Armadillos :)
There are apparently four different species of these critters running around in the Americas. Ive seen one other on this ride and it was up in central America so was certainly a different species to this little chap who is apparently a "peca".
This little guy was a bit slow crossing the road, and I could nab him before he got through the fence on the side of the road... We had a two minute photo session and then I let him scuttle off on his happy way :)))
Historically, there used to be several more species too but they are extinct now.
The first to become extinct was a variety that had no armour at all and was of course known just as the "Illo"... They were slow and unfortunately delicious!... And that was a fact well noted by the indigenous peoples of the Americas and put to good culinary use... Which resulted in their demise (the Illo's demise that is)
The other species is less well known but should be because it had quite a profound influence on our modern lifestyle and language...
This other species had a more "passive" type of armour than the surviving members of the family. The "Puffy Illo" had a soft armour made of a foam like structure (They had a sort of "quilted appearance"). Again, the indigenous peoples took advantage of this and put the puffy illo to good use as a seating and sleeping aid!
Yes, they sat on them and slept on them... And you and I do too! (well the modern equivalent).
The Puffy Illo was the origin of the cushion that we all use pretty much every day. Even the name is effectively still in use as the "Puffy Illo" became abbreviated/concatenated to form the word "Pillow":...
So, the next time you are enjoying a comfy seat, remember the poor old puffy illo who is now extinct!
Again.... Nature thought of it first :)
