How to identify it
Bony armour of rectangular or pentagonal plates in three sections; usually 9 bands, range 8-11. [1]
Where it lives
Forest and scrub-brush with adequate water and at least 38 cm annual rainfall. [1]
How it behaves
Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; forages earlier on cold or cloudy days [1]
Where it is listed for removal or nuisance take
These authorities list this species as nuisance, invasive or unprotected wildlife that may be taken. This is not a game season.
Where legal take is listed
- Florida — nuisance or unprotected take · Rule 68A-4.001 General Prohibitions (F.A.C., eff. 7/31/2026)
- Georgia — hunting · Non-Native & Invasive Species | Georgia DNR WRD
- Kansas — hunting · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
- Louisiana — hunting · 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations (updated Aug 7, 2026)
- South Carolina — hunting · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
- Tennessee — hunting · Summary of Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Seasons Dates | TWRA
- Texas — hunting · Outdoor Annual: Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
South and Central America into the southern US, expanding north since the 1800s to Missouri and Illinois.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
- BIOLOGICALNine-banded Armadillo
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology