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National Geographic : 1982 Jun
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a great delicacy by Indians. The Aztecs sold live armadillos for cocoa beans in the Tlate lolco market of Tenochtitlan at the time of the conquistadores. Diego de Landa, burner of many of the sacred books of the Maya, noted in 1566 that armadillo meat "is very tender and good to eat." Yet in Mexico a few years ago I had no luck finding armadillo meat in the markets, though I saw hunters bringing armadillos in to feed their families. Some consider armadillos beneficial for what they eat. They play a role in pest con trol, since insects are their favorite food, and they spend most waking hours rooting in the soil for beetles, ants, and grubs. A million armadillos could destroy 100,000 metric tons of insects each year. In Louisiana and elsewhere armadillos evince a passion for fire ants. Like the Ca juns, they must like hot food. Biologist Ar turo Jimenez told me that the tastes of armadillos found near Monterrey, Mexico, are even more exotic. In the stomach of one animal he found ten tarantulas, a scorpion, a small snake, and a toad. But not everyone considers the armadillo a friend to man. Some ranchers claim that cattle break their legs by stepping into arma dillo burrows. Since armadillos prefer to dig burrows close to the trunks of trees, in the steep banks of streams, or in deep brush, stepping into them there would appear un likely. Farmers may have a better case when they charge that armadillos uproot crops while digging for insects. But the damage should be weighed against the benefits of soil aeration and pest control. In general, armadillos are pretty well liked. They amuse people. Homely, un gainly, and not too bright, they epitomize the underdog and elicit our sympathy. Armadillo festivals, races, comic books, T-shirts, and posters have swept the South during the past decade. Texas jewelers have recently advertised gold armadillo rings, pendants, and pins. in medical research. Soft shells on month-old pups (below right) harden with age. But even the adult carapaceremains pliable, a bit like humanfingernails. 823
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