It weighs about 100 grams, so it’s easy to hold in the palm of your hand.
The pink armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), popularly called Pichiciego, is the smallest armadillo species in the world, measuring only about 15 cm (6 inches).
Mariella Superina of the CONICET research facility in Mendoza, Argentina, describes the armadillo’s fur as “very fine, silky white hair.” It can also turn pink due to the number of blood vessels in its hard outer shell.
The pink carapace of the pink fairy armadillo is called a carapace; it resembles the exoskeleton of crustaceans or turtles.
An animal’s primary line of defense against predators is its armor. An armadillo can quickly dig a trench and use an armor plate to “plug” the burrow entrance for added security when it feels threatened.
However, much of the biology of the pink fairy armadillo is still unknown. It is largely underground, making it difficult to identify, and is only found in the arid, sandy region of Argentina. Because of this, Superina and her colleagues have difficulty determining whether a species is endangered or not.
A global team of specialists led by Superina is currently assessing the extinction risk of 21 armadillo species currently known to exist, as well as their close relatives, sloths, and anteaters.
Superina has been in the business for ten years and has never seen a pink fairy armadillo in its natural habitat.
All she could see were claw prints that stopped suddenly after a few meters, which were probably the underground tracks of an armadillo. She was also able to see the diamond-shaped tip of her tail. But that’s all.
Although the villagers are adept at finding any animal, she claims they cannot find this particular one. Rarely has anyone managed to catch one of these animals, but attempts to keep them alive are quickly abandoned. These captive-bred specimens typically live only eight days.
One such stray that Superina could not return to the wild proved difficult. When not kept in captivity, pink fairy armadillos mostly consume subterranean ants and their larvae.
They are also known to consume worms, snails, and other insects. If none of the above is available, in extreme cases they will also consume the leaves and roots of plants. However, this little creature refused to eat anything. The scientist was in a serious situation.
She eventually found that the animal would eat a mixture meant for another species, which included milk, cat food, and exactly half a banana. However, another stray animal will not accept the same food. It is not recommended to consider it as a pet.
Infrared cameras recorded the movements of the animal, which resided in Superin’s terrarium for eight months, during which it endured the combination beneath the surface of the sand.
According to Superina, the species “rakes and then backs up, compacting the sand with its back plate,” contradicting the traditional biologists’ theory that it “swims” through the sand.
The footage shows a pale, hairy body repeatedly kicking and punching. A distinctive feature of fairy armadillos is their use of a flattened, spherical back plate when compacting.
This unusual sighting could also solve a puzzle in paleontology. It is possible that previously found rows of compacted earth disks that resemble hanging slices of bread were created by the flattened bottoms of prehistoric armadillos.
After the pink fairy armadillo was classified as “data deficient” by the IUCN in 2008, reports of sightings decreased. Despite their low chance of survival in captivity, armadillos are not considered food, but an illegal trade in animals is developing.
Due to its unique characteristics and elusive nature, the pink fairy armadillo remains one of the most fascinating yet misunderstood creatures in the animal kingdom. Weighing only about 100 grams and measuring approximately 15 cm in length, it embodies a subtle blend of glamor and mystery.
The intricate details of its biology and behavior, especially its specialized burrowing techniques, continue to fascinate researchers like Mariella Superina, who has devoted years to studying these rare animals.
Despite its captivating features, the pink fairy armadillo faces major challenges in terms of survival, especially due to habitat loss and the threat of illegal animal trade. The decline in sightings since being classified as “data deficient” by the IUCN underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Ongoing research on Superina aims to clarify the status of the species, but a lack of concrete data complicates the effort.
Understanding the ecology and behavior of the pink fairy armadillo is crucial not only for its conservation but also for the wider ecosystem in which it lives. The knowledge gained from studying this remarkable creature can contribute to our knowledge of armadillos as a whole and their role in the environment.
As researchers continue to search for answers, we must prioritize the conservation of this fascinating species and its habitat and ensure that future generations can appreciate pink fairy armadillos in the wild.