Chlamyphoridae

Unlike their more familiar cousins in Dasypodidae, which include the well-known nine-banded armadillo, the chlamyphorids are often smaller, scruffier, and far more specialized. Found across South America, they are masters of life underground, perfectly adapted for burrowing through sandy soils, dry scrublands, and open plains. Their bodies are clad in the classic armadillo armor of bony plates, but their proportions, habits, and quirks make them some of the oddest mammals alive today.

One of the hallmarks of chlamyphorids is their burrowing lifestyle. With powerful claws, compact bodies, and strong forelimbs, they dig extensive tunnels, sometimes disappearing beneath the surface as if “swimming” through sand. This digging not only gives them safety from predators but also makes them important ecosystem engineers: their burrows provide shelter for other animals, and their soil-turning improves aeration and nutrient cycling. While they look slow and awkward on the surface, in loose soil they are surprisingly quick and efficient, vanishing in moments when threatened.

Many species in this family have coarse hairs sticking out between their armor plates, giving them a shaggy, scruffy look that sets them apart from their sleeker relatives. Their armor tends to be lighter and more flexible, allowing for greater underground maneuverability. These traits reflect a life closer to the soil than the surface. Their diets, too, are tied to this subterranean existence: they feed mainly on insects, grubs, and roots, making them crucial in controlling invertebrate populations while recycling nutrients in their ecosystems.