![]() In the wild, armadillos will eat just about anything that they can catch or find. What Do Armadillos Eat in the Wild? Armadillos are opportunistic eaters that will eat pretty much anything they can find, although some species will eat almost exclusively ants and termites. They do the majority of their hunting at dusk and dawn when insects are usually most active. When not sleeping, armadillos are usually hunting or foraging. Instead, they continuously grow peg-like teeth, of which they possess between 14 to 18 per jaw. Unlike most other mammals, armadillos do not have canine or incisor teeth. The claws on their forefeet are thicker and heavier, which makes them perfect for digging. They possess 5 claws on their hind feet, and between 3 to 5 claws on their forefeet. An armadillo can dig out a burrow in about 15 minutes, so it can quickly find food located a few inches below ground. They are prolific diggers, and use their sharp claws to sift through the ground to find food. This helps them to detect food, and also to locate suitable areas for them to dig.Īrmadillos mostly find food by digging through dirt and soil. They allow an armadillo to closely feel the environment they are walking on. These long hairs act like the whiskers on a cat and are very sensitive to touch. Additionally, armadillos are equipped with long hairs on their undersides. Meanwhile, they also have strong hearing abilities, although they mostly rely on their hearing to avoid predators. While hunting for food, they can smell prey and other morsels located nearly 8 inches below the ground. As a result, they mostly rely on their keen sense of smell to find food. ![]() This makes sense, given that most armadillos are nocturnal. For example, armadillos possess very poor eyesight. That said, they use some senses more than others. When hunting and foraging, armadillos rely on their senses to help them find food. How Do Armadillos Hunt and Forage For Food? Armadillos are prolific diggers and are experts at finding insects under the soil. The 10 foods that armadillos like to eat include: This is not to say that all armadillos eat these foods, simply that they occur frequently in an armadillo’s diet. For the purposes of this article, we’ve identified 10 foods that most armadillos like to eat. As opportunistic eaters who eat both plants and animals, an armadillo will end up eating just about anything. Although they prefer live prey, armadillos are not opposed to eating carrion as well. While some armadillos eat a wide variety of food, others are specialist hunters, preferring to dine on just a few different prey animals. However, there exists a lot of variance in the dietary habits between different armadillo species. That being said, insects make up the bulk of their diet and may constitute nearly 90% of what they eat. So, let’s get this conversation rolling as we answer the question, “what do armadillos eat?” What Do Armadillos Like to Eat? Armadillos eat a wide variety of prey including termites, cockroaches, small amphibians and reptiles, and grubs.Īrmadillos are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plant and animal matter. Finally, we’ll end with a brief discussion of what baby armadillos eat. Then, we’ll compare what they eat in the wild versus what they eat in captivity. Next, we’ll discuss how they go about hunting and foraging for food. ![]() We’ll start off with a general overview of what armadillos generally like to eat. In this article, we’ll attempt to answer all of your questions concerning what armadillos eat. Still, do you know the answer to the question, “what do armadillos eat?” This is due to the fact that they are one of the few animals known to contract leprosy. ![]() Additionally, they have been used extensively in scientific research. Armadillos feature prominently in American literature, arts, and culinary traditions. One species, Tolypeutes, exhibits a unique behavior in that it can roll into a ball when threatened. ![]() They range in size from around 5 to 6 inches long to nearly 59 inches long. Most species live in temperate, warmer habitats ranging from rain forests to grasslands to deserts. In total, there exist 21 known species of armadillo, all of which live in North America and South America. Its name in Spanish translates to “little armored one,” and refers to its armored shell made up of dermal bone. The armadillo is one of the strangest little creatures found in the Americas. ![]()
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