into the air if frightened. Armadilloes are creatures of warm climates and the nine-banded is found from the southern US to northern Argentina. Despite the name, the species does not always have exactly nine bands around its middle.
100401 329
Neunbinden-Gürteltier
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
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