The armored shell contains 24 bands that allow the pink fairy armadillo to curl up into a ball to protect its vulnerable soft underbelly. This is what gives the pink fairy armadillo shell its pink or pale-rose appearance. The pink colour of their shell is due to a network of blood vessels underneath, which can be seen through the armor. 1 Interesting Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts 1. Especially considering their sensitive nature to the environment they inhabit. Without it, this species of armadillo risk extinction. The evolutionary distinctiveness of the pink fairy armadillo, their limited geographic territory, existing threats and rarity make strong arguments to suggest urgent conservation attention. Only one that was held in captivity lived for more than four years. However, predators including domestic dogs and cats have also been noted as contributing to the decline.įield sightings are rare and individual pink fairy armadillos that have been captured in the wild tend to die within two days of being removed from their natural habitat.
Farming activities have generally been pointed to as the main factor impacting the pink fairy armadillo population. These mammals have experienced a drastic drop in population over the past few decades. The conservation status of the pink fairy armadillo is uncertain, and is listed as data deficient by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The average low would be just slightly above freezing. The average high temperature during the warm season would be near 30C with the cold season reaching just 15C.
The temperature ranges are not extreme, which has allowed to pink fairy armadillo to adapt to them. The Mendoza region is known for having both warm and cold seasons along with wet and dry seasons. The pink fairy armadillo also eats various plant parts, but will only resort to vegetation when other food sources are not readily available. In particular, its main food source are ants and larvae. This mammal is nocturnal and solitary with a diet that is primarily insects, worms and snails. The blunt rear of the shell is where a spatula-shaped tail appears – coming from a vertical plate portion of the shell. A thin dorsal membrane is what attaches the shell to the armadillo body. They also have small eyes and a flexible dorsal shell. Pink fairy armadillos have a silky fur that is yellowish-white in color. Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts Overview Habitat:ģ.5 inches (90 millimeters) – 4.5 inches (115 millimeters)
They are elusive and rarely ever seen by humans, and among the least known and studied armadillo species. It’s the tinniest species of armadillo in the world and uses its surroundings not just for habitation, but to hide from many different threats. It inhabits sandy plains, scrubby grasslands, dunes and spends much of its time underground. The Pink Fairy Armadillo, or ‘pichiciego’ – is a desert-adapted mammal with a ‘pink’ bony armor shell, that is native to central Argentina.
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