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21 Animals Like Armadillos (A to Z with Pictures)

Animals Like Armadillos

Examples of animals like armadillos include pangolins, anteaters, and sloths.

Armadillos are strange-looking creatures. They are the only mammal that can truly be called armored because of the armor-like plates on their back. They also have a long, sticky tongue that they use to catch insects. But armadillos aren’t the only animals with features that resemble those of an armadillo.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some other animals that look like armadillos. Stay tuned.

Examples of Animals Like Armadillos

1. Black-Bellied Pangolin

Scientific NameManis tetradactyla
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeAfrica

The Black-bellied Pangolin is a mammal that is native to Africa. Like the armadillo, it has armor-like plates on its back. It also has sharp claws that it uses to dig for food. The pangolin’s diet consists mainly of ants and termites, which it catches with its long, sticky tongue.

2. Chinese Pangolin

Scientific NameManis pentadactyla
Type of AnimalMammal
Rangein the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal

The Chinese pangolin looks like a cross between an armadillo and an anteater. It has a long snout, scales covering its body, and a tail. Like the armadillo, the pangolin curls up into a ball when it feels threatened.

3. Giant Anteater

Scientific NameMyrmecophaga tridactyla
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeCentral and South America

Giant Anteater like the armadillo, the giant anteater has a long snout and a sticky tongue that it uses to catch insects. The biggest difference between these two animals is the size. Giant anteaters can grow to be up to seven feet long, while armadillos are only about two feet long.

Related Article: Do Giant Anteater Have Big & Long Nose?

4. Giant Ground Pangolin

Scientific NameManis gigantea
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeWest and central Africa

The giant ground pangolin is a native of Africa and the largest member of the pangolin family. These shy animals are nocturnal and spend most of their time in trees or burrows. They have long, curved claws that they use for digging and climbing. Their scales are made of keratin, the same material that makes up human hair and nails. Pangolins are the only known mammal with this type of scale.

The giant ground pangolin resembles an armadillo in several ways. Both animals have a protective armor of plates or scales. They also both have long, curved claws that they use for digging. However, there are some differences between the two animals. The biggest difference is that pangolins are covered in scales, while armadillos have plates of bone on their back.

Related Article: Are Pangolins Shy?

5. Giant Ground Sloth

Scientific NameMegatherium
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeArizona and New Mexico

The giant ground sloth was a massive mammal that lived during the Pleistocene epoch. It could grow to be the size of an elephant and weighed up to four tons. This herbivore had a long neck, small head, and furry body. Its most notable feature was its large claws, which are used to climb trees and dig for food. Like the armadillo, the giant ground sloth was a slow-moving creature.

6. Glyptodons

Scientific NameGlyptodon
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeNorth and South America

Glyptodons were massive, prehistoric animals that looked a lot like armadillos. They grew to be about the size of a small car and weighed up to 2,000 pounds. Their bodies were covered in thick, armor-like plates and they had long tails. Glyptodons were herbivores and fed on plants. They went extinct around 10,000 years ago.

7. Indian Pangolin

Scientific NameManis crassicaudata
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeBangladesh, Southern Nepal, Sri Lanka

The Indian pangolin is a mammal that looks like an armadillo. It has scales on its body and a long, sticky tongue. It also has claws that it uses to dig into the ground.

Pangolins are found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

8. Megatherium

Scientific NameMegatherium
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeSouth America

The next animal on our list is the Megatherium, or giant sloth. This massive creature lived during the Ice Age and could grow to be the size of an elephant! But unlike an elephant, the Megatherium had a long neck and small head, giving it a look that was similar to an armadillo. This animal also had a thick hide that was covered in fur, and it is thought that this fur helped to keep the Megatherium warm during the cold winters.

9. Mylodon

Scientific NameMylodon
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeSouth America

The mylodon is an extinct species of giant ground sloth that lived in South America during the Pleistocene epoch. It was one of the largest land mammals ever to exist, with some estimates putting its weight at up to eight tonnes. The mylodon was a bulky creature, with a short tail and heavily muscled limbs.

Its most distinctive feature was the large armor-like plates that covered its back. These plates were made of bone and were connected by a network of tough, elastic bands. The mylodon’s armor served to protect it from predators and helped to keep it warm in the cold climates of the Pleistocene.

The mylodon was an herbivore and probably fed on a diet of leaves, stems, and other vegetation. Its armor-like skin would have made it difficult for the mylodon to move quickly, so it is likely that it was a slow-moving creature. However, its large size would have made it difficult for predators to take down.

