D. novemcinctus Skull Replica measures 4.1x 1.8×1.9 inches. D. novemcinctus Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Known as the Nine Banded Armadillo.
D. novemcinctus is a medium sized mammal found in North, Central, and South America. They are solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, found in many kinds of habitats, from mature and secondary rain forests to grassland and dry scrub.
D. novemcinctus is an insectivore, feeding on ants, termites, and other small invertebrates.
They evolved in a warm, rainy environment, and is still most commonly found in regions resembling its ancestral home. Dasypus novemcinctus is a very adaptable animal, it is also found in scrub lands, open prairies, and tropical rain forests.
D. novemcinctus weigh from 5.5 to 14.3 lb. They are one of the largest species of armadillos. The outer shell is composed of ossified dermal scutes covered by nonoverlapping, keratinized epidermal scales, which are connected by flexible bands of skin.
Their armor covers the back, sides, head, tail, and outside surfaces of the legs. The underside of the body and the inner surfaces of the legs have no armored protection. Instead, they are covered by tough skin and a layer of coarse hair. The vertebrae attach to the carapace.
D. novemcinctus are insectivores. They forage for meals by thrusting their snouts into loose soil and leaf litter digging in erratic patterns, stopping occasionally to dig up grubs, beetles, ants, termites, and worms.
They lap up the insects with their sticky tongues. They have been observed to roll about on ant hills to dislodge and consume the resident ants.
They supplement their diets with amphibians and small reptiles, especially in the winter months when such prey tends to be more sluggish, and occasionally bird eggs and baby mammals. Carrion is also eaten.
Their known natural predators include cougars (perhaps the leading predator), maned wolves, coyotes, black bears, red wolves, jaguars, alligators, bobcats, and large raptors.
If alarmed, D. novemcinctus can flee with surprising speed. Occasionally, a large predator may be able to ambush the armadillo before it can clear a distance, and breach the hard carapace with a well-placed bite or swipe. If the fleeing escape fails, the armadillo may quickly dig a shallow trench and lodge itself inside.
By far the leading predator of nine-banded armadillos today is humans, as armadillos are locally harvested for their meat and shells and many thousands fall victim to auto accidents every year.
