Hematologic parameters for wild and captive nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus).

Hematologic parameters were determined at capture and during captivity for nine-banded armadillos. Compared to the time of capture, the mean erythrocyte counts were significantly lower after 6 months in captivity. After 1 year in captivity, the mean hematocrit was significantly higher and the mean neutrophil count in males was significantly lower. Although the number of armadillos sampled was greater than in previous research, the variation within groups was large.

Response of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) to gonadotropins and steroids.

Adult male and female, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were treated with exogenous gonadotropins and steroids to induce mating in captivity. Gonadotropin treatment induced follicular development and ovulation in the female but failed to enhance semen quality in the male. The number of ovarian follicles increased as the dosage of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin increased; ovulation rate appeared to be inversely related to dose. Mating behavior was not detected in any of the trials, but a pattern of cyclic cytological changes in urogenital smears, which could be used to detect the follicular phase of the estrous cycle, was observed. The modal duration of the estrous cycle was found to be 4 days.