10. Northern Tamandua

Scientific NameTamandua tetradactyla
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeCentral America

The Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) is a species of anteater found in Central and South America. It is one of the two species of tamandua, the other being the Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla).

The Northern Tamandua is smaller than the Southern Tamandua, and its fur is darker. It also has a longer snout, and its claws are less curved.

The Northern Tamandua feeds on ants and termites. It uses its long, sticky tongue to catch these insects. It also has sharp claws that it uses to dig into ant and termite nests.

11. Philippine Pangolin

Scientific NameManis culionensis
Type of AnimalMammal
Rangeisland province of Palawan

The Philippine pangolin is a small, nocturnal mammal that is found in the tropical forests of the Philippines. Like the armadillo, the pangolin has armor-like scales on its body that protect it from predators. The pangolin also has a long, sticky tongue that it uses to catch insects.

12. Pichi

Scientific NameZaedyus pichiy
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeSouth America

Pichis are small, rodent-like animals that are found in South America. They are closely related to guinea pigs and look quite similar to them, but with a few key differences. For one, pichis have short, bristly fur instead of the long, soft fur of guinea pigs. They also have armor-like plates on their backs, which give them a somewhat armadillo-like appearance. Pichis are also known for their long, sticky tongues, which they use to catch insects.

13. Pichiciego

Scientific NameChlamyphorus truncatus
Type of AnimalMammal
Rangecentral Argentina

The pichiciego is a small mammal that is native to the arid regions of South America. It is often compared to the armadillo because of its similar appearance. The pichiciego has a hard, protective shell on its back and a long, sticky tongue. It also digs burrows in the ground to live in.

14. Silky Anteater

Scientific NameCyclopes didactylus
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeOaxaca and southern Veracruz in Mexico

As you can see in the picture, this animal shares many similarities with the armadillo. They both have a long snout, small eyes, and a long tongue. The main difference between the two is that the silky anteater doesn’t have armor-like plates on its back. Instead, it has fur that is silky to the touch.

15. Southern Tamandua

Scientific NameTamandua tetradactyla
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeSouth America

The southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) is a medium-sized anteater found in South America. It is similar to the armadillo in both appearance and behavior. Both animals have long, sticky tongues that they use to catch insects. They also have armor-like plates on their back. The main difference between the two is that the southern tamandua is covered in fur, while the armadillo is not.

16. Sunda Pangolin

Scientific NameManis javanica
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeSoutheast Asia

The Sunda pangolin is a small, scaly mammal that looks like an armadillo. It is found in Southeast Asia and is the only pangolin species native to that region. The Sunda pangolin has armor-like scales on its back and a long, sticky tongue that it uses to catch insects. It is nocturnal and sleeps in tree hollows during the day.

17. Temminck’s Ground Pangolin

Scientific NameSmutsia temminckii
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeAfrica

The Temminck’s ground pangolin is a scaly mammal that is native to Africa. It gets its name from the armor-like plates on its back, which resemble those of an armadillo. The pangolin also has a long, sticky tongue that it uses to catch insects.

18. Three-Toed Sloths

Scientific NameBradypus
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeCentral and South America

These are the closest living relatives of the armadillo. They share a common ancestor and they look quite similar. Both animals have a low body temperature, slow metabolism, and three toes on each foot. However, sloths spend most of their time in trees while armadillos are terrestrial.

Related Article: Do Sloths Eat Avocados?

19. Two-Toed Sloths

Scientific NameCholoepus
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeCentral America and northern South America

These animals may not be armored like armadillos, but they do have some similarities. Both sloths and armadillos are slow-moving animals, and they both have long, sticky tongues that they use to catch insects. Sloths also have a similar body shape to armadillos, with a round body and short legs.

20. White-Bellied Pangolin

Scientific NameManis tricuspis
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeWest Africa

The white-bellied pangolin is a small, nocturnal mammal that is native to Africa. Like the armadillo, it has armor-like scales on its back that provide protection from predators. It also has a long tongue that it uses to catch insects.

21. Woodlice

Scientific NameOniscidea
Type of AnimalMammal
RangeWorldwide

Woodlice are small, segmented creatures that resemble armadillos in several ways. For one, they have a hard exoskeleton that protects them from predators and the elements. They also have long antennae and legs that help them scurry away from danger. Additionally, woodlice are proficient burrowers and often build their homes underground. Finally, like armadillos, woodlice are nocturnal creatures that are most active at night.

Conclusion

Animals like armadillos, pangolins, and anteaters are similar to each other in many ways. They all have long snouts, claws that they use for digging food and protection from predators, strong teeth, scales, or armor-like plates on their backs. One of the most noticeable differences between these animals is size.

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