Armadillo

an American mammal of the sloth family, noted for its defensive armor. There are at least four species, variously distributed from Texas to Argentina. The largest is three feet in length not counting the tail; the smallest is only five or six inches long. All armadillos are armed with strong claws, and dig rapidly, being able to escape pursuit by burying themselves in the ground before an ordinary pursuer can overtake them. Ordinarily the armadillo rests on the ground like a tortoise. When alarmed it raises itself up on the very tips of its long claws and scuttles about quite actively for a short time. The different species are variously covered with scales not unlike those of an alligator, and some species have the power of rolling themselves up into balls, so as to present a defensive surface at every point. Like the anteater, the armadillo lives chiefly on insects, worms, snails, lizards, fruits, and roots. The armadillo is related to the anteater, but its tongue cannot be protruded. The natives of South America eat the armadillo, but its flesh is offensive to the ordinary palate. Armadillo steaks are served in the restaurants of Buenos Ayres. Some travelers who affect to like them claim that they taste like spring chicken. See Anteater; Sloth