Armadillo Word Clues

The Little Armored One

1An armadillo is a small animal with a hard shell on its back. The shell is made of bony plates that work like armor, keeping the armadillo's soft body safe. The name armadillo comes from a Spanish word that means "little armored one."

2Armadillos are great diggers. Their front claws are sturdy. They are strong enough to dig through hard, dry dirt. Many armadillos dig a burrow, a tunnel under the ground where they can rest and hide.

3Armadillos cannot see very well, but their sense of smell is keen. An armadillo pokes its long snout into the dirt and sniffs out ants, beetles and grubs. Then it licks them up with its long, sticky tongue.

4Some armadillos jump straight up into the air when something startles them, like a loud noise or a sudden movement. Then they scurry back to their burrows. Their short legs move very fast as they run.

5Only three-banded armadillos can roll up into a ball. When they roll up, their head and feet are tucked safely inside the shell.