How are nine-banded armadillos named?

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Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). — armadillo Nine-banded armadillo (*Dasypus novemcinctus*).

Nine-banded armadillos are named for the number of movable bands present in their protective armour. These bands, which are part of the animal's carapace, consist of bony transverse segments covered in tough scales. The segments overlap slightly, allowing the armadillo's shell to expand and contract like an accordion.12

This naming convention applies to other species as well, such as the three-banded armadillo and the six-banded armadillo, which are similarly identified by the specific count of these movable armor segments.12