8 Best Armadillo Tattoo Designs With Meaning

The armadillo tattoo, featuring this animal with a tough exterior that protects its otherwise soft body and its docile temperament, has become a representative symbol of courage, wit, efficiency, and adaptability despite being the underdogs in a crowd. Its impressive hard-shell exterior and pleasant facial features makes for unique aesthetics in body art that can be manipulated or experimented with for quirky as well as glamorously illustrative designs. So, if you are looking for innovative ways to depict this tough animal for an appealing tattoo design, we can help you. Whether you would like a simple, accurately detailed outline of the animal, or a fun, creative design, you shall surely find something up your alley on our well-curated list. Keep scrolling to explore these ideas.

Meaning Of Armadillo Tattoo

In the wild, armadillos are known to be gentle, docile creatures that get frightened easily. They are not dangerous to human beings and with exposure to humans from a young age, they may even be friendly. However, they are not known to make the brightest of pets as they are not trainable and only rely on natural instincts and skills, to dig deep and quickly with their short powerful legs and long claws. This skill of digging allows them to find little insects for their diet, and make burrows over 20 feet that serve as a safe habitat, or simply a shelter to hide. They are perfect examples of beings who may be lacking in the conventional set of characteristics that may make them feared in the wild, but their hard-shell body and fast hiding strategies help them survive. A tattoo of them embodies these very characteristics, along with meanings like adaptability, resilience, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and independence.

Some native American cultures also hail them as icons of protection and also personal boundaries which their armor-like shells allow them. Their close connection to the earth also symbolizes groundedness or stability.

Eventually, the meaning of a specific armadillo tattoo is determined entirely by the wearer who may consider each stroke, design choice, or even use of colors to have a symbolic meaning. For some cool examples of illustrations of these remarkable animals for attractive tattoo designs, continue on to the next section.

8 Best Armadillo Tattoo Designs

Armadillos are cute creatures, related to the sloth and anteater, with a distinct shell that looks great for a rugged or cutesy tattoo look, depending on how it is illustrated. Take a look at the following designs to see how you may design and customize the look of your own armadillo tattoo.

1. Drunk Armadillo Tattoo

Tattoos of armadillos drinking beer are quite popular among Texans. It is a nod to the playful, humorous, as well as creative nature of Texans who slap an illustration of the armadillo on t-shirts, caps, and other tourist souvenir items. The droopy eyes and the lopsided grin make it obvious that the animal is tipsy. The wearer may choose to illustrate the logo of a favorite beer on the bottle to add a personal touch or as an ode to a community memory where a specific brand was unanimously loved.

2. Minimalist Armadillo Tattoo

As mentioned earlier, the banded and scaled armor adds a unique look to the armadillo, which by itself can carry all the charm and magnetism associated with the animal, shining through a tattoo. This tattoo lives up to the claim, showing a tiny and minimalist rendition of the animal which comprises crisp outlines and little dots and strokes to create the scaly armor. Rather than accuracy, this style aims at capturing the general physical structure of the animal and does a great job of it.

3. Cowboy Armadillo Tattoo

In true Texan style, show the armadillo wearing a cowboy hat to represent the cultural and traditional essence of the state. This armadillo also wears a proud, animated smile to be associated with Texas. The design is a combination of a couple of different styles; like the dotwork shading that imparts depth, the crisp fine lines that improves the rich quality of the illustration, or the sporadic tribal patterns spread on its armor bands.

4. Traditional Armadillo Tattoo

A traditional style tattoo is characterized by bold outlines showcasing the artistic vision of the tattooist and their precision in using a needle to implement crisp strokes. It makes for vivid and awe-inspiring imagery that instantly draws the eyes. The armadillo’s scaled and banded armor and tail are beautifully illustrated using this style in the back-shoulder tattoo above. There are minimal leaf motifs added to the design, giving it an earthy feel. The dotwork and fine-needle details to show the difference in the texture of the scales is a bonus that adds to the overall appeal of the design.

5. Small Armadillo Tattoo

One may choose a small or micro-sized tattoo for various reasons; subtlety, budget, pain tolerance, personal expression, etc. But no matter the reason, due to its notable appearance, a tattoo of an armadillo would be easily recognizable. This tattoo on the back of the hand makes it highly visible, instantly giving the other person the opportunity to observe it and engage in conversation around it. The small yet thoughtfully-planned design ensures the illustration is complete despite the size and draws attention to the salient features, making it an instant hit of a design.

6. Blue Armadillo Tattoo

Show your armadillo inked in a specific color to enhance the symbolism of your tattoo that absorbs the values associated with that color. For instance, this blue armadillo tattoo adopts values like calmness, serenity, or peace, which combined with its own symbolism of groundedness and stability, make it a talisman to calm a restless heart and mind. It may also have a spiritual symbolism as this color is also often associated with the mystical spirit world. Or, it could simply be the wearer’s favorite color that brings them joy.

7. Black And White Armadillo Tattoo

A black-and-white tattoo is the best choice for creating high-definition tattoos with striking contrasts created between the depth of the black and the highlights of the white ink. The image above is a great example of using white ink cleverly to highlight the sheen of the scales, the sparse whiskers and hair, and the corners of ears and other parts of the body. The design also features some tribal motifs, establishing a connection with native beliefs and art.

8. Armadillo Tattoo On The Wrist

The wrist is a delicate part of the body where a tattoo can create a charming and elegant accessory look. The above tattoo done on the inner wrist with fine and graceful outlines adds to the delicateness of the placement which is also a pulse point, signifying one’s deep connection to the symbolism of the tattoo. With the armadillo facing towards the hand, signifying action-orientedness at an easily visible placement, the tattoo can serve as a reminder to the wearer to relentlessly continue moving forward, improvise as they go, and be self-reliant and confident to overcome any hurdles.

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Lucas CumminsProfessional Tattoo Artist

   

Lucas Cummins is an Ohio-based tattoo artist who has been making his mark on the tattoo industry for the past 2 years. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for vibrant expression, Lucas specializes in neo-traditional, color, and abstract style tattoos.

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Manjari Uppal Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience in writing across different niches, including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has since honed her craft to perfection.

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Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience crafting short-form content for the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle niches. She has a triple majors bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science, and Geography from IIS University and a master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.

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