On average, the nine-banded armadillo weighs 12 pounds (5.4 kg), is 15 inches (38 cm) long, and has a tail about as long as its body. With a name meaning "little armored one," armadillos are recognizable thanks to their flexible bone structures, which act as armor in defense against predators. The nine-banded armadillo is named for the increased amount of neutrally colored segmented bone plates that run across its back.
Read more about what what armadillos look like.