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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 giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which it is the largest member. The only extant member of the genus Myrmecophaga, it is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa.
Myrmecophagidae Red: Cyclopedidae , Blue: Myrmecophagidae , Purple: both Cyclopedidae and Myrmecophagidae Anteaters are the four extant mammal species in the suborder Vermilingua [ 1 ] (meaning "worm tongue"), commonly known for eating ants and termites .
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.
By Phil Myers. Four species in three genera make up this family, whose members are found in Central and South America. Anteaters range from the very small Cyclopes, which weighs around 250 gms, to the large Myrmecophaga, which weighs over 30 kg.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. The anteater has a long snout, the part of the face that includes the nose, mouth, and jaw. While the anteater is toothless, it has a long tongue that it uses to catch the ants that make up the major part of its diet. The anteater uses its snout and claws to reach into ant nests.
People also ask
How many anteaters are in The Myrmecophagidae?
Is Myrmecophaga a Neotropical species?
Is Myrmecophaga related to anteaters?
Which anteater Fossils are related to Myrmecophaga?
Myrmecophaga is a neotropical species that tend to inhabit low elevations (Gaudin T. 2018). Habitat is dependent on available prey species of ants and termites (Gallo et al. 2017). However, ranges used to extend much further than their current territory due to anthropogenic change.
