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Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts & Worksheets

The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), or sometimes called pichiciego, is the smallest species of armadillo, distinct for its small eyes, silky yellowish white fur, and flexible dorsal shell.

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The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), or sometimes called pichiciego, is the smallest species of armadillo, distinct for its small eyes, silky yellowish white fur, and flexible dorsal shell. Solitary and desert-adapted, the conservation status of the pichiciego still remains uncertain, classified as data deficient by the IUCN.

See the fact file below for more information on the pink fairy armadillo or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Pink Fairy Armadillo worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EVOLUTIONARY ORIGINS

  • Currently, fairy armadillos house two extant species: the pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) and the chacoan or greater fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus retusus). These two species display morphological similarities, having prominently reduced eyes and reinforced forearms that hold its enlarged digging claws. It is also among the few mammals that lack visible external ears.
  • Both species are specially designed to subterranean lifestyles which they have adapted in their ancestral lineage sometime between 21 and 17 Mya.
  • The pink fairy and greater fairy armadillo also have geographic speciations; the two species are strictly nocturnal but the details of their ecology and population biology is still a mystery.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE AND HABITAT

  • Pink fairy armadillos can be found in the deserts and scrublands of central Argentina. Their geographical range is restricted to the east by high amounts of rainfall which would flood their shelters.
  • They are commonly spotted dwelling in the provinces of Mendoza, San Luis, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, and San Juan. Their geographic range is situated in the Neotropical region.
  • It is thought that their range is limited and their numbers are low due to the negative effects caused by climatic changes in the past.
  • Pink fairy armadillos wander in dry grasslands and sand-filled plains. They are fossorial species that prefer to dwell in loose sandy dunes, and this preference limits their areas of habitation.
  • They also favor areas with some shrubbery.
  • They can thrive anywhere from sea level to 1500m in elevation.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

  • Pink fairy armadillos are the smallest living armadillo species. Adults have a body length of about 13 centimeters and weigh around 120 grams.
  • They have digging claws on their front legs, reduced eye size, and a fusiform body shape.
  • Similar to other armadillos, they also have a carapace; however, it is only fastened dorsally by a thin membrane down the midline.
  • They also possess large plates that guard the back of their head, lack visible ears, and the end of their tail is flat and diamond in shape.
  • Like most armadillos, they have simple teeth that lack enamel and are of the same type, also called homodont.
  • Armadillos, in general, have low body temperatures that are caused by their low basal metabolic rates, and have high thermal conductance. Given their low body temperatures and basal metabolic rates, the fur under their armor, which is yellowish white in color, keeps them warm.
  • The pichiciegos have 24 bands on their light pinkish armored shell and an extra vertical plate at the end of the armor that provides the carapace its blunt stop.

REPRODUCTION

  • Very little data is gathered about the mating system of pink fairy armadillos. Some pairing behavior has been identified in the closely related nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) which may be linked with mating. Males tend to monitor the locations of the females and initiate the first move. When they approach, they touch the dorsal area of the female, drawing out her tail-wagging which then permits the male to move closer and sniff the potential mate. These same behaviors are possible in pichiciegos, which are thought to be solitary species showing resemblance to nine-banded armadillos.
  • Nothing is currently documented about parental investment displayed by pink fairy armadillos. In their nine-banded cousins, it seems that the females perform some level of parental care while their young are still in their burrow. Similar care is assumed to take place in pinky fairy armadillos as well.

FOOD HABITS

  • It is still unknown if pink fairy armadillos consume fluids, but the few that have lived for any length of time in captivity have never been observed drinking, proposing they may get water from their food. The use of metabolic water is an adaptation used by most species that dwell in deserts.
  • They are generally insectivores; however, they will consume plants if the right conditions arise.
  • Ants seem to be the pink fairy armadillo’s main food.

CONSERVATION STATUS

  • Until 1996, the pichiciego was not included on the IUCN Red List as it was insufficiently studied. In 1996, it was labelled as endangered and ten years after, the IUCN classified these species as near threatened.
  • They are not being killed nor bothered by locals as they are not seen as pests. They are also not eaten nor taken as pets because of their short lifespan in captivity.
  • In 2008, the IUCN changed their classification to data deficient.

Pink Fairy Armadillo Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the pink fairy armadillo across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Pink Fairy Armadillo worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), or sometimes called pichiciego, which is the smallest species of armadillo, distinct for its small eyes, silky yellowish white fur, and flexible dorsal shell. Solitary and desert-adapted, the conservation status of the pichiciego still remains uncertain, classified as data deficient by the IUCN.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts
  • Adorably Absurd
  • Fact or Not
  • Shell Features
  • Other Armored Cousins
  • Rare Creatures
  • Test Yourself
  • Fairy Armadillos
  • 4 Pics 1 Creature
  • Pichiciego Wiki
  • Why am I Pink?

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Link will appear as Pink Fairy Armadillo Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 30, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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