INTRODUCTION

The pink fairy armadillo Chlamyphorus truncatus was described by Harlan (1835), who used its native name “pichiciago”, mentioned by Mr. William Colesberry when presenting a specimen to the Philadelphia Museum. The pink fairy armadillo is a desert-adapted, strictly subterranean armadillo (Cei, 1967; Borghi et al., 2002) endemic to central Argentina, where it inhabits sandy plains, dunes, and scrubby grasslands dominated by sparse shrubs of creosotebush (Larrea spp.) and by Portulaca plants in the wet season (spring and summer).

This species is the smallest living armadillo (Dasypodidae), and is amongst the least known subterranean mammals. It has minute eyes; its fine silky fur is yellowish white and its flexible dorsal shell of about 24 bands is attached to the body only by a thin dorsal membrane. A vertical plate at the rear of the carapace gives it a rather blunt end (to which the name truncatus refers), from which a spatula-shaped tail protrudes (Minoprio, 1945; Guiñazú Rawson de Arentsen, 1956).

Yepes (1928, 1929, 1931, 1932), Minoprio (1945), Guiñazú Rawson de Arentsen (1956), Cei (1967), and Meritt (1985) have reported on the natural history and geographical distribution of pink fairy armadillos. They have nocturnal and solitary habits and a diet largely composed of insects (mainly ants and beetles), worms, snails, and small amounts of roots and other plant parts (Minoprio, 1945; Guinazu Rawson de Arentsen, 1956; Cei, 1967).

The conservation status of the pink fairy armadillo is uncertain. It is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Superina et al., 2009) but a decline in distribution and abundance is generally accepted (Lagiglia, 1956; Roig, 1995; Ojeda & Diaz, 1997; Diaz & Ojeda, 2000; Superina, 2006; Aguiar & Fonseca, 2008; Superina et al., 2009). This perceived decline has been associated with farming activities, particularly large-scale plowing, as well as with predation by domestic dogs and cats (Minoprio, 1945; Lagiglia, 1956; Fonseca & Aguiar, 2004; Aguiar & Fonseca, 2008; Superina et al., 2009; Abba & Superina, 2010).

Here we review the historical and current distribution of the pink fairy armadillo, and address the following questions: 1. Are there sites with recurrent records of the species, indicating long-term persistence?, and 2. Do the current location data show a reduction of its historical range?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We obtained data on distribution and collection date from the literature, museum and private collections, carcasses, and live animals observed or captured by rural people and field researchers. Specimen data were collated from the following collections: Muse Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Buenos Aires, Argentina (MACN); Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas, CCT CONICET Mendoza, Argentina (CMI); and Museo Municipal de Historia Natural, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina (MMHN).

In addition, informal, unstructured, and openended interviews were conducted throughout the species range, targeting key informants, including park rangers, field biologists, farm hands (locally referred as “puesteros”), and rural school students and teachers. Interviewees were asked for details of any observations of pink fairy armadillos, including location, habitat, date and natural history, and were confronted with photos of the species to confirm the correct identification (Rabinowitz, 2003). Whenever there was more than one record in a single location, independent of the time scale involved, we considered it to be a recurrent record. Records were grouped into four categories (date of last record for recurrent records): those without a precise date, prior to 1980 (i.e., historical distribution), between 1981 and 1993 (i.e., recent records), and from 1994 to present (i.e., current records). Only the records assigned to a precise location were plotted on the map. The historical distribution of the species is represented using the map in Yepes (1929).

RESULTS

A total of 96 records were collected, of which 91 included date of collection or observation. Of these, 69 records had detailed locality information (TABLE 1). Most records (58%) corresponded to museum collections, 26% to key informants, 14% were collated from the literature and from observed or captured live animals, and 1% from a field record of a carapace. Records came mainly from the provinces of Mendoza (54%), San Luis (10%), Buenos Aires (10%), La Pampa (9%), and San Juan (7%) (TABLE 1).

We added new registers to the historical distribution of the species, in the south of Mendoza, north of Río Negro and the south of Buenos Aires (FIG. 1). We found 12 sites with recurrent pink fairy armadillo records (FiG. 1 AND TABLE 1): seven in Mendoza, three in Buenos Aires, one in La Pampa, and one in San Juan. Of the 91 records precisely dated, 45 were classified as historical (1896–1980), 14 as recent (1981–1993), and 32 as current (1994 to present). The rate at which these records were accrued was 0.5 records/year prior to 1980,1.2 records/year between 1981 and 1993, and 1.9 records/year since 1994.

Several sites with recurrent records were registered across the range, but were more abundant in Mendoza and Buenos Aires provinces. Recurrent records from 1994 to date were found in Telteca, Divisader o, Ñacuñán, Monte Comán, El Nihuil, Canalejas (Mendoza), Carro Quemado (La Pampa), Monte Hermoso, Sauce Grande and Chasico (Buenos Aires), and Valle Fértil (San Juan) (TABLE 1). Eight of these registers correspond to sites with recent (post—2000) records. TABLE 1 indicates the differences between the first and the last register for all recurrent records.

DISCUSSION

Populations of the pink fairy armadillo persist throughout most of its historical range, as indicated by the records we collated (FIG. 1). The distribution of reports and recurrent records presented here reflects a close relationship between frequency of registers and presence of field researchers specifically interested in the species (V. Roig, C. E. Borghi, and M. Superina in Mendoza, C. E. Borghi in San Juan). Due to their nocturnal and subterranean habits, these animals are extremely difficult to observe; consequently, there is a paucity of population data, and the conservation status of extant populations remains unknown. Nevertheless, the rate at which records are collated has increased over the last century, with the current accrual rate being the highest. This may be due to various reasons, such as the existence of more roads/trails, greater vehicle access, or more people working in rural environments (e.g., rangers, NGO personnel, rural school teachers). Thus, even though the populations of the species might be declining, greater field activities in the species range might explain the higher number of pink fairy armadillo encounters observed in recent times. Recent recurrent records of the species (post-2000) suggest that, at least in some localities across the historical range, populations of C. truncatus still persist.

FIGURE 1.

Updated distribution of Chlamyphorus truncatus. Records were grouped into three categories: prior to 1980; between 1981 and 1993; and from 1994 to date. Grey symbols indicate only one record and black symbols indicate recurrent records in the same location. Numbers correspond to location reference numbers (SEE TABLE 1). Dashed line: Distribution of C. truncatus redrawn from Yepes (1929), indicated for comparative purposes.

TABLE 1.

Locations of Chlamyphorus truncatus examined in this study, induding province, locality, type of record and number of reference or source, years between recurrent records, location coordinates, and reference numbers (see Figure 1). Type of records: collection (C), reports from the literature (R), living or dead individuals found in the field or recorded during interviews during this study (L), mention in newspapers with a photograph (N).

CONTINUED

There are no recent records on the southern, northern, and eastern fringes of the species range, largely due to the paucity of field research undertaken in those areas since 1980. Thus, no assumptions can be made about the persistence of the species there. In contrast, we show new registers in areas outside the historical distribution described by Yepes (1929) (FIG. 1).

Ultimately, the conservation of the pink fairy armadillo would depend on the persistence of arid and semiarid habitats where the species occurs. The main threats to pink fairy armadillos are related to degradation and loss of habitats due to land clearing for commercial agriculture and overgrazing (Morello, 1985; Ojeda et al., 2002; Tabeni & Ojeda, 2005; Vilela et al., 2009), with the rapid expansion of agriculture in the western and northern parts of the species' range being of greatest concern (Abba & Superina, 2010). Current development policy in this region includes a rapid increase in land devoted to vineyards, olive groves, and other intensive crops suited to sandy soils (Vilela et al., 2009). Additionally, predation by feral and farm dogs and cats has been suggested as a major direct threat to pink fairy armadillos (Minoprio, 1945; Lagiglia, 1956), but its real impact remains unknown. The presence of wild boar (Sus scroja), an exotic species introduced to Argentina in the last century (Novillo & Ojeda, 2008; Cuevas et al., 2010), might also have a negative impact on pink fairy armadillos due to their disruptive foraging habits. Although there are recurrent records of pink fairy armadillos in Ñacuñán, Telteca, and other protected areas, it is uncertain whether there is a fully protected viable population in these reserves. Unfortunately, even in these protected areas the pink fairy armadillo is vulnerable to predation by the ever present dogs and cats.

Field studies are needed to better understand the ecology of this rare, little-known species, and the effects on its populations of agricultural activities, extensive livestock farming, interactions with wild boar, and predation by domestic predators. Also, as feeders of soil fauna and plant matter, it has been suggested that armadillos may be exposed to agricultural toxins and pesticides (Herbst et al., 1989). Although the effects of these compounds on pink fairy armadillos have not been evaluated, organophosphate insecticides are used in vineyards and olive crops to control leaf-cutting ants (M. Battistella, pers. comm.). Since pink fairy armadillos chiefly eat ants (Redford, 1985), the use of agricultural pesticides potentially poses one of the greatest threats to their persistence.