[TN-Bird] Re: McCrory Lane @ 1-40

In response to the armadillo reports and inquiries, I am copying below an 
armadillo status report of 1996 by Dr. Michael Kennedy of the University of 
Memphis and Dr. Michael Harvey of Tennessee Tech University of Cookeville.  
They reported, "The first published report of armadillos in Tennessee was in 
1974".    Their 1996 report was prepared via a TWRA contract for including in, 
Tennessee's Rare Wildlife, The Vertebrates.  When the same authors prepared 
their first edition of this volume in 1980, their range map showed armadillos 
concentrated in SW Tennessee, west of a straight line between southern Lake 
County and the SW corner of Hardin County, TN. 


Bob Hatcher

Retired TWRA Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Coordinator (1978-2001)

Brentwood, TN



********************



Armadillo Status Report from, Tennessee's Rare Wildlife - The Vertebrates, by 
Dr. Michael Kennedy (University of Memphis) and Dr. Michael Harvey (Tennessee 
Tech University), 1996, via TWRA Contract  



SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Dasypus novemcinctus;  COMMON NAME:  Nine-banded armadillo 
(armadillo, Texas armadillo, Texas nine-banded armadillo) 

 

FAMILY:  Dasypodidae;  ORDER:  Edentata

 

CURRENT RANGE MAP:  (to be included);  PICTURE:  (slide, to be included)

 

TENNESSEE DISTRIBUTION:  Mississippi River eastward throughout the southern 
part of the Cumberland Plateau.

 

PROTECTION STATUS:  Federal ( ),  TWRA ( ),  T (S1)

 

SYNONYMY:  Dasypus novemcinctus Linneaeus, 1758; Dasypus novemcinctus var. 
mexicanus Peters, 1864; Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus Goldman, 1920 

 

DESCRIPTION:  The nine-banded armadillo is unlike any other mammal in 
Tennessee.  It is easily recognized by its protective shell of fused horny 
scales.  There are nine movable bands in the dorsal part of the shell.  Only 
the underparts have soft skin.  The shell is dark brown to yellowish white in 
color.  External measurements are: total length, 615-800 mm; tail, 245-370 mm; 
hind foot, 75-100 mm; ear, 30-40 mm.  Males are slightly larger than females; 
weight varies from about 3-8 kg.  Dentition consists of 28 to 32 peg-like 
premolars and molars.  

 

ECOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS:  D. novemcinctus is found most often in wooded 
forests, forest edge, shrubby areas, and relatively open fields with loose 
soil.  Burrows, which they dig themselves, have several entrances, only one of 
which is used regularly.  Nests of leaves, twigs, and other vegetation are 
built within the burrow or under large rocks, tree roots, or other natural 
shelters.  The diet is primarily animal matter; insects and other invertebrates 
are the principal foods, but fruits, mushrooms, berries, roots, and a few small 
vertebrates are eaten.  

 

LIFE CYCLE:  This species first breeds at about 1 year of age, with ovulation 
occurring from June to August.  Implantation is delayed into November, when 4 
months will elapse before the young are born.  Four young are produced 
(identical quadruplets of the same sex) from a single fertilized egg; newborns 
are fully formed and with eyes open in March or April.  Young are walking 
within a few hours, and they begin to accompany the mother while foraging 
within a few weeks.  Young remain with the mother until they are several months 
old.  D. novemcinctus may live as long as 4 years.  

 

POPULATION FACTORS:  Population density for this species ranges from 0.05 to 
3.04 animals per ha.  Home-range estimates of 1.6 ha to 20.3 ha have been 
reported.  D. novemcinctus is primarily nocturnal but may forage occasionally 
during the daylight under the cover of thick vegetation.  Because of their 
armorlike covering and movement abilities, they have few natural predators.  
Coyotes, bobcats, dogs, and other larger predators probably prey on armadillos 
occasionally.  Numerous armadillos are hit by automobiles traveling along 
roadways each year.  Parasitic organisms (armadillos are noted for their lack 
of external parasites) include flea, fluke, tapeworm, acanthocephalan, 
roundworm, protozoan, and bacterium.  The infective organism of Chagas's 
disease has been reported from one armadillo.      

 

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:  It is difficult to make management recommendations 
for a species with so little information available.  A natural-history study is 
needed to provide the information necessary to properly make considerations for 
D. novemcinctus. 

 

 OTHER COMMENTS:  One subspecies, D. n. mexicanus, is reported to occur in 
Tennessee.  No investigation has been conducted concerning variation within the 
species in this area.  D. novemcinctus appears to have recently moved into 
Tennessee from the south and the west.  The present status of this species in 
Tennessee is unknown.  However, only a few specimens have been collected.  
Published records of this species are from southwestern Tennessee.  The first 
published report of armadillos in Tennessee was in 1974.  The range appears to 
fluctuate with severity of winters.  Only time will tell if the armadillo will 
maintain itself in Tennessee and become a permanent member of the State's 
fauna. 

 

The white meat of this species is eaten by men for food in some parts of North 
America.  It may be considered a prize in some areas.  Armadillos dig burrows 
into which horses and cattle may sometimes step and sustain injury.  Hunters 
are sometimes critical of this species for an occasional predation on quail 
eggs or for interference with a fox hunt by distracting running dogs.  However, 
the armadillo is very beneficial in consuming numerous insects and providing 
retreats for rabbits, skunks, and other forms of wildlife. 

 

D. novemcinctus has been reported to cross streams by walking underwater on the 
bottom.  It has been experimentally demonstrated that this species can do this. 
 How normal this activity is remains to be determined. In recent years, the 
armadillo has been used as a model laboratory animal for research on leprosy.

 

SELECTED REFERENCES:  Asdell (1964); Choate et al. (1994); Hall (1981); 
Hamilton and Whitaker (1979); Humphrey (1974); Kalmbach (1943); McBee and Baker 
(1982); Neck (1976); Talmage and Buchanan (1954); Taylor (1946).

 

 ************

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephanie McGuirk" <humming@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <karmachanic@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Bird List" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 8:55 AM
Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: McCrory Lane @ 1-40


I saw a dead armadillo on Franklin road just north of Otter Creek Rd  
a couple weeks ago!
Stephanie McGuirk

On Jun 13, 2008, at 10:27 PM, Beverly Threadgill wrote:

 Today under the underpass at McCrory Lane and I-40, I saw a dead  
 armadillo! Yes, an armadillo. I'm originally from the Gulf Coast of  
 Texas, where the critters are common, but I was surely surprised to  
 see one in West Nashville! What could this mean for a changing bird  
 population?


Beverly Threadgill Robey
Adairville, KY 42202 (Logan County)



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