As soon as you look at this amazing animal, you will immediately want to stroke it. And then - find out what it is. This is a fiery armadillo - a small cute animal, which until recently was unknown.
Habitat
The lamellar armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) is a nocturnal mammal living in central Argentina. In 1824, it was discovered south of the province of Mendoza, and later - north of Rio Negro and near Buenos Aires. This small territory has a unique habitat of this species. He lives in shrubby meadows, as well as in sandy plains and dunes. In the province of Mendoza, warm seasons alternate with cold, and wet with dry. The battleship had to adapt to such changing conditions.
This species belongs to underground animals that are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and stress. To survive, they must occupy pristine places that contain enough sand and shelter. Therefore, it is extremely not recommended to start them as pets - it will be difficult for a person to recreate the desert climate necessary for the animal.
Appearance
The clad armadillo, or “pink fairy” is the smallest of the armadillo family. The length of his body is 9-11 cm (not counting the tail), and the weight usually does not exceed 200 g. The color of the fur and shell is light pink in color, due to which he got his nickname.
The fur, unusual for armadillos, has an important function of thermoregulation, without which a nocturnal animal could not survive in a changing climate. The armor is the visiting card of the Bronnossevs, and the "pink fairy" also has it. True, its shell is much softer and more flexible. It is located close enough to the body, and blood vessels are visible through the armor. It is also the only battleship in which the shell is not fully adjacent to the body.
The clad armadillo may curl up to protect the vulnerable soft underside, covered with thick white hair. The armored shell consists of 24 bands that allow the animal to curl into a ball. At the back, it is flattened so that the battleship can tamp the ground when it digs. This is believed to help prevent the destruction of tunnels.
Lifestyle
In the wild, lamellar armadillos are nocturnal. The animal has two massive sets of claws on the fore and hind limbs that help to quickly dig holes in compacted soil. He was nicknamed the "sand swimmer" because they say that he can "break through the ground as fast as a fish can swim in the sea." These claws are very large relative to the size of the body of the animal, and prevent it from walking on a hard surface. A torpedo-shaped body reduces the amount of resistance that an armadillo can encounter while working in underground tunnels. A thick bare tail is needed for balance during digging.
Armadillos dig holes near the anthills and feed on their inhabitants. They also include worms, snails, various insects and larvae, as well as some plant roots.
Like most armadillos, they rely mainly 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 - they were too few to catch. Native tribes assure that the mother wears her cubs under carapace.
