Edentata 11(2), 2010 - Anteater, Sloth & Armadillo Specialist Group

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Figure 5. Cyclopes didactylus, northeastern Brazil subpopulation. Based on Wetzel (1982); Wetzel (1985); Fonseca et al. (1996); Gardner (2007);Aguiar and Fonseca (2008); Miranda and Superina (2010).102Edentata no. 11(2) • 2010
Myrmecophaga tridactylaVulnerable (VU A2c)Photograph: Flávia MirandaCommon Names: Giant anteater (English), oso hormiguero(Spanish), oso palmero (Spanish), oso caballo(Spanish), hormiguero gigante (Spanish), banderóncaballo (Spanish), tamanduá bandeira (Portuguese),grand fourmilier (French), tamanoir (French).Assessment Rationale: M. tridactyla is geographicallywidespread, but there have been many records ofpopulation extirpation, especially in Central America(where it is considered the most threatened mammal)and the southern parts of its range. The dietary specificity,low reproductive rates, large body size, alongwith threats to habitat degradation in many partsof its range, have proved to be significant factors inits decline. The giant anteater is currently listed ina threatened category in virtually all regional andnational Red Lists. A population loss of at least 30%over the past 10 years has been estimated based onlocal extinctions, habitat loss, and deaths caused byfires and roadkills. Because of the real threats to thisspecies and the noticeable declines, a precautionaryassessment of Vulnerable is given. More data andpopulation monitoring is required for this species,and a re-assessment is recommended as soon as additionalinformation becomes available.Taxonomic Note: Three subspecies are recognized byGardner (2007).Geographic Range: M. tridactyla has been recordedfrom Honduras in Central America, south throughSouth America to the Gran Chaco region of Bolivia,Paraguay and Argentina (Fig. 6). Within CentralAmerica, the species has disappeared from much ofits range, with recent sightings generally confined tohighland regions. Its presence in Ecuador west of theAndes needs to be confirmed. Its extent of occurrenceis estimated at 12,500,000 km 2 .Population: M. tridactyla is locally uncommon to rare.Habitat loss, roadkills, and wildfires are substantiallyaffecting the wild populations and have led to a continuingdecline in mature individuals. A populationreduction of 30% has been estimated based on criterionA2c (see glossary). The causes for this populationreduction are understood and have not ceased; it isunknown whether they are reversible.Habitats and Ecology: This terrestrial anteater is foundin tropical moist forest, dry forest, savanna habitatsand open grasslands; it has also been reported from theGran Chaco (Meritt, 2008; Noss et al., 2008). Conversionof suitable habitat to soybean and sugarcaneplantations is affecting the Brazilian subpopulations.There is also habitat loss in other range countries. Animalsare generally solitary. Males and females reachreproductive maturity at two years of age. Once peryear, the female gives birth to a single young. Gestationlength is about 190 days. The mother carries theoffspring on its back for approximately six months.As it is not possible to determine their age once theyreach adult size and long-term population studies ongiant anteaters are lacking, there are no data on thelongevity, survival rates, or reproductive rates of wildgiant anteaters. The generation length is thereforeunknown.Edentata no. 11(2) • 2010 103
Page 1 and 2: ISSN 1413-4411 (print version)ISSN
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contentsiiletter from the
Page 5 and 6: IUCN/SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadi
Page 7 and 8: 54Number of Species3210Habitat degr
Page 9 and 10: Cyclopes didactylus, main populatio
Page 11: Cyclopes didactylus, Northeastern B
Page 17 and 18: indigenous people may hunt it for f
Page 19 and 20: Tamandua tetradactylaLeast Concern
Page 21 and 22: Figure 8. Tamandua tetradactyla. Ba
Page 23 and 24: Fontana, C. S., Bencke, G. A. and R
Page 25 and 26: The 2010 Sloth Red List AssessmentA
Page 27 and 28: Bradypus pygmaeusCritically Endange
Page 29 and 30: Bradypus torquatusVulnerable (VU B2
Page 31 and 32: Figure 4. Bradypus torquatus. Based
Page 33 and 34: Figure 5. Bradypus tridactylus. Bas
Page 35 and 36: is declining; this is particularly
Page 37: Choloepus didactylusLeast Concern (
Page 40 and 41: as well as in secondary forest, but
Page 42 and 43: Acknowledgements: This assessment w
Page 44 and 45: perezoso de dos uñas (Choloepus ho
Page 46 and 47: nationi in Appendix II, while the C
Page 48 and 49: Cabassous centralisData Deficient (
Page 50 and 51: Cabassous chacoensisNear Threatened
Page 52 and 53: Cabassous tatouayLeast Concern (LC)
Page 54 and 55: Cabassous unicinctusLeast Concern (
Page 56 and 57: Calyptophractus retususData Deficie
Page 58 and 59: Chaetophractus nationiVulnerable (V
Page 60 and 61: Chaetophractus vellerosusLeast Conc
Page 62 and 63:
Chaetophractus villosusLeast Concer
Page 64 and 65:
Chlamyphorus truncatusData Deficien
Page 66 and 67:
Dasypus hybridusNear Threatened (NT
Page 68 and 69:
Dasypus kappleriLeast Concern (LC)C
Page 70 and 71:
Dasypus novemcinctusLeast Concern (
Page 72 and 73:
Dasypus pilosusVulnerable (VU B2ab(
Page 74 and 75:
Dasypus sabanicolaLeast Concern (LC
Page 76 and 77:
Dasypus septemcinctusLeast Concern
Page 78 and 79:
Dasypus yepesiData Deficient (DD)Ca
Page 80 and 81:
Euphractus sexcinctusLeast Concern
Page 82 and 83:
Priodontes maximusVulnerable (VU A2
Page 84 and 85:
Tolypeutes matacusNear Threatened (
Page 86 and 87:
Tolypeutes tricinctusVulnerable (VU
Page 88 and 89:
Zaedyus pichiyNear Threatened (NT)P
Page 90 and 91:
Acknowledgements: The authors wish
Page 92 and 93:
Extinção da Fauna de Minas Gerais
Page 94 and 95:
Tarifa, T. 2009b. Priodontes maximu
Page 96 and 97:
considered to be facing a very high
Page 98 and 99:
Notes to contributorsEdentata is th
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Edentata 11(2), 2010 - Anteater, Sloth & Armadillo Specialist Group

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