North American fairy armadillo (SciiFii)

The North American fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus californicum), also known as the northern fairy armadillo, is the a species of armadillo (mammals of the families Chlamyphoridae and Dasypodidae, recognized by a bony armor shell), that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, scrublands, and deserts across North America to help boost biodiversity. The North American fairy armadillo is one of the smallest species of armadillo, only growing on average to be about 90–115 mm (3.5–4.5 inches) long, and typically weighs about 120 grams (4.2 oz). It vaguely resembles the pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) in appearance, but with a thicker fur to combat the freezing temperatures in most of its native range. The North American fairy armadillos have small eyes, silky yellowish white fur, and a flexible dorsal shell that is solely attached to its body by a thin dorsal membrane. In addition, its spatula-shaped tail protrudes from a vertical plate at the blunt rear of its shell. This species exhibits nocturnal and solitary habits and has a diet that is mainly composed of insects, worms, snails, and various plant parts. It is a nocturnal burrowing mammal that uses its massive sets of claws on its front and hind limbs help it to dig the burrows in compacted soil very quickly. The North American fairy armadillo is nicknamed the "sand-swimmer" because it is said that it can "burrow through the ground as fast as a fish can swim in the sea". The claws are large relatively to the size of the animal, hindering its ability to walk on a hard surface. Along with these unique traits, the North American fairy armadillo has greatly reduced eyes and relies highly on touch and hearing to navigate. It also has a torpedo-shaped body in order to reduce the amount of drag it may encounter while working in tunnels and a thick tail that it uses for balance and stability while using its other limbs to dig. The conservation status of the North American fairy armadillo is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American fairy armadillo's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii