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Why is it called fairy armadillo?

Why is it called fairy armadillo?

First up, the pink fairy armadillo–its actual name. It doesn’t have wings and can’t cast spells and stuff like a real fairy, but it does have a rosy shell that acts like a radiator. By pumping blood in and out of it, the armadillo can raise or lower its core temperature.

What is the smallest armadillo?

the pink fairy armadillo
Although this guy looks quite large, the pink fairy armadillo only grows to about 6 inches long. Found only in central Argentina, this is the smallest armadillo species in the world.

What is the classification of pink fairy armadillo?

Chlamyphorus truncatus
Data Quality Indicators:

Order Cingulata Illiger, 1811
Family Dasypodidae Gray, 1821 – Armadillos
Subfamily Euphractinae Winge, 1923
Genus Chlamyphorus Harlan, 1825
Species Chlamyphorus truncatus Harlan, 1825 – Pink Fairy Armadillo

What is a pink fairy armadillos diet?

They have nocturnal and solitary habits and a diet largely composed of insects (mainly ants and beetles), worms, snails, and small amounts of roots and other plant parts (Minoprio, 1945; Guinazu Rawson de Arentsen, 1956; Cei, 1967). The conservation status of the pink fairy armadillo is uncertain.

What is the scientific name for a pink fairy armadillo?

Pink fairy armadillo/Scientific names
Dasypodidae: information (1)Dasypodidae: pictures (46)Dasypodidae: specimens (30) GenusChlamyphorusfairy armadillos. Chlamyphorus: pictures (2) SpeciesChlamyphorus truncatuspink fairy armadillo.

What is the pink fairy armadillos lifespan?

There is a sole record for the longevity of a pink fairy armadillo that was held in captivity more than 4 years; however, that particular case lacks scientific description….

Pink fairy armadillo
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Cingulata
Family: Chlamyphoridae

Do pink fairy armadillos dig?

Pink fairies are nocturnal, and spend their nights burrowing in the sands of central Argentina. They are experts at moving through underground sand — they dig with their enormous claws and then pat the sand behind them into a compact tunnel with a butt plate that resembles a spatula.

How heavy is a pink fairy armadillo?

4.2 oz
The pink fairy armadillo is 90–115 mm (3.5–4.5 in) long, and typically weighs about 120 g (4.2 oz). This species is the smallest living armadillo and is among the least known.

What does pink fairy armadillo eat?

How big is the pink fairy armadillo population?

No estimate of population size is available for this species. According to the Pink Fairy Armadillo resource, the total population size of the species is around 100 individuals. Currently it is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List. Not much is known about the role Pink fairy armadillos play in the ecosystem.

How does a pink fairy armadillo maintain its body temperature?

Due to their low basal metabolic rates, pink fairy armadillos have a low body temperature and a high thermal conductance. Their metabolic rate is up to 60 percent lower than what is generally expected for a mammal of that body mass. This allows the pink fairy armadillo to help maintain its body temperature while in its burrow.

Which is the smallest species of armadillo in the world?

Pink Fairy Armadillo. The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) which is also known as the Pichiciego is the smallest species of armadillo known.

What kind of carapace does an armadillo have?

Like other armadillos they have a carapace, but their carapace is only attached dorsally by a thin membrane down the midline. They also have large plates that protect the back of their head, they do not have visible ears, and the end of their tail is flat and diamond-shaped.