Behold, The Lowly Armadillo

Armadillos are the only known vertebrate that gives birth to identical quadruplets. The leprosy vaccine was created through the study of armadillos as they are one of the very few species other than humans who can contract that disease.

The hard shell of then armadillo was once used to make the Andean lute. This may explain why the armadillo is extinct in the Peruvian Andes.

    "Another reason armadillos have problems multiplying and regenerating their species is due to the unusual reproductive system they have. Along with being polyembryonic, they have a delayed embryonic implantation, and even though it usually only takes about 60 to 120 days for an armadillo to be born, in some cases it may be 2 years before the embryos attach in the uterus. This is believed to be due to stress."


    Much more at: Environmental Graffitti