creature

Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Where to See It Wooded and farmed areas after dark, rarely and briefly

Known locally as the tatou, this armour-plated forager snuffles through leaf litter at night for insects and roots. Its bony bands of plate are unmistakable, as is its habit of freezing, then bolting with surprising speed. Shy and nocturnal, it is far more often heard rustling than seen, which makes a clear sighting all the more memorable.

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