Animal Diversity Web U of M Museum of Zoology ADW Home ADW Home ADW Home University of Michigan Help About Aninal Names Teaching Special Topics About Us




Structured Inquiry Search — preview

Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Mammalia -> Order Cingulata -> Family Dasypodidae -> Subfamily Euphractinae -> Species Chlamyphorus truncatus

Chlamyphorus truncatus
pink fairy armadillo



2010/02/07 02:16:00.687 US/Eastern

By Heather Hathaway

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Dasypodidae
Subfamily: Euphractinae
Genus: Chlamyphorus
Species: Chlamyphorus truncatus

Geographic Range

Pink fairy armadillos (or pichiciegos) are found in the warm sandy plains of Argentina.

Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical (native ).

Habitat

These armadillos prefer to burrow in very dry soil. They leave their burrows if it is moistened by rainfall. These animals often burrow near anthills, so that they can be close to their food source.

Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland .

Physical Description

The pink fairy armadillo is the smallest member of the armadillo family, measuring only about five to six inches in length. It is also the only armadillo in which the dorsal shell is almost separate from the body.

Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .

Reproduction

Baby armadillos resemble their parents, but their shells do not completely harden until they are full grown.

Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .

Behavior

The pink fairy armadillo generally lives by itself. The animals stay in their burrrows during the day and feed at night. They are remarkable diggers.

Key behaviors:
motile .

Food Habits

These armadillos are omnivores, but they feed mainly on ants. Occasionally they eat worms, snails, and various plant and root materials.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

None

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Not much is known about their economic importance to humans or other animals.

Conservation Status

The pink fairy armadillos are declining in number due to the spread of human civilization, and they are considered quite rare.

For More Information

Find Chlamyphorus truncatus information at

Contributors

Heather Hathaway (author), University of Michigan.

References

Walker, Ernest P. 1975. Mammals of the World, Third Edition Volume I. John Hopkins University Press. Baltimore. pg.1176

Goodwin, George G. 1993. Armadillos. pg.661. Bernard Johnston, ed. Collier's Encyclopedia. P.F. Collier Inc, New York, 780pgs.

2010/02/07 02:16:01.446 US/Eastern

To cite this page: Hathaway, H. 1999. "Chlamyphorus truncatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 10, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chlamyphorus_truncatus.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

Other formats: OWL

Home  ¦  About Us  ¦  Special Topics  ¦  Teaching  ¦  About Animal Names  ¦  Help

Structured Inquiry Search — preview