Witness an Armadillo Curl Itself Into an Impenetrable Ball like a Real-Life Transformer

This little armadillo gives the world’s best transformer impersonation! It is a three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) and lives in Brazil, where it is known as tatu-bola. This species likes to live in open savannahs and dry woodlands.

The speed with which it rolls up into a ball to protect itself is unbelievable! It seems to happen in a fraction of a second.

Watch the full video of this remarkable animal and the humans who put it in a place of safety!

Watch the Incredible Clip Below

What Exactly Are Armadillos?

Armadillos are mammals found in Central, North, and South America. Their name is derived from the Spanish word that means ‘little armored one’ and was allocated by Spanish colonists of the Americas. The Aztecs called them ayotochin which means turtle-rabbit.

In ancient times there were many different types of armadillos on the Earth. However, now just two major sub-families are remaining. These are the Chlamyphoridae and the Dasypodidae.

Fascinating Armadillo Facts

These guys are amazing and unique animals so let’s find out some fascinating armadillo facts!

• Armadillos are distantly related to anteaters and sloths.
• They can catch many human diseases including leprosy.
• Humans have used them for food, clothing, and even as musical instruments.
• Armadillos do not have sharp incisors or canines but have wide teeth used for crunching insects.
• They sometimes accidentally destroy crops by scraping around in the soil to find invertebrates to eat.

What’s Unique About the Three-Banded Armadillo?

All armadillos have an armor-like shell to protect them from predators. The armor covers most of the head and body and sometimes the legs. It is made from plates of bone (called scutes) connected by soft fibers made from collagen.

However, the three-banded armadillo is the only species that can roll up into a ball as we see in this clip. Very few animals can eat them when they are in this position. It is only jaguars and maned wolves that can successfully hunt members of this species. This clever little creature sometimes leaves a tiny gap in the shell and when the predator pokes its nose or paw in, it suddenly clamps it shut which can hurt!

On the downside, they are very easy for humans to pick up when they are in a ‘ball’ which has contributed to a fall in their numbers.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock.com