Scientists Uncover Pink Fairy Armadillo’s Peculiar Double Skin
The pink fairy armadillo, a tiny mammal from central Argentina, exhibits a unique double skin layer, an adaptation to its subterranean lifestyle. Threatened by human activities, its elusive nature leaves many questions about its population and conservation status unanswered.
By Beth Snider · January 18, 2024
In central Argentina, a creature known as the pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) has captured the attention of scientists. Measuring just 6 inches in length and weighing a mere 3.5 ounces, these tiny mammals exhibit extraordinary features, including a double layer of skin that sets them apart from their relatives.
A recent study published in the Journal of Zoology unveils the distinctive double skin. Author Cecilia Krmpotic, a biologist with the Argentine National Scientific and Technical Research Council, explains that this double layer comprises an outermost shield with cornified scales and osteoderms, acting as a protective mantle. Beneath this outer layer lies a fine white fur, making this double skin an uncommon feature. While most species have a single skin layer, the pink fairy armadillo’s double skin is believed to be an adaptation to its underground lifestyle.
The evolution of the pink fairy armadillo’s subterranean lifestyle traces back between 17 and 32 million years ago. Environmental changes in southern South America led to more arid ecosystems, prompting the ancestral lineage to embrace a completely underground existence. The flexibility and lightness of its dorsal shield, particularly the pelvic buckler, allow it to navigate through sandy soil and adapt to the shape of its tunnels.
The protective armor, divided into a head shield and a dorsal shield, serves as a defense mechanism against predators and as support for its underground living. With disproportionally enormous claws, they excavate burrows where they spend the majority of their lives. The peculiar behavior of using the diamond-shaped tip of their tails for support when standing on hind feet and emitting screams when frightened adds to the mystique of these creatures.
The pink color of its carapace varies in intensity based on environmental temperature, and its ability to regulate body temperature. With a sense of smell at least 100 times stronger than humans and two-thirds of its relatively large brain dedicated to olfactory functions, it is highly adapted to navigate its underground world.
Their subterranean way of living makes field observation and research particularly challenging. Conservation biologist Mariella Superina, a leading expert on the species, has dedicated years to studying these elusive creatures. The encroachment of human activities, including agriculture, roads, and domestic animals, threatens their natural habitat. The difficulty in tracking and studying the pink fairy armadillo in the wild leaves many questions unanswered regarding their population and conservation status.