Pink Fairy Armadillo
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| Chlamyphorus truncatus Harlan, 1825 |
The Pink Fairy Armadillos (Chlamyphorus truncatus and C. retusus) or Pichiciego are species of armadillo (small mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell). The Pink Fairy Armadillos are the smallest of the armadillos (about 3-1/2" to 4-1/2" long excluding the tail) and pale rose or pink in color. They are found in central Argentina where they inhabit dry grasslands and sandy plains with thorn bushes and cacti.
Members of this species burrow small holes near ant colonies in dry dirt. They feed mainly on ants and ant larvae near where they burrow, and occasionally on worms, snails, other insects and larvae, or various plant and root material.
Since 1970 Pink Fairy Armadillos have been listed as an endangered species, primarily due to destruction of its habitat resulting from the spread of farmland, towns, and cities. The animals are now rare and, being nocturnal, are rarely spotted. There are no organized efforts to preserve the species.
[edit] References
- Superina et al (2006). Chlamyphorus truncatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is near threatened
- Gardner, Alfred (November 16, 2005). Wilson, D. E., and Reeder, D. M. (eds): Mammal Species of the World, 3rd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, 96. ISBN 0-801-88221-4.
