Why can three-banded armadillos roll into a ball?

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

Three-banded armadillos (Tolypeutes) are able to roll into a solid ball as a defensive mechanism to protect their vulnerable underparts when they feel threatened. This behavior allows them to shield their soft belly from potential attackers.1