Marilyn Bevard, age 11, of mounds, Okla., for her question:

WHAT DO ARMADILLOS EAT?  

Early Spanish explorers to the Americas found a strange, small animal with a body covered by hard and tough bony plates. They named the creature armadillo, a word that meant little armored thing. And what a good name it turned out to be since that is exactly the best way to describe the mammal who has his own built in suit of armor.   

You'll find the armadillo from Argentina in South America all the way north to Louisiana and Texas and from the Southwestern part of the United States on east to the Atlantic Ocean.

The armadillo has strong claws which he uses in part for his search for food. He can burrow and tunnel easily.  His diet features insects, earthworms, spiders and snails, and with his long, narrow tongue, he can easily lick up insects as he digs. He,has very small teeth which are located far back in his mouth, so the teeth are used strictly for eating and never in self defense.

Protection comes from a shell that is made of bony plates fitted closely together. The armor is stiff arid hard but is flexible across the back. One type of armadillo can curl himself into a hard, tight ball of bony shell with his feet and head tucked inside. Other animals find it is almost impossible for them to grip the ball shaped armadillo with their teeth or claws.

Actually, the armadillo will only hide within his own case as a final emergency gesture. When bothered, he will usually hurry to his own burrow. If home isn't just around the corner when he receives a danger sign, he will use his excellent digging claws and quickly carve out a hole in the ground for himself.

The only type of armadillo living in the United States is called the nine banded armadillo. He has hinges on his shell consisting of nine narrow bands of shell like armor which slide one on top of another. This insect eater is about two feet long from the end of his rather pointed nose to the end of a bony tail, and he weighs about 15 pounds.

Mother armadillo usually gives birth to four babies at one time, and they are always of the same sex.  

Armadillos found south of the United States have three or six bands across their backs, instead of nine as found on those living north of the Mexican border.

Although not too many people elect to use the armadillo for food, its flesh is good to eat and is a favorite item for the dinner menu of natives in selected areas.