Pink Fairy Armadillo | The Little Pichiciego

The Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), which is also referred to as the Pichiciego, is believed to be the tiniest type of armadillo (mammals of the family Dasypodidae, mostly known for having a bony armor shell) on Earth. This species of armadillo typically grows to be between 90-115 mm in length (3.5-4.5 inches), not including its tail, is less than a pound in weight, and is pale rose to pink in color. And to top it all off, this Crazy Creature is the only species of armadillo that has its dorsal shell almost entirely separate from its body!

Where They Live:

This special animal resides in the dry grasslands and sandy plains of central Argentina. The sandy environment works well for the pink fairy armadillo considering they are excellent diggers. In truth, they have the ability to completely bury themselves in a few seconds if threatened.

Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction (particularly due to cattle farming), the population of the pink fairy armadillo has been declining since 1970 when they were listed as “threatened”. In 1996, the species was classed as “endangered” by the IUCN, then upgraded to “near threatened” in 2006, and in 2008 changed to “data deficient”.

What They Eat:

Pink fairy armadillos use their excellent excavating abilities to burrow in locations beside big ant colonies. It’s a great location to live as the ants offer a consistent food source (good move, huh?). They will also seek out worms, snails, other insects and larvae, or various plant and root material, but they always fall back on ants as their primary food choice.

How They Live:

This little armadillo often lives a solitary life where it stays secure underground only to come out and feed during the night. It is believed that the pink fairy armadillo is polygamous when it comes to mating. Generally the female will give birth to one young, whose shell will not end up being entirely hardened until it is totally grown. Overall, the pink fairy armadillos will spend most of their time underground much like a mole.

Interesting Facts:

The large front claws allow them to effortlessly move the sand as they burrow underground almost as if they were swimming through the water. They are sometimes referred to as “sand swimmers” similar to the golden mole or the marsupial mole. The torpedo shape of the armadillo as well as the shielded head and back makes this kind of movement possible. A recent study has found that the “butt plate” (shown above) may be used to compact or pat down dirt and sand behind the armadillo as it makes its way underground.

Check out this video for more info on this cute little Crazy Creature!

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