The Nine-Banded Armadillo In Texas and the South

Abstract

Americans have contributed directly and indirectly to the relatively rapid spread of the nine-handed armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the United States. Curiosity about its bizarre appearance and growing commerce in live animals and armadillo “baskets” made from its bony carapace or shell have resulted in the transportation and release of this armadillo in several states. Its ability to survive and reproduce in a variety of modified habitats has enabled it to increase in numbers. The current affection for the armadillo as a novelty in the South, notably in Texas where it has become a symbol of folk culture, suggests that humanly-induced relocation is likely to continue and contribute to the enlargement of its range.