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You armadillos or Dasipodides, scientific name, are animals that belong to the order Cingulata. They have the peculiar characteristic of having a strong carapace formed by bony plates, useful for being able to defend themselves from their natural predators and other dangers.
They are animals that can be found all over America, from North America to South America. Armadillos are well adapted since they already existed in the Pleistocene, when they shared the world with giant armadillos or glyptodonts, which measured almost 3 meters.
These are placental mammals that originated in America and are the only representatives of the order Cingulata that exists today. Very fascinating animals that arouse people's curiosity. In this PeritoAnimal article we explain if it is possible to have a armadillo as a pet.
Is it nice to have an armadillo as a pet?
Having an armadillo as a pet is illegal. To be able to have an armadillo in captivity it is necessary to have a special authorization, this authorization is not granted by anyone, only specialized entities dedicated to the care and conservation of this animal can give it.
One of the ways to be able to adopt an armadillo legally is hold a zoological core certificate. Despite this, there are many countries where animal protection laws are very scarce or not at all.
At PeritoAnimal we recommend that you do not support this type of practice, since animals like the armadillo need a wild ecosystem in order to survive and have quality of life.
Life expectancy of an armadillo
As with most animal species, armadillos can multiply their life expectancy in captivity. In the wild are animals that can live from 4 to 16 years on average, taking into account the different species of armadillos that exist.
Although they have all the time in the world, an armadillo in captivity requires specific care, which can only be performed by a competent professional.
Armadillo general care
Armadillo must live in places where the earth is ventilated to be able to dig, as they are animals that live in holes in the earth. also must have cool and shady areas, so that the armadillo can cool its carapace.
In captivity, you must ensure that the armadillo cannot leave its care area by digging an escape tunnel. The most favorable climate for armadillos is the hot climate, they should never be in cold places or where the temperature doesn't drop too much during the night. Armadillos usually have their young in spring.
Armadillos are animals that can eat roots, as well as insects and small amphibians. One of his favorite foods is ants. They are carriers of various micro-organisms that do not harm them, such as some protozoa. This is a topic that can be dealt with by a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animals. For this reason, not just anyone can have a copy.
