Do you know what the word “armadillo” means? It’s a Spanish word meaning “the little armored one.” And that’s just what an armadillo is, a little mammal with a bony covering that is like armor.

There are ten different kinds of armadillos living from southern United States to southern South America. The upper parts of armadillos are covered with bony shells. These include one on the head and two solid pieces on the back. These two pieces are connected by a flexible center section made up of movable bands. This enables the armadillo to twist and turn.