Updated Distribution of the Pink Fairy Armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae), the World's Smallest Armadillo

The distribution and ecology of the pink fairy armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus, the world’s smallest armadillo, are poorly understood due largely to the strictly subterranean habits of this species. We compiled records from the literature, museum and private collections, information from rural peop...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Borghi, Carlos Eduardo, Campos, Claudia Monica, Giannoni, Stella Maris, Campos, Valeria Evelin, Sillero-Zubiri, Claudio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/56208
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/56208
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:ARGENTINA
CONSERVATION
DRYLAND
SUBTERRANEAN MAMMAL
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:The distribution and ecology of the pink fairy armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus, the world’s smallest armadillo, are poorly understood due largely to the strictly subterranean habits of this species. We compiled records from the literature, museum and private collections, information from rural people, and researchers to update the species’ current distribution and conservation threats. Recent records suggest that populations of C. truncatus persist in localities along most of the species’ historical range, including at least 12 sites with recurrent pink fairy armadillo records. We added new registers outside the historical distribution; south of Mendoza province, north of Río Negro province and south of Buenos Aires province, effectively extending the species range. The rate at which new records are accrued has increased, arguably reflecting a greater interest in the species and greater presence of field workers in the species range. The conservation of the pink fairy armadillo depends on the maintenance of the arid and semiarid habitats where this species occurs, with commercial agriculture, pesticides, extensive livestock farming, and predation by domestic dogs and cats, posing the threats of greatest concern.