Premium
Husbandry of a pink fairy armadillo ( Chlamyphorus truncatus ): case study of a cryptic and little known species in captivity
Author(s) -
Superina Mariella
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.20334
Subject(s) - armadillo , captivity , biology , fossorial , insectivore , extant taxon , zoology , animal husbandry , ecology , xenarthra , habitat , evolutionary biology , agriculture
Pink fairy armadillos, Chlamyphorus truncatus , are poorly known fossorial mammals that are endemic to central Argentina. These smallest of all extant armadillos are rarely observed in the field and extremely difficult to maintain under captive conditions. This case study describes the husbandry of a male pink fairy armadillo that was maintained in an artificial environment for 8 months. A stable, undisturbed environment consisting of abundant compact sand and hiding places on the surface was the key to its successful maintenance. The artificial diet consisted of a semiliquid mixture of ground cat food, insectivore diet, mashed banana, vitamins, and minerals. Any slight modification to its environment or diet triggered a stress response. Zoo Biol 30:225–231, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.