INFLUENCES ON VIGILANCE IN 9-BANDED ARMADILLOS

Functional aspects of vigilance in nine-banded armadillos (Edentata: D asypus novemcinctus) were investigated. Data on solitary individuals r evealed few age or sex differences in time spent vigilant. However, vi gilance increased in most social contexts and was highest during intra specific agonistic encounters. These results suggest social functions for armadillo vigilance. Armadillos with higher vigilance levels had l onger flight distances, suggesting that vigilance may also have antipr edator benefits. Further examination of flight distances revealed that they varied with age, weather conditions, and time of year (breeding versus non-breeding season), and were negatively correlated with body size. In total, the results indicate the complexity of vigilance in a solitary species and suggest that armadillo vigilance is multifunction al.