{"id":35946,"date":"2024-02-08T11:37:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T10:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/03b7dcdb-0e4b-4a5c-afbc-2a9217159df5"},"modified":"2024-02-08T12:36:54","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T11:36:54","slug":"almost-mythical-and-incredibly-cute-pink-fairy-armadillo-even-stranger-than-first-thought-say-scientists","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/almost-mythical-and-incredibly-cute-pink-fairy-armadillo-even-stranger-than-first-thought-say-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Almost mythical and incredibly cute pink fairy armadillo even stranger than first thought, say scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The extremely rare desert-dwelling armadillo, endemic to central Argentina, looks a bit like a shrimp with claws and spends most of its life underground. Now, new research has revealed that the mammal has ‘entirely unique’ double skin too… <\/p>

By Megan Shersby\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 08 February 2024 at 10:37 AM<\/p>

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A recent study published in the\u00a0Journal of Zoology<\/em><\/a>\u00a0examined the unusual double skin of the pink fairy armadillo, which is unique among armadillos \u2013 and among mammals. This is the first study on the integumentary system \u2013 the layer including skin and hair \u2013 of the species.<\/p>

The pink fairy armadillo has a pink-coloured leathery layer of skin, known as a dorsal shield, covering its back, which contains cornified scales made of keratin and bony deposits called osteoderms. It is only connected to the body along the dorsal mid-line, and is relatively soft and flexible compared to the skin of other armadillos.<\/p>

Underneath this outer layer is another inner layer, from which silky, white hairs grow. These hairs are flexible, allowing the armadillo to move more easily through its tunnels.<\/p>

The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) has a layer of skin, known as a dorsal shield, covering its back. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cMy research focuses on the integumentary system of mammals, with a significant portion of my work conducted on armadillos,\u201d says biologist Cecilia Krmpotic, lead author of the paper. <\/p>

\u201cI suspected it would be very different in the pink fairy armadillo \u2013 the duplication of the dorsal skin is something entirely unique, coupled with the structural modification of the dorsal shield compared to other armadillos.\u201d<\/p>

“Little is known about the pink fairy armadillo or its population size.”<\/p><\/blockquote>

Thanks to its fossorial nature, little is known about the pink fairy armadillo or its population size, and as a result, it is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. <\/p>

\u201cUnfortunately I\u2019ve never seen one,\u201d adds Krmpotic. \u201cThey are extremely rare little animals to see in their natural habitat. There is still a lot to discover about this species.”<\/p>

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The pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) spends most of its life underground. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>