Announcing a Tiny Armored Baby
The Zoo staff was excited to welcome a
baby southern three-banded armadillo
to the Zoo on November 7.
The so-far-unnamed baby weighed only 118 grams at its first weight check a week after its birth, about half a cup of armadillo. It has thrived in its mother's care during its first month of life and now weighs a healthy 334 grams, about the size of a tall Starbucks latte.
The southern three-banded armadillo is native to
north central Argentina, east central Bolivia and sections of Brazil and Paraguay. They are considered near-threatened. Adults weigh 1000-1500 grams, much less than the more familiar nine-banded armadillo native to the United States. Three-banded armadillos are unique for their ability to lock into a defensive ball that seals completely.