X is for Xenarthrans. In animal classification, this is the order whose members are unique from other living mammals by their vertebral joints which have extra articulations between some vertebrae - which is what the name means "extra articulation" or "strange joint".While there are 29 species (with in 4 families) in the order of animals, only one lives North of Mexico, and that is the Nine-banded Armadillo.
They are a cool little critter, my children really enjoyed watching them when they visited their Grandparents in Florida! Someone even gave my daughter a purse that looks like an armadillo, which draws comments every time she takes it out :-)
Lovely picture though I have never heard of one before. Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and comments also for following me. Much appreciated.
Yvonne.
I enjoyed your blog, the 1st time I tried to find you, I only found you as an ambassador, glad I found your spot!
DeleteThe first Armadillo I saw was roadkill about a month after moving to Florida. Poor thing. We're constantly spotting them--along with large tortoises, on the side of the road, ambling along.
ReplyDeleteroadkill bums me out, the tortoises must be neat to see too!
Deletei love them, they look so weird but that's the great thing about them
ReplyDeleteI know huh, sometimes the weird stuff is just awesome!
DeleteThese are the coolest animals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. I didn't know the scientific name. xoA
ReplyDeletelol the order is xenarthrans
Deletefamily = dasypodidae
species = dasypus novemcinctus = nine-banded armadillo
our science today :-)
They look cute but never have heard about them!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I don't remember hearing this before. New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
Lovely selection to make up the a to Z challenge
ReplyDeleteI always thought the Armadillo an interesting creature / glad he got a spot
hope you enjoyed a to Z
Moondustwriter