Climate fluctuations as a cause of rarity in fairy armadillos

摘要: Despite having a moderately large distributional area, both the pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus) and particularly Chacoan (Calyptophractus retusus), which are among least known xenarthrans, appear to be rare or patchily distributed. Although low density in species with range sizes has been associated body size, this is not case for armadillos. We propose that past climate variations may have caused their current densities, evaluate retractions expansions of suitable areas armadillos by extrapolating consensus habitat suitability models fitted climatic conditions conditions. found great variation area along time species, drastic reduction Last Interglacial (LIG) period when compared situation. Both during LIG were more pronounced Calyptophractus than Chlamyphorus. postulate extreme reductions could cause delay recovery populations, resulting densities despite benign times allowing widespread distribution.