What Is This?
PHOTO BY MARK PAYNE-GIL
ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE? These "hairy pumpkins" are three-banded armadillos from South America. There are 20 species of armadillos in the world, and each wears a tough, shell-like coat of armor. When hungry predators attack, this armor can act as a shield. But the three-banded armadillo is the only species that can curl into a tight ball.