As soon as you look at this amazing animal, you immediately want to stroke it. And then find out what it is. This is a frilled armadillo - a cute little animal that was unknown until recently.
Habitat
The frilled armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) is a nocturnal mammal native to central Argentina. In 1824, it was discovered south of the province of Mendoza, and later north of the Rio Negro and near Buenos Aires. This small area contains a unique habitat for this species. It lives in shrub grasslands as well as sandy plains and dunes. In the province of Mendoza, warm seasons alternate with cold ones, and wet with dry ones. The battleship had to adapt to such changeable conditions.
This species is an underground animal that is extremely sensitive to environmental changes and stress. To survive, they must occupy untouched areas that contain sufficient sand and cover. Therefore, they are highly discouraged from having as pets - a person willit is difficult to recreate the desert climate that an animal needs.
Appearance
The frilled armadillo, or "pink fairy" is the smallest of the armadillo family. The length of his body is 9-11 cm (excluding the tail), and the weight usually does not exceed 200 g. The color of the fur and shell is light pink, thanks to which he got his nickname.
Unusual for armadillos, the fur performs an important function of thermoregulation, without which the nocturnal animal could not survive in a changeable climate. Shells are the visiting card of the Armored Men, and the “pink fairy” also has one. True, his shell is much softer and more flexible. It is close enough to the body that the blood vessels are visible through the armor. It is also the only armadillo whose shell is not fully attached to the body.
The frilled armadillo can curl up to protect its vulnerable soft underside covered in thick white hair. The armored shell consists of 24 bands that allow the animal to curl up into a ball. At the back, it is flattened so that the armadillo can tamp down the ground as it digs. This is believed to help prevent tunnel collapse.
Lifestyle
In the wild, frilled armadillos are nocturnal. The animal has two massive sets of claws on its fore and hind limbs, which help it quickly dig holes in compacted soil. He was nicknamed the "sand swimmer" because they say thathe can "break through the earth as fast as a fish can swim in the sea." These claws are very large relative to the size of the animal's body and prevent it from walking on hard surfaces. The torpedo-shaped body reduces the amount of drag a battleship can face while working in underground tunnels. And a thick bare tail is needed for balance while digging.
Armadillos dig holes near anthills and feed on their inhabitants. Their diet also includes worms, snails, various insects and larvae, as well as some plant roots.
Like most armadillos, they rely primarily on their sense of smell to find each other and their prey. By the way, almost nothing is known about the reproduction of these animals - too few of them managed to catch. Native tribes claim that the mother wears her cubs under the shell.
Threats
- Because of their subterranean lifestyle, armadillos are forced to leave their burrows during thunderstorms or they may simply drown. In addition, there is still a risk of the fur getting wet, and then at night it can freeze to death.
- During rainstorms and on stony ground, animals cannot get to safety and become easy prey for predators.
- Due to their rarity and beauty, they are in demand on the black market, but they often die during transportation. Due to poor metabolism and low body fat percentage, small armadillos cannot adapt to cold climates. Their lifespan in captivity ranges from a few hours to8 days.
- Due to the expansion of agricultural land, the territory of armadillos is shrinking.
- Pink Fairies are said to be very tender in taste and therefore still hunted.
This species is found in many protected areas, including the Lihue Calel National Park, and is protected by the laws of Argentina.
