Myrmecophagidae

Giant Anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

The Myrmecophagidae are a family within the Anteaters ( Vermilingua ). They are found in Central and South America and inhabit forest and partly open landscapes. Their main diet consists of social insects, which they take with her long tongue. The giant anteater represents the greatest exponents, while the two types of Tamanduas are much smaller. The Tamanduas are only slightly threatened in their existence, the giant anteater, however, is at risk.

Features

The Myrmecophagidae include small to medium-sized mammals with a head-body length of 47-140 cm. Weight may vary depending on the genus and species between 2 and 50 kg. Characteristic are the long tubular snout, small eyes and also small, rounded ears. The mouth is greatly reduced and is right on the tip of the snout. This also involves a long and sticky tongue serving food. Like all representatives of the suborder Vermilingua also have the Myrmecophagidae no teeth. Another typical feature is the long tail. At the front feet each have four toes are formed, of which at the Tamanduas ( Aardvark ) all while Giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga ) are, however, only three equipped with long, sickle-shaped claws, the middle ( beam III) respectively the longest. The hind feet have five toes.

The skeletal features include the highly atrophied zygomatic arches and the wide region between the eyes. The rear end of the palatine bone is formed by the pterygoid. Other special features include the additional articular surfaces of the condyles ( zygapophyses ) of the posterior thoracic and lumbar cord ( xenarthrische joints) that reference the Myrmecophagidae in the superiority of the Xenarthra.

Dissemination and lifestyle

The representatives of the endemic Myrmecophagidae live in America and come from Central America extending into the central South America east of the Andes before. There they inhabit tropical rainforests, but also dry forests and open savannah. During the giant anteater is a pure bottom dwellers due to its size, the Tamanduas can also move in the trees and go there in search of food. On the ground, they move with the hind feet flat sitting up (bottom gear) continue while the front feet with the ankles touch the ground ( knuckle-walking ). The diet consists largely of ants and termites, where the buildings of the insects torn with the claws of the front feet and the animals are lapped up with his tongue. All kinds of Myrmecophagidae live solitary, only during the breeding season several individuals come together. Usually only one young is born. Since the small snout and forefeet are unsuitable with the sharp claws to transport the young animal, this riding in the suckling period usually on the back of the mother.

System

Cyclopes ( Zwergameisenbär )

Aardvark mexicana (Northern Aardvark )

Aardvark tetradactyla ( Southern Aardvark )

Myrmecophaga ( Giant Anteater )

The Myrmecophagidae form a family within the suborder of anteaters ( Vermilingua ). This in turn belongs to the superorder Xenarthra ( Xenarthra ), one of the four main lines of the Higher mammals. Within the Xenarthra the closest relatives of anteaters are sloths ( Folivora ), with which they form the order of the tooth poor ( Pilosa ). Both groups separated according to molecular genetic investigations about 58 million years ago. The edentates form the sister taxon to the Cingulata which the Armadillos ( Dasypodidae ) and their extinct relatives as merge the Glyptodontidae.

The closest relatives of Myrmecophagidae within the anteaters are the monophyletic Cyclopedidae today, where only the tart Zwergameisenbär ( Cyclopes didactylus ) belongs. The splitting of the two families was also determined by molecular genetic analyzes, the Middle Eocene, around 40 million years ago. The further fragmentation of Myrmecophagidae in today's lines took place in the Upper Miocene epoch, about 10 to 13 million years ago.

Today the Myrmecophagidae include two genera with three species:

• Myrmecophagidae Gray, 1825

• Myrmecophaga Linnaeus, 1758

• Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 ( giant anteater )

• Aardvark Gray, 1825

• Aardvark mexicana ( Saussure, 1860) (Northern Aardvark )
• Aardvark tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) ( Southern Aardvark )

Fossil with Protamandua and Neotamandua two other genera known, the former was detected in the latter Middle Miocene in the Upper Miocene and the Pliocene.

Threat

The representatives of the Myrmecophagidae provide some less threatened species dar. reason for this is their most larger area of ​​distribution. Deforestation and the conversion of open landscapes in farmed areas but can locally affect the stocks. Also, forest and bush fires in some regions harry partially the local populations. At present, the IUCN only lists the Giant anteaters as " endangered" ( vulnerable ), the two Tamanduaarten are considered " not at risk " ( least concern ).