A small, tough, and surprisingly adorable armadillo native to the dry grasslands and scrublands of Argentina and Chile. It belongs to the family Chlamyphoridae, making it a relative of other quirky burrowing armadillos like the pink fairy armadillo and the screaming hairy armadillo. It’s the only armadillo known to hibernate, which is one of the key things that sets it apart from the rest of its armored cousins. This makes it uniquely adapted to colder, drier climates where temperatures can drop dramatically in winter—a rarity among armadillos, which usually prefer warm, tropical regions.

One of the pichi’s most distinct features is its compact, rounded body covered in hard, bony plates. These plates form a tough armor that protects it from predators, and while it can’t roll into a ball like the famous three-banded armadillo, it can wedge itself into burrows or lie flat against the ground with its tough shell exposed, like a living shield. It has a pointed snout, strong digging claws, and coarse, bristly fur poking out from between its armor bands. That fur helps it stay warm in colder climates, another unique trait for an armadillo.

The pichi is a solitary and mostly nocturnal creature, spending much of its time underground in self-dug burrows. It is a skilled digger and can create extensive tunnel systems that it uses for sleeping, hiding, and even escaping heat or cold. It feeds on a wide range of food—insects, larvae, worms, roots, and even small vertebrates or carrion—making it a true opportunistic omnivore. Unlike some armadillos that live in wetter habitats, the pichi has evolved to thrive in arid, open environments, and its behavior reflects that. When food is scarce or temperatures drop, it can enter a state of hibernation or torpor, slowing its metabolism and waiting out the harsh season—something no other armadillo species is known to do.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Argentina

2024

Chile

2024