Armadillos

Armadillos are solitary creatures that seek companions only during the mating season. After mating, female armadillos can suspend their pregnancy for up to two years. Another reproductive peculiarity of armadillos that has caught the attention of geneticists is the ability to produce multiple births from a single fertilized egg: depending on the species, 4, 8, or 12 genetically identical offspring may be produced.

Young armadillos are born in nest chambers within a burrow. At birth, the young are pink and have a soft, leathery skin. This soft skin hardens within a few weeks. Young armadillos stay close to their mother for about two weeks before striking out on their own.