ARMADILLO, NINE BANDED (Dasypus novemcinctus) Enlarge Photo Tracks Mass: 3.6 to 7.7 kg Length: to 32 in. (81 cm) Biomes: temperate forest & rainforest, tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous forest, tropical scrub forest, tropical savanna & grasslands Status: no special status. Range: Found from Peru and northern Argentina to the south-central and southeastern United States. It is also found on the islands of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago. It has been expanding its range to the north, into the United States, since the mid-19th Century. Hiker's Note: The first occurrence of the armadillo in the United States was in 1854 along the Rio Grande. It has been expanding to the north since. Possible explanations for the range expansion include climate change and human mediated modification of habitats by overgrazing of livestock and predator removal. The armadillo is the only mammal besides humans that suffers from lepromatid leprosy, and as such they may be vectors for leprosy. Unique tracks have 5 toes on the larger hind foot, and 4 toes on the front foot. Tracks are 1 - 2 inches (3 - 5 cm) long. References

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