Armadillos can reach a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour despite their massive armour and sluggish demeanour. As a matter of fact, the majority of armadillo species, including the common nine-banded armadillo, avoid predators by sprinting rather than rolling into a ball.
As a primary protection against predators, a startled armadillo will often retreat into a nearby burrow, explaining the necessity for such a high sprinting pace. Their distinctive shells serve as a secondary defence when they cannot escape to a hiding place. Only the three-banded armadillo employs its shell as a major defence mechanism. Instead of running, it will curl up so tightly that its entire body is encased in its shell.
