In God’s creation, each species has special features that the Lord designed for that creature’s way of life. The name “armadillo” means “little armored ones” in Spanish, and armor covers the armadillo from the tip of its snout to its tail. Some species have solid armor on their tails, as well. The underpart of its body is not armored, but has soft skin covered in fur. Flexible and tough, the armor crosses the back of the armadillo in bands separated by flexible skin. The parts over its head, shoulders and tail are separate pieces from these. Though it looks like it is ready for battle, it is actually a peaceful animal.
All of its armor is helpful to protect it against attacks by large animals, but it also enables the armadillo to flee into thorny growth for protection without hurting itself. It has been given other ways to defend itself, too. Where the soil is soft, it escapes by digging rapidly with its long claws so it can settle down to protect its stomach, leaving only its armored parts showing. One variety can roll into a tight ball so it is completely protected by its armor.
Although the armadillo often has only a few teeth, it has a long, sticky tongue, like its cousin the anteater, used to catch great quantities of ants, termites, beetles and other insects. They also eat some plants, snakes, other small reptiles, amphibians and their eggs.
Armadillos have long, powerful claws, used to dig for safety, for food, and to make their burrows. With all their digging, they like to live where the soil is soft.
It is interesting to watch an armadillo cross a stream. Since it is able to hold its breath for as long as six minutes, it can walk along the bottom of the stream to reach the other side. If it decides to swim across a larger body of water, it swallows lots of air, which inflates its stomach and makes it able to float on the surface while it paddles along.
Females of the nine-banded species (the only armadillo that lives in the United States) have quadruplets, which means four identical babies. Other species have anywhere from one to fifteen babies.
Even though the armadillo looks so well protected, its armor isn’t tough enough to keep it safe from all its enemies. So, it knows to flee into thorns for protection. We aren’t strong enough to fight our spiritual battles alone either. David wrote in Psalm 143:9,9Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. (Psalm 143:9) “Deliver me, O Lord, from [my] enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me.” Adults need to run to the Lord to keep them from sinning just as much as children do!
Did You Know?
One variety can roll into a tight ball so it is completely protected by its armor.
Messages of God’s Love 4/27/2025