Pichi: Difference between revisions
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The carapace varies from light yellow to blackish, and consists of heavy scapular and pelvic shields comprised of rectangular [[osteoderm]]s, and separated by from six to eight movable bands. An additional "nuchal" band lies in front of the scapular shield, and there is also a triangular shield on top of the head, and further osteoderms along the tail. The underside of the animal has a coat of tan-coloured hairs, which is thicker and longer in winter; there are also a few long hairs protruding through small holes near the posterior edge of some of the scales. Pichis have well-developed claws on all four feet. The ears are short, and the eyes dark and relatively small.<ref name=Superina2014/> |
The carapace varies from light yellow to blackish, and consists of heavy scapular and pelvic shields comprised of rectangular [[osteoderm]]s, and separated by from six to eight movable bands. An additional "nuchal" band lies in front of the scapular shield, and there is also a triangular shield on top of the head, and further osteoderms along the tail. The underside of the animal has a coat of tan-coloured hairs, which is thicker and longer in winter; there are also a few long hairs protruding through small holes near the posterior edge of some of the scales. Pichis have well-developed claws on all four feet. The ears are short, and the eyes dark and relatively small.<ref name=Superina2014/> |
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Pichis have eight teeth on each side of the upper jaw, and nine on the lower. The absence of teeth on the [[premaxllary]] bone of the upper jaw is one of the features that allows them to be distinguished from other, similar, armadillos, such as the [[six-banded armadillo]].<ref name=Superina2014/> Females have two [[teat]]s, located in the chest region, and, like most armadillos, lack a true [[vagina]], instead having a single urogenital [[sinus]] about {{convert|18|mm|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=Cetica2005>{{cite journal | author = Cetica, P.D., et al. | year = 2005 | title = Morphology of female genital tracts in Dasypodidae (Xenarthra, Mammalia): a comparative survey | journal = Zoomorphology | volume = 124 | issue = 2 | pages = 57-65 | doi = 10.1007/s00435-005-0111-5}}</ref> The male's penis is unusually long among mammals, being about 60% of the total body length.<ref name=Superina2012>{{cite journal | author = Superina, M. & Loughry, W.J. | year = 2012 | title = Life on the half-shell: consequences of a carapace in the evolution of armadillos | journal = Journal of Mammalian Evolution | volume = 19 | issue = 3 | pages = 217-224 | doi = 10.1007/s10914-011-9166-x}}</ref> |
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==Distribution and habitat== |
==Distribution and habitat== |
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Revision as of 18:17, 19 July 2014
| Pichi | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
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| Genus: | Zaedyus
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| Species: | Z. pichiy
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| Binomial name | |
| Zaedyus pichiy | |
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| Pichi range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Dasypus minutus Desmarest, 1822 | |
The pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) or dwarf armadillo is a small armadillo that is the only member of the genus Zaedyus.
Description
Pichis are relatively small armadillos, measuring approximately 27 cm (11 in) long, with a tail of about 11 cm (4.3 in). Adults weigh anything from 700 to 1,500 grams (25 to 53 oz), and males may be slightly larger than females, although this is not certain.[2]
The carapace varies from light yellow to blackish, and consists of heavy scapular and pelvic shields comprised of rectangular osteoderms, and separated by from six to eight movable bands. An additional "nuchal" band lies in front of the scapular shield, and there is also a triangular shield on top of the head, and further osteoderms along the tail. The underside of the animal has a coat of tan-coloured hairs, which is thicker and longer in winter; there are also a few long hairs protruding through small holes near the posterior edge of some of the scales. Pichis have well-developed claws on all four feet. The ears are short, and the eyes dark and relatively small.[2]
Pichis have eight teeth on each side of the upper jaw, and nine on the lower. The absence of teeth on the premaxllary bone of the upper jaw is one of the features that allows them to be distinguished from other, similar, armadillos, such as the six-banded armadillo.[2] Females have two teats, located in the chest region, and, like most armadillos, lack a true vagina, instead having a single urogenital sinus about 18 mm (0.71 in) in length.[3] The male's penis is unusually long among mammals, being about 60% of the total body length.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Pichis are found from central and southern Argentina (Patagonia), west to the Andean grasslands of Chile, and south to the Strait of Magellan. Within this region, it most commonly inhabits arid or semiarid steppe grasslands, but may be found in other environments if they have sandy soils suitable for burrowing.[1]
Subspecies
- Zaedyus pichiy caurinus Thomas, 1928
- Zaedyus pichiy pichiy Desmarest, 1804
Behaviour
When threatened, the pichi wedges itself into its shallow burrow making it difficult for an attacker to drag it out because of its jagged scales and/ or roll up into a ball.
References
- ^ a b Template:IUCN2008
- ^ a b c Superina, M. & Abba, A.M. (2014). "Zaedyus pichiy (Cingulata: Dasypodidae)". Mammalian Species. 46 (905): 1–10. doi:10.1644/905.1.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Cetica, P.D.; et al. (2005). "Morphology of female genital tracts in Dasypodidae (Xenarthra, Mammalia): a comparative survey". Zoomorphology. 124 (2): 57–65. doi:10.1007/s00435-005-0111-5.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ Superina, M. & Loughry, W.J. (2012). "Life on the half-shell: consequences of a carapace in the evolution of armadillos". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 19 (3): 217–224. doi:10.1007/s10914-011-9166-x.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
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