Species · GBIF taxon 5220098
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Chlamyphorus truncatusAlso known as Pichiciego, Lesser Pichiciego, Pink Armadillo
Pink fairy armadillos are the smallest armadillo species in the world, instantly recognizable by their pale pink dorsal shell which is uniquely attached to the spine by a thin membrane. These elusive, desert-dwelling mammals spend almost their entire lives underground, swimming through loose sand with oversized claws. Their rear end is capped by a flat, vertical plate used to compact soil behind them as they burrow.
NocturnalBurrowingElusive
- diet
- Omnivorous, feeding primarily on ants, termites, and plant roots
- family
- Dasypodidae
- threats
- Habitat destruction from agriculture, domestic dog predation, and illegal pet trade
- life Span
- Unknown in the wild, rarely surviving more than a few days in captivity
DD
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Extremely vulnerable to habitat loss and highly sensitive to stress, with a near-zero survival rate in captivity.
Never touch or dig up an individual, and keep domestic pets far away from their sandy habitats.- Leave them wild: Never attempt to capture or handle these animals, as stress causes rapid heart failure.
- Report sightings: Document any rare encounters with local conservation groups to help map their range.
- Protect habitats: Keep domestic dogs on leashes in sandy scrublands to prevent fatal encounters.