Head to head
Giant Armadillo vs Nine-banded Armadillo
The giant armadillo and the nine-banded armadillo are both South American digging mammals, but one is a rare, massive ecosystem engineer, while the other is a smaller, highly successful species famous for a reproductive quirk and an expanding range.
| Giant Armadillo | Nine-banded Armadillo | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Priodontes maximus | Dasypus novemcinctus |
| Size | The largest living armadillo | Much smaller |
| Tooth count | Up to around 100 teeth | Not unusually high |
| Reproduction | Not a defining trait | Almost always identical quadruplets |
| Burrow size | Large enough for a person to crawl into | Smaller burrows |
| Range | South America | South America to the southern and central United States |
| Diet | Insectivore | Insectivore |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Giant Armadillo vs Nine-banded Armadillo: common questions
Which armadillo is bigger, the giant or the nine-banded armadillo?
The giant armadillo, which is the largest living armadillo species, considerably bigger than the more modestly sized nine-banded armadillo.
Which armadillo always has identical quadruplets?
The nine-banded armadillo, whose single fertilised egg splits into four genetically identical embryos, producing litters of four same-sex clones; the giant armadillo does not share this trait.
Are both the giant armadillo and nine-banded armadillo considered secure in the wild?
No, the giant armadillo is Vulnerable and declining, while the nine-banded armadillo is Least Concern and actively expanding its range, particularly across the United States.