Gallery: Absurd Creature of the Week: Pink Fairy Armadillo Crawls Out of the Desert and Into Your Heart

  • Image may contain Human Person Animal Wildlife Finger Mammal and Armadillo
    Mariella Superina/Paul Vogt
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    C

    The pink fairy armadillo comes in a convenient handheld size. No touchy, though, unless you're a scientist. They're very easily stressed.
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    Mariella Superina
    02

    Pink fairy armadillo-MSuperina

    Its massive claws make short work of the substrate through which it digs. They're so big, in fact, that the armadillo, like the town drunk, struggles to walk on hard surfaces.
  • Image may contain Animal Wildlife Mammal and Armadillo
    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tatou_tronqu%C3%A9.JPG">Wikimedia</a>
    03

    Tatou-tronque

    The pink fairy armadillo has extremely fine white hair for thermoregulation. And I ain't even mad about its weird claws. Just look at that critter. It's like magic – with enormous claws.
  • Image may contain Plant Finger Human and Person
    Mariella Superina
    04

    P1010076

    The pink fairy armadillo's tail acts as a kind of "fifth leg," affording it better stability while digging with its forelimbs. Admittedly, it's not the cutest bit of the animal. But no one is perfect.
  • Image may contain Animal Wildlife Armadillo and Mammal
    Mariella Superina
    05

    IMG-0864

    It uses its flat bum like a tractor, compacting the dirt behind it as it advances underground.
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