"Pink Fairy Armadillos: Unusual Double Skin Sets Them Apart from Other Mammals"

Pink fairy armadillos, the smallest armadillo species, have a unique double skin with an outer layer housing cornified scales and osteoderms, and an inner layer with fine white fur, making it a unique feature among mammals. Their protective armor, divided into two zones, serves to protect against predators and support their underground lifestyle. The evolution towards a completely subterranean lifestyle in their ancestral lineage is estimated to have taken place between 32 and 17 million years ago, driven by changing environmental conditions. The armadillo's body covering is similar to that of other subterranean mammals and has highly flexible hairs that help it move through underground tunnels.