The word "armadillo" is Spanish for "little armored one." This
midsize mammal that looks like a walking tank is a source of
fascination for many people but a mystery to almost all. Dating
back at least eleven million years, the nocturnal, burrowing
insectivore was for centuries mistaken for a cross between a
hedgehog and a turtle, but it actually belongs to the mammalian
superorder Xenarthra that includes sloths and anteaters. Biologists
W. J. Loughry and Colleen M. McDonough have studied the nine-banded
armadillo ("Dasypus novemcinctus") for more than twenty years.
Their richly illustrated book offers the first comprehensive review
of everything scientists know about this unique animal.
Engaging both scientists and a broader public, Loughry and
McDonough describe the armadillo's anatomy and physiology and all
aspects of its ecology, behavior, and evolution. They also compare
the nine-banded armadillo with twenty or so other, related species.
The authors pay special attention to three key features of
armadillo biology--reproduction, disease, and habitat
expansion--and why they matter.
Armadillos reproduce in a unique and puzzling manner: females
always give birth to litters of genetically identical quadruplets,
a strategy not found in any other vertebrates. Nine-banded
armadillos are also the only vertebrates except for humans known to
contract leprosy naturally. And what about habitat expansion? The
authors suggest that the armadillo's remarkable spread across the
southeastern United States may be the consequence of its most
notable feature: a tough, protective carapace.
Biologists, evolutionists, students, and all those interested in
this curious creature will find "The Nine-Banded Armadillo" rich in
information and insight. This comprehensive analysis will stand as
the definitive scientific reference for years to come and a source
of pleasure for the general public.
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