Tiny armored animals — known for ‘screaming’ — born at New Orleans zoo. See them

Two small, hairy animals, named after the screaming sounds they make when threatened, were born at a Louisiana zoo.

The screaming hairy armadillo twins came into the world in February, the Audubon Zoo of New Orleans announced May 20.

They’re named Birkenstock and Teva, following the shoe name tradition of their parents Dillo and Chaco, zookeepers said.

The brother and sister are the first of their species born in North America since 2018, the zoo said.

Screaming hairy armadillos, native to parts of South America, often weigh less than 2 pounds and are the tiniest of the three species of hairy armadillos, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

The animals are most nocturnal during the warm summer months, according to experts, and the babies are living in the zoo’s nocturnal house.

In the wild, the armadillos will burrow in loose sand and desert areas of Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile, according to Zoo Atlanta.

“The screaming hairy armadillo babies are eating solid foods including bugs, fruits and vegetables,” zookeepers said. “This species can go a long time without drinking water, they typically get all the moisture they need from plants they eat.”

The animals are living with the mom, but when they’re older, they’ll be relocated to have their own families, according to the zoo.

This story was originally published May 20, 2024 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Tiny armored animals — known for ‘screaming’ — born at New Orleans zoo. See them."