Take a break from Monday with these cute armadillo videos

I’m back with another entry in the Guide to Animals You Didn’t Realize Were So Cute, this time with a hard-shelled long-nosed submission that’s sure to brighten your day. Armadillos are armored mammals that can be found throughout the Americas. With their long claws, beady eyes, and bristly hair, they might not be the first group of animals you think of when you’re trying to distract yourself with something adorable. However, I submit that their slender snouts and playful nature make armadillos the perfect stealthily cute surprise to start your week.

There are over 20 different species of armadillos, but my personal favorite is the Screaming Hairy Armadillo. Yes, they do make a sound quite like an angry cat when they feel threatened, and there’s plenty of videos of them being held upside down until they dutifully let out their trademark scream. Instead, enjoy this short clip of the Sherman at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo going buckwild for his enrichment toy.

If you’re from North America, you may be picturing the nine-banded variety when armadillos come to mind. These slender, long-eared critters are about the size of a house cat and are a fairly common site in the southeastern United States, although warming temperatures due to climate change mean that they have expanded their range as far north as Illinois and Indiana in recent years. Here’s one messing about with some holiday wrapping.

While perhaps not the cutest type of armadillo at first, the three-banded is the only one that is capable of folding its flexible armor into a perfect sphere. This is perfect for protection from predators, but it also results in some really adorable playtime sessions. I dare you not to smile at this video of Rollie attacking their toy and dashing away.

The smallest species of armadillo could fit easily into the palm of your hand. Pink Fairy Armadillos are found in the deserts of Argentina and look a bit like a mole that ran out of time to finish its cosplay before ArmadilloCon. They spend most of their time burrowing around under the ground, but here is a rare example of a fairy armadillo showing off its digging skills.