Scientists recently reclassified the armadillos found across Arkansas and Oklahoma. The animals I have been photographing for years are no longer classified as the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). They are now recognized as a separate species called the Mexican long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus mexicanus).
This photo shows the same armadillo species I regularly see at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge and in my own yard. Nothing about the animal’s behavior or appearance has changed. What has changed is our understanding of its genetics.
Why the Nine-Banded Armadillo Name Changed
This was not a simple rename. Researchers analyzed DNA from armadillos across the Americas and found that what was once treated as a single wide-ranging species is actually several distinct species.
In other words, “nine-banded armadillo” became a catch-all label for multiple lineages that look similar but are genetically different. With improved sampling and newer genetic methods, those differences became clear enough to separate them into distinct species.
A clear, plain-language summary of this research is available from the Field Museum: Widespread Armadillo Is Actually Four Different Species
What to call armadillos in Arkansas and Oklahoma now
For my photos and posts, the practical takeaway is simple.
The armadillos I see locally are Mexican long-nosed armadillos. Older sources often used the name Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus as a subspecies. Under the newer classification, that population is now recognized as a full species: Dasypus mexicanus.
What this means in the field
From a wildlife watching standpoint, nothing changes for me. I still see the same habits and the same appearance.
- They forage by smell and root around in soil and leaf litter.
- They move fast when startled, then stop and freeze.
- They stay low most of the time, but they will stand upright like in my photo when they get alert.
This post is not about a new animal in the field. It is about a change in how scientists classify the armadillos we have been seeing all along.
What this means for my wildlife photography and older posts
I am not going back and immediately changing every older post where I used the nine-banded armadillo name. Many of those posts document what I observed and understood at the time, and I want to preserve that context.
Over time, I will review older armadillo posts where this species appears and make updates where it makes sense. When I do, I will add a clear update note to each post explaining the name change and when the update was made, rather than quietly rewriting the original content.
This approach lets me keep my older wildlife photography posts accurate while still respecting when the photos were taken and what information was available at the time.
The animal did not change, but our understanding did
I still enjoy photographing them the same way I always have. The only difference is the name I attach to the story.
When the science improves, I want my posts to keep up. That is the whole point of doing this in the first place.
DNA helps a lot
Got it!