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Ant-eater
Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa. The name "anteater" is also commonly applied to the unrelated aardvark, numbat, echidnas, pangolins, and some members of the Oecobiidae, although they are not closely related to them. Extant species are the giant anteater ''Myrmecophaga tridactyla'', about long including the tail; the silky anteater ''Cyclopes didactylus'', about long; the southern tamandua or collared anteater ''Tamandua tetradactyla'', about long; and the northern tamandua ''Tamandua mexicana'' of similar dimensions. Taxonomy Classification The anteaters are more closely related to the sloths than they are to any other group of mammals. Their next closest relations are armadillos. There are four extant species in three ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Numbat
The numbat (''Myrmecobius fasciatus''), also known as the noombat or walpurti, is an insectivorous marsupial. It is diurnal and its diet consists almost exclusively of termites. The species was once widespread across southern Australia, but is now restricted to several small colonies in Western Australia. It is therefore considered an endangered species and protected by conservation programs. Numbats were recently re-introduced to fenced reserves in South Australia and New South Wales. The numbat is the faunal emblem of Western Australia. Taxonomy The numbat genus ''Myrmecobius'' is the sole member of the family Myrmecobiidae, one of four families that make up the order Dasyuromorphia, the Australian marsupial carnivores. The species is not closely related to other extant marsupials; the current arrangement in the order Dasyuromorphia places its monotypic family with the diverse and carnivorous species of Dasyuridae. Genetic studies have shown the ancestors of the numb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern marine invertebrates than the Pliocene has. The Miocene is preceded by the Oligocene and is followed by the Pliocene. As Earth went from the Oligocene through the Miocene and into the Pliocene, the climate slowly cooled towards a series of ice ages. The Miocene boundaries are not marked by a single distinct global event but consist rather of regionally defined boundaries between the warmer Oligocene and the cooler Pliocene Epoch. During the Early Miocene, the Arabian Peninsula collided with Eurasia, severing the connection between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, and allowing a faunal interchange to occur between Eurasia and Africa, including the dispersal of proboscideans into Eurasia. During the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silky Anteater
The silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater, has traditionally been considered a single species of anteater, ''Cyclopes didactylus'', in the genus ''Cyclopes'', the only living genus in the family Cyclopedidae. Found in southern Mexico, and Central and South America, it is the smallest of all known anteaters. It has nocturnal habits and appears to be completely arboreal; its hind feet are highly modified for climbing. A taxonomic review in 2017, including both molecular and morphological evidence, found that ''Cyclopes'' may actually comprise at least seven species. The only known extinct cyclopedid species is '' Palaeomyrmidon incomtus'', from the Late Miocene ( c. 7 to 9 million years ago) of modern-day Argentina. Description Silky anteaters are the smallest living anteaters, and have proportionately shorter faces and larger crania than other species. Adults have a total length ranging from , including a tail long, and weigh from . They have dense and soft fur, whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Incertae Sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is indicated by ' (of uncertain family), ' (of uncertain suborder), ' (of uncertain order) and similar terms. Examples *The fossil plant '' Paradinandra suecica'' could not be assigned to any family, but was placed ''incertae sedis'' within the order Ericales when described in 2001. * The fossil ''Gluteus minimus'', described in 1975, could not be assigned to any known animal phylum. The genus is therefore ''incertae sedis'' within the kingdom Animalia. * While it was unclear to which order the New World vultures (family Cathartidae) should be assigned, they were placed in Aves ''incertae sedis''. It was later agreed to place them in a separate order, Cathartiformes. * Bocage's longbill, ''Motacilla bocagii' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protamandua
''Protamandua'' is an extinct genus of anteaters. Its closest living relatives are the giant anteater (''Myrmecophaga tridactyla'') and tamanduas (genus ''Tamandua''). Fossils of ''Protamandua'' are restricted to the Santa Cruz Formation of Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th .... It may have been a common ancestor of ''Myrmecophaga'' and ''Tamandua''. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q7251167 Anteaters Prehistoric placental genera Miocene xenarthrans Miocene mammals of South America Mayoan Laventan Colloncuran Friasian Santacrucian Neogene Argentina Fossils of Argentina Fossil taxa described in 1904 Taxa named by Florentino Ameghino ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Southern Tamandua
The southern tamandua (''Tamandua tetradactyla''), also called the collared anteater or lesser anteater, is a species of anteater from South America and the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. It is a solitary animal found in many habitats, from mature to highly disturbed secondary forests and arid savannas. It feeds on ants, termites, and bees. Its very strong foreclaws can be used to break insect nests or to defend itself. Distribution and habitat The southern tamandua is found in Trinidad and throughout South America from Venezuela to northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay at elevations up to . It inhabits both wet and dry forests, including tropical rainforest, savanna, and thorn scrub. It seems to be most common in habitats near streams and rivers, especially those thick with vines and epiphytes (presumably because its prey is common in these areas). