Armadillo Diversity Expanded with Identification of New Species in South America

Experts have significantly revised the armadillo family tree, defying long-held assumptions in a groundbreaking study. The nine-banded armadillo, Texas' state mammal, had to change its name after a new species was identified as a result of the study, which used DNA analysis and museum collections.

A Complex Family Tree

(Photo : BERND THISSEN/dpa/AFP via Getty Images)

Until recently, researchers believed that there existed a single nine-banded armadillo species whose range stretched from Central America to Argentina.
The latest findings, however, state the case differently. This knowledge was obtained by an extensive genomic examination of armadillos across their entire range. Results were published in published in Systematic Biology.

Confident in the results, the study's principal author Frédéric Delsuc, a research director at the National Center for Scientific Research in France, stated that there is now undeniable evidence for many species within what was previously believed to be a single one.

In the United States, the consequences of this discovery are especially noteworthy. The armadillo is the official small animal of Texas, having traveled from Mexico to several US states during the previous 200 years. This new categorization means that the armadillo found in the United States should now be called the Mexican long-nosed armadillo.

Introducing the Guianan Long-Nosed Armadillo

The Guianan long-nosed armadillo is a new species of armadillo that the study introduces to the globe. This species stands out for being the first new armadillo described in thirty years due to its bigger size, hairless shell, sturdy dome-shaped cranium, and extra spine bone.

The case of the Guianan long-nosed armadillo exemplifies the role that museum collections and genetic studies play in understanding biodiversity. It further underlines how taxonomy is dynamic and how our understanding about the natural world keeps growing.

Also Read: Prehistoric Giant Armadillo Shell Found In Argentina

Why is Texas So Closely Associated With Armadillos?

For reasons ranging from biology to culture to history, Texas is synonymous with one word: armadillos. The only species of armadillo to have reached North America is the nine-banded armadillo, which goes by its official name, Dasypus novemcinctus. Its habitat extends from the central United States to Argentina. Texas has adopted this specific species as its emblem for several reasons.

The armadillos migrated from Mexico to Texas over a hundred years ago. By 1880, they had moved to South Texas from the lower Rio Grande Valley and were recordably in Austin and the Hill Country by 1900. These animals reached parts of South Texas by the mid-1850s. The 1920s and 1930s saw them keep moving further north and east, moves that helped them colonize most parts of Texas.

The armadillo has become an essential component of Texas's identity and culture. Because of its distinctive look and widespread distribution throughout the state, the animal was an obvious choice for portrayal. In 1995, the nine-banded armadillo was designated the Texas official State Small Mammal by the government of Texas.

Further ties of the animal with the state were established when armadillo racing became a significant form of amusement in Texas during the 1970s. Due to their remarkable adaptability, armadillos can be found in almost all types of habitats in Texas.

Moreover, their few natural predators have allowed them to multiply greatly, thereby attaining high populations across the state. Their relationship with Texas has been bolstered by their ability to reproduce and survive in a variety of conditions, making them a familiar sight. In East Texas, armadillos were called "Hoover hogs" because they were killed for food during the Great Depression.

Taken over from Mexico, the tradition of consuming armadillos survived in parts of Texas and Arkansas and throughout much of the Southeast of the United States, where, during celebrations, foods like armadillo chili and barbecued armadillos are served.

There exist very key connections between the armadillo and Texas, rooted in history through migration, cultural significance, adaptability, and presence, and economic and recreational roles. Beyond an academic interest, the rewriting of the armadillo family tree has practical implications for conservation and furthering knowledge of mammalian evolution.

Another good thing about learning more about these amazing creatures is that it will keep reminding us how intricate life on Earth really is and that the pursuit to uncover all its secrets is endless.