Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Enrique Bragayrac and is used with permission.
CHACO FAIRY ARMADILLO Calyptophractus retusus CHACO
Smith P 2008 - FAUNA Paraguay Handbook of the Mammals of Paraguay Number 20 Chaco Fairy Armadillo Calyptophractus retusus
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Though this may look like a recently born individual, it is actually the adult of the weirdest of all the armadillos. This species lives most of its life underground in the remotest areas of the Chaco, so it is rarely seen. Adaptations for digging include reduced eyes and ears and enlarged claws on the forefeet. Big enough to fit into the palm of your hand, you may think this little fella was harmless enough, and you´d be right - unless of course you are a member of one of the indigenous tribes of the Chaco. They believe that seeing one of these armadillos is an ill omen and foretells the death of a family member!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
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FIGURE 1 - (FPMAM67PH) Adult, PN Tte Enciso del Chaco, Departamento Boquerón (Enrique Bragayrac undated).
LINKS TO DOWNLOADABLE OPEN ACCESS REFERENCES USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE FAUNA PARAGUAY HANDBOOK OF THE MAMMALS OF PARAGUAY SPECIES ACCOUNT FOR THIS SPECIES:
Cuéllar E 2001 - The Tatujeikurajoyava (Chlamyphorus retusus) in the Izozog Communities of the Bolivian Gran Chaco - Edentata 4: p14-15.
Edentate Specialist Group 2004 - Species Summaries - Edentata 6: p3-26.
Myers P, Espinosa R, Parr CS, Jones T, Hammond GS, Dewey A 2006 - The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed December 2007.
