Species Showdown
vs. Other Armadillos
There are 21 armadillo species on Earth. They range from 4 inches to 5 feet. One always has quadruplets. Two can roll into a ball. One was a World Cup mascot. Only one is pink.
21
Known species
2
Families (Dasypodidae & Chlamyphoridae)
9
Genera
1
Found in the US (nine-banded)
Size Scale
How big (or small) the pink fairy armadillo is compared to everyday objects and its relatives.
Pint-Sized Tanks
“Pink Fairy Armadillos are Pint Sized Tanks” — Animalogic
Notable Species
10 of the 21 armadillo species, from smallest to largest. Each one is stranger than the last.
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Our StarChlamyphorus truncatus
Size
3.5-4.5 in
Weight
120g (4.2 oz)
Range
Central Argentina only
Smallest armadillo. Pink shell attached like a fingernail. Dies within 8 days in captivity. No zoo has one.
Greater Fairy Armadillo (Chacoan)
Calyptophractus retusus
Size
5.5-7 in
Weight
300g (10.6 oz)
Range
Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina
The pink fairy's slightly bigger cousin. Also rare. Associated with death omens in Guarani folklore.
Pichi (Dwarf)
Zaedyus pichiy
Size
10-14 in
Weight
1-2 kg (2-4.4 lbs)
Range
Southern South America
Can hibernate — one of the few armadillos that enters true torpor. Named from the same Araucanian word as pichiciego.
Six-Banded Armadillo
Euphractus sexcinctus
Size
16-20 in
Weight
3.5-6.5 kg (8-14 lbs)
Range
South America
One of the most omnivorous armadillos — eats plants, insects, carrion, and even small vertebrates. Sometimes called the 'yellow armadillo.'
Nine-Banded Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
Size
15-23 in
Weight
2.5-6.5 kg (5.5-14 lbs)
Range
Americas (only armadillo in the US)
Always gives birth to genetically identical quadruplets. The only armadillo found in the United States. Can hold its breath for 6 minutes to walk across riverbeds.
Seven-Banded Armadillo
Dasypus septemcinctus
Size
10-12 in
Weight
1-1.5 kg (2.2-3.3 lbs)
Range
Eastern South America
Despite its name, usually has 6-7 bands. Often confused with the nine-banded armadillo. Much smaller than its famous cousin.
Southern Three-Banded Armadillo
Tolypeutes matacus
Size
8-11 in
Weight
1-1.6 kg (2.2-3.5 lbs)
Range
South America
One of only two armadillo species that can roll into a complete ball. Inspired the 2014 FIFA World Cup mascot 'Fuleco.'
Brazilian Three-Banded Armadillo
Tolypeutes tricinctus
Size
8-11 in
Weight
1-1.8 kg (2.2-4 lbs)
Range
Eastern Brazil
The other ball-rolling armadillo. Classified as Vulnerable. Was the official mascot of the 2014 World Cup (Fuleco) — yet its habitat continued to shrink during and after the event.
Large Hairy Armadillo
Chaetophractus villosus
Size
12-16 in
Weight
2-5 kg (4.4-11 lbs)
Range
Southern South America
The hairiest armadillo. Hair sticks out between shell bands. Sir David Attenborough narrated footage of this species during mating. It was exactly as awkward as you'd imagine.
Giant Armadillo
Priodontes maximus
Size
30-39 in body (59 in total)
Weight
19-54 kg (42-119 lbs)
Range
South America
The largest armadillo species. Has up to 100 teeth — more than any other land mammal. Can weigh as much as a large dog. Classified as Vulnerable.
What Makes the Pink Fairy Different
Shell Attachment
Pink Fairy
Attached only along a thin spinal membrane — essentially a cape. Can detach fatally.
Other Armadillos
Shell is fused to the skeleton with bony plates. Structurally part of the body.
Shell Flexibility
Pink Fairy
Soft, flexible, semi-transparent keratin. You can see blood vessels through it.
Other Armadillos
Rigid, opaque armor. Some species (nine-banded) have been reported to deflect low-caliber bullets.
Captivity Survival
Pink Fairy
Dies within 8 days. No zoo has ever maintained one long-term.
Other Armadillos
Nine-banded armadillos thrive in captivity. Giant armadillos can be kept in specialized facilities.
Thermoregulation
Pink Fairy
Pumps blood to its shell to cool down (turns pinker). Drains blood to warm up (turns paler).
Other Armadillos
Most armadillos regulate temperature through burrowing depth and activity timing.
Defense Strategy
Pink Fairy
Buries itself in sand within seconds. Uses butt plate to seal burrow entrance.
Other Armadillos
Three-banded armadillos roll into a ball. Nine-banded armadillos jump straight up (startling predators).
The World Cup Armadillo
The Brazilian three-banded armadillo was the official mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. They named him Fuleco (a combination of futebol and ecologia). The idea was to raise awareness about the species, which is classified as Vulnerable.
The irony? During and after the World Cup, the three-banded armadillo's habitat continued to shrink. The mascot generated awareness but not enough action. Sound familiar?
Keep Exploring
Pink Fairy Armadillo
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Read moreSubpage25 Mind-Blowing Facts
It blushing to cool down is just the beginning.
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