A recent study published in the Journal of Zoology examined the unusual double skin of the pink fairy armadillo, which is unique among armadillos – and among mammals. This is the first study on the integumentary system – the layer including skin and hair – of the species.
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.
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.
“My research focuses on the integumentary system of mammals, with a significant portion of my work conducted on armadillos,” says biologist Cecilia Krmpotic, lead author of the paper.
“I suspected it would be very different in the pink fairy armadillo – the duplication of the dorsal skin is something entirely unique, coupled with the structural modification of the dorsal shield compared to other armadillos.”
"Little is known about the pink fairy armadillo or its population size."
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.
“Unfortunately I’ve never seen one,” adds Krmpotic. “They are extremely rare little animals to see in their natural habitat. There is still a lot to discover about this species."
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Find out more about the study: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
