Animal identifier ยท Other mammals
Dasypus novemcinctus
The Southeast and Texas, still spreading north. Diggings and a shell are the usual evidence. Four toes on the front foot, five on the hind, with long claws.
What does a nine-banded armadillo look like?
A banded armored body, long snout, pinkish skin on the belly.
What do nine-banded armadillo tracks look like?
Long claws and a tail drag. The front print often shows three clear toes even though four are present. Nothing else in the Southeast looks quite like it.
- Four toes on the front foot, five on the hind, with long claws
- Track is odd: a three-toed look is common because the outer toes print lightly
- Tail drag between pigeon-toed prints
- Shallow rooting holes in soil and leaf litter
- A banded shell if seen
What does nine-banded armadillo poop look like?
Round pellets, often of insects. Less useful than the digs and the tracks. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
The Southeast and Texas, still spreading north. Diggings and a shell are the usual evidence. Typical places: woods, field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Virginia opossum identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
What do armadillo tracks look like?
Long claw marks, a tail drag, and a front print that often looks three-toed.
How to tell a nine-banded armadillo from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Virginia opossum. The opposable hind thumb is the mark. White face, pink nose, gray body, naked scaly tail.
Nine-banded armadillo field marks
- Four toes on the front foot, five on the hind, with long claws
- Track is odd: a three-toed look is common because the outer toes print lightly
- Tail drag between pigeon-toed prints
- Shallow rooting holes in soil and leaf litter
Where the sign shows up
The Southeast and Texas, still spreading north. Diggings and a shell are the usual evidence. Typical places: woods, field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
Long claws and a tail drag. The front print often shows three clear toes even though four are present. Nothing else in the Southeast looks quite like it. Round pellets, often of insects. Less useful than the digs and the tracks.
Common questions
What do armadillo tracks look like?
Long claw marks, a tail drag, and a front print that often looks three-toed.