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Spiny mice have armadillo-like armor in their tails

Osteoderms are rare in mammals

An image of a 3-D reconstruction of a spiny mouse skeleton on a black background. The mouse's tail is shown in red with a close-up of the plates that sit in the rodent's skin.

This 3-D digital reconstruction of a spiny mouse, based on CT scans, shows bony plates (red rectangles) that line its tail. The plates, called osteoderms, sit in the rodent’s skin, similar to armadillos’ bony armor.

E. Stanley

By Jake Buehler

The spiny mouse is an unassuming rodent, but it’s armed with a very special tail.

CT scans show the tail is sheathed in a secret blanket of bony plates.