Definition

Noun: * Texas armadillo: A species of armadillo characterized by having nine hinged bands of bony plates in its protective armor. Its geographical range extends from Texas in the United States to Paraguay in South America.

Usage

• The Texas armadillo is a nocturnal mammal often seen foraging for insects.
• Due to its unique armor, the Texas armadillo can roll into a ball for defense.
• The nine-banded armadillo () is the scientific name for the Texas armadillo.

Advanced Usage

• In ecological studies, the Texas armadillo is noted as a primary carrier of the bacterium that causes leprosy in humans.
• The expansion of the Texas armadillo's range northward is sometimes cited as a potential indicator of climate change.

Variants and Related Words

• Nine-banded armadillo: The most common name for this species, referring directly to the number of movable bands on its armor. This is a synonym for Texas armadillo.
• Armadillo: The general term for all species in the family Dasypodidae.
• Dasypus novemcinctus: The formal binomial (scientific) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Nine-banded armadillo
• Common long-nosed armadillo

Related Phrases

• Armadillo armor: Refers to the protective bony plates covering the animal's body.
• To roll up like an armadillo: An idiom describing the act of curling into a defensive ball, inspired by the animal's behavior.

Noun

1. having nine hinged bands of bony plates; ranges from Texas to Paraguay