Armadillos live primarily in warm, temperate to tropical regions of the Americas, including Central and South America. The nine-banded armadillo is the only species that has extended its range into the southern United States. Armadillos favor habitats with easy-to-dig soil such as forests, grasslands, rainforests, and semi-deserts. They prefer warm climates because their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores make it difficult for them to survive cold temperatures. In the U.S., they are most commonly found in southern states like Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, as well as in parts of Central and South America such as Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela.