Coyotes: These wild dogs prey on lots of different animals, including raccoons, opossums, and armadillos.Some top predators of armadillos include: Common predators vary from region to region. What Animals Can Kill Armadillos?Īrmadillos may be killed by any number of predatory animals if they are not able to outrun or out-dig them. It also will not protect the armadillo from the weight of a speeding car on the highway. The shell is much lighter and thinner than a turtle’s or tortoise’s shell, but not quite as protective.Īn armadillo’s shell may deflect shots fired from a BB gun, but not likely from a real gun. It means that an armadillo’s shell is tough enough to resist the teeth of some predators, but lightweight enough to allow armadillos to run fast. “The tough and highly mineralized tiles have a tensile strength of approximately 20 MPa.” According to a study found on Science Direct, How Strong is an Armadillo Shell?Īrmadillo shells are made of bone, keratin, and collagen. This is why they have adapted to digging themselves into the soil–it gives them a better chance of surviving since the ground is more protective of their undersides than their shell is. Most species of armadillo are unable to completely roll up, which can leave their underparts exposed. The shape of its head fits perfectly into a gap in its shell when it rolls up, creating a fully armored ball with no weaknesses. Do Armadillos Roll Up in Balls?Īccording to the San Diego Zoo, the three-banded armadillo is the only armadillo species that can roll all the way into a ball. Despite their lazy nature and somewhat wimpy appearance, armadillos are quite strong, and they may surprise some attackers with their ability to fight back. If they are caught, they will thrash around and scratch like crazy to try and get loose. If they are surprised by a sudden noise or attack, they may jump up to 5 or 6 feet in the air before running.Ĭheck out this video of an armadillo jumping when startled by an air horn. Most of the time, armadillos just run away whenever they feel threatened. Their hard shells protect them from the top, so digging in this way can help defend their soft and vulnerable undersides. If there’s no time to get away, they may “shelter in place” by pressing themselves into the dirt, grabbing onto plant roots to stabilize themselves. They live in these burrows, so if they feel threatened they may escape the situation by running home. In order to keep themselves safe, they have several ways of warding off and escaping predators.Īrmadillos are expert diggers, and one of the ways they protect themselves is by burrowing into the ground. Yes, armadillos have their protective shells, but the shells are not indestructible. Armadillos are unaggressive creatures that keep their heads down and try to avoid trouble but what happens when trouble comes to them?

Armadillo ball