Pichi

Description

The pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) or dwarf armadillo is a small armadillo native to Argentina and Chile.It is the only living member of the genus Zaedyus,and the only armadillo to hibernate.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.The carapace varies from light yellow to near-black,and consists of heavy scapular and pelvic shields composed of rectangular osteoderms,and separated by 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 hair,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.Pichis have eight teeth on each side of the upper jaw,and nine on the lower.The absence of teeth on the premaxillary 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.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.The male's penis is unusually long among mammals,being about 60% of the total body length.