Oklahoma was part of the region the United States acquired from France through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It took Oklahoma longer than any other state to move from territorial status to statehood, 104 years. Oklahoma is one of only two states incorporating the state name as part of its capital city name.
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Dasypus novemcinctus - The nine-banded armadillo is the most wide spread of the 20 species of armadillos and can be found throughout the Americas. The different species of armadillo can be distinguished largely by the moveable bands of plates covering the body. The term "armadillo" was first used by Spanish explorers and translates as "small armored one.” Armadillos are insectivores and use their sensitive snout to sniff out beetles, ants, termites, and worms. Their sharp claws are ideal for digging into any hardened ground.
