The mother, Luna, has given birth again. The baby was born on April 8, which means she is now almost a month old. While the enclosure of these armadillos is located in the central hall of the Palm House—a space accessible to visitors—the young animal spent most of her time hidden with her mother. Now that she’s developed enough, she is venturing out more frequently, so visitors might be lucky enough to see her.
The Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus) is native to South America. Out of the more than twenty known armadillo species, this one is considered small to medium-sized. Our Zoo has housed this species since 2016—though the very first individual arrived in late 2015, it was introduced to the public the following year. The first baby born in Budapest arrived in 2018 and was named Briós. At the time, a short video was released featuring not only Briós but also a young giant anteater named Flódni. Since then, several successful breedings have taken place, and we’ve regularly shared videos of the growing youngsters. During the pandemic lockdown, when the Zoo was closed to visitors, there was even footage of the armadillos being taken on walks by their keepers in the nearby Japanese Garden.
Luna and her mate, Ricardo, last had a baby a year and a half ago. That youngster was born in December 2023 and was introduced to the public in early January 2024. He was named Don Antonio Coimbra de la Coronilla y Azevedo—but we usually just call him Tony. He has grown a lot since then, but he still lives in the Palm House. However, he no longer stays with his mother but shares his space with sloths.
The current baby, also a female, has a slightly darker skin and shell tone compared to most others of her species. She hasn’t been named yet, but once the naming process is decided, we’ll inform our website visitors.
It’s worth noting that armadillos—also known as armored mammals—belong to the class Mammalia. This is sometimes surprising to people because of their body armor, which can cause confusion. In fact, some people have mistakenly assumed a relation to woodlice due to the segmented appearance of the shell, although woodlice themselves aren’t even true insects. Armadillos, in reality, belong to the order Xenarthra, a group of mammals that also includes sloths and anteaters.
The term “armadillo” comes from Spanish and refers to their armor-like body covering. Unlike turtles, whose shells are part of their skeleton, the armadillo’s armor is made from skin-derived structures. It consists of a shoulder and pelvic shield, several movable bands between them, and bony plates protecting the head and tail. Despite the armor’s weight, the flexible connections between the elements allow the animal to move with ease and even curl into a ball.
However, not all armadillo species can curl up completely. Most can only do so partially, so they rely on other strategies to protect their vulnerable, unarmored bellies. Typically, they dig themselves into the ground at lightning speed. While their backs remain exposed, they’re well-protected by armor, and their strong claws make it nearly impossible to turn them over.
The Southern three-banded armadillo, however, doesn’t need any tricks. Thanks to the flexibility of its armor plates, it can curl into a nearly perfect ball, with its head and tail shields closing the gap almost completely.
It’s also true that the armor doesn’t only serve as protection against predators. Since armadillos dig a lot, the armor helps them support the weight of soil above their bodies. In mining terms, their body acts as a built-in support structure—one they carry with them at all times.
