SPATIAL PATTERNS IN A POPULATION OF 9-BANDED ARMADILLOS (DASYPUS-MOVEMCINCTUS)

Spatial data were collected in a population of individually marked nin e-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) at a site in Florida from 1 992-1995. Approximately 1/3 of the animals (118/313) were sighted more than once. Data on distances moved between successive sightings showe d that armadillos moved <200 m both within and between years. However, animals moved significantly farther between than within years. The av erage distance between sightings was significantly longer for adults t han for juveniles within, but not between, years. There were no sex di fferences in distances moved within or between years for either adults or juveniles. Analyses of distances to nearest neighbors showed that adults were closer to one another than to juveniles and that juveniles of the same sex were closer to one another than to juveniles of the o pposite sex. This latter result probably reflects maintenance of proxi mity among littermates.