![]() ![]() ![]() "The flexibility and lightness of the dorsal shield enable it to adapt to the shape of the tunnels," Krmpotic said. Its unique external characteristics are likely an adaptation to a life spent digging through sandy soil. The structure of pink fairy armadillos' epidermis, or skin, with scales is similar to that seen in juveniles from other armadillo species, where the scales are still developing. ![]() Adorable but deadly little wildcat may be inbreeding at 'alarming' rates, study finds Some female meerkats have a brutal, bloodthirsty streak, and now we may know why Scientists may have finally figured out how elephants got their incredible trunks This shift was driven by changing environmental conditions that led to more arid ecosystems in southern South America, she added. "The evolution towards a completely subterranean lifestyle in the fairy armadillo's ancestral lineage is estimated to have taken place between 32 and 17 million years ago," Krmpotic said. While their larger relatives spend significant amounts of time at the surface, pink fairy armadillos live mostly underground. ![]() The armor serves both to protect against potential predators and to support the animal's underground lifestyle. The dorsal shield is further divided into a pectoral buckler, covering the upper back - made up of a series of moveable bands that enables the animal to retain flexibility - and a pelvic buckler covering the posterior region. The protective armor of a pink fairy armadillo is typically divided into two zones: one shield covers the head, while a dorsal shield covers the rest of the body, Krmpotic said. Related: Shimmering golden mole thought extinct photographed and filmed over 80 years after last sighting ![]()
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