Let’s take an armadillo break. National Geographic is full of armadillo fact, fantasy and lore:
The armadillo’s hapless propensity for being run over by cars has earned it the nickname “Hillbilly Speed Bump.”Closely related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long (15-centimeter-long), salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long (1.5-meter-long), dark-brown giant armadillos. Others have black, red, gray, or yellowish coloring.Contrary to popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be predators.
Have you ever seen an armadillo in the flesh, so to speak? Here’s one taking a bath. They are nocturnal, so this video is a rare sighting. They are perfectly designed for easy transport.
And they make excellent snacks, too.
.For more Steven Heller, check out his book Design Humor: The Art of Graphic Wit—one of the many Heller titles available at MyDesignShop.com.