La Plata Three-Banded Armadillo

February 8, 2017

La Plata three-banded armadillos are known for their hard, leathery shells. But new arrivals—like the baby born February 8 at Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House—don’t start out that way.

“They’re soft at first,” says Curator of Mammals Dave Bernier. “Their shell starts to harden about six weeks after birth. They’re about the size of a golf ball when they’re born and look like miniature versions of adults.”

Since 2000, Bernier has helped guide the growth of the zoo-based population as studbook coordinator for its Species Survival Plan, a shared conservation effort. The species, native to central South America, is threatened in the wild by habitat loss and hunting.

“We’ve had 54 successful births at the zoo, and this is a big win for us,” says Bernier. “The parents are founders in the population and genetically valuable.”,

The infant, whose sex is not yet known, will be independent after five months and mature within a year—not to mention a master contortionist.

“Unlike other armadillo species, they can roll into a complete ball,” says Bernier about this unique, defensive adaptation. “Their head and tail fit together like puzzle pieces.”

(Pictured above: A zookeeper holds the baby armadillo during a wellness check by zoo vets.)