Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: ParaHoxozoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Olfactores
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Metopophora
Cladus: Haptodontiformes
Cladus: Sphenacomorpha
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Eutheriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Epicynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliamorpha
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Cladus: Theriimorpha
Cladus: Theriiformes
Cladus: Trechnotheria
Cladus: Cladotheria
Cladus: Prototribosphenida
Cladus: Zatheria
Cladus: Tribosphenida
Cladus: Boreosphenida
Subclassis: Theria
Cladus: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Superordo: Xenarthra
Ordo: Pilosa
Subordo: Vermilingua
Familia: Myrmecophagidae
Genus: Myrmecophaga - Tamandua
Name
Myrmecophagidae Gray, 1825
References
Additional references
Gardner, A.L. 2005. Order Pilosa. Pp. 100–103 in Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds.) . Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore. 2 volumes. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. Reference page.
Vernacular names
беларуская: Мурашкаедавыя
български: Мравояди
čeština: Mravenečníkovití
日本語: オオアリクイ科
norsk: Maurslukere
polski: mrówkojadowate
Türkçe: Karıncayiyengiller
українська: Мурахоїди
The Myrmecophagidae are a family of anteaters, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek words for 'ant' and 'eat' (myrmeco- and phagos). Two genera and three species are in the family, consisting of the giant anteater, and the tamanduas. The fossil Eurotamandua from the Messel Pit in Germany may be an early anteater, but its status is currently debated.
Characteristics
Myrmecophagids are medium to large animals, with distinctively elongated snouts and long, narrow tongues. They have powerful claws on their toes, enabling them to rip open termite mounds and ant nests to eat the insects inside. They have no teeth, but produce a large amount of sticky saliva to trap the insects, as well as backward-pointing spines on their tongues. Ants and termites are almost their only food in the wild, and their primary source of water, although they sometimes also drink free-standing water, and occasionally eat fruits.[1]
Distribution
Myrmecophagids are found in Central and South America, from southern Belize and Guatemala to northern Argentina.[2]
Reproduction
Most myrmecophagids are solitary, meeting only to mate. Myrmecophagids are polygamous and the male generally has no role in caring for the young. The male silky anteater is an exception and helps to feed its young. The gestation period of myrmecophagids ranges from 120 to 190 days. Myrmecophagids typically give birth to one offspring at a time, and the cub lives on its mothers back for 6–9 months after it is born. Myrmecophagids have such sharp claws that they cannot touch their young without causing injury.[2]
Evolutionary history
Myrmecophagids belong to the Xenarthra, formerly known as Edentata, which also includes sloths and armadillos.[3] Edentates (meaning without teeth) diverged from insectivores during the Cretaceous period, roughly 135 million years ago. The fossil record of the family Myrmecophagidae dates to the Early Miocene in South America, roughly 25 million years ago.[citation needed] Throughout their evolutionary history, myrmecophagids have maintained a narrow range, though at one point their range may have extended to northern Mexico.[2][failed verification]
Taxonomy
Order: Pilosa
Suborder: Folivora
Suborder: Vermilingua
Family: Cyclopedidae
Genus: Cyclopes
Species: Cyclopes didactylus - silky anteater
Family: Myrmecophagidae
Genus: Protamandua †
Genus: Myrmecophaga
Species: Myrmecophaga tridactyla - giant anteater
Genus: Neotamandua †
Genus: Tamandua
Species: Tamandua mexicana - northern tamandua
Species: Tamandua tetradactyla - southern tamandua
References
Dickman, Christopher R. (1984). Macdonald, D. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 772–775. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
"Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
"Evolution of body size in anteaters and sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa): phylogeny, metabolism, diet and substrate preferences". Cambridge. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
"Anteaters: Myrmecophagidae - Behavior And Reproduction." - Female, Silky, Claws, and Birth. 08 Nov. 2015.[full citation needed]
"Anteater Online." Anteater Online. 08 Nov. 2015.
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