This story is set in a mythical time and revolves around a clever hedgehog named Stickly-Prickly and a tortoise called Slow-Solid, who live by the Amazon River. They face danger from a painted jaguar who tries to catch them for food. The jaguar is taught by his mother that to capture a hedgehog, he should drop it in water, and to eat a tortoise, he should scoop it out of its shell. However, when the jaguar confronts both friends, they confuse him by cleverly mixing up the instructions, leading to a humorous encounter. As a result, the hedgehog learns to adapt by swimming, and the tortoise manages to curl a little. Together, they evolve into a new creature that combines both hedgehog's and tortoise's features, leading the jaguar's mother to suggest names like 'Armadillo' for these adaptable creatures. The story emphasizes themes of resourcefulness and adaptability and explains how armadillos might have come to be, while also adding a playful and educational twist to animal adaptations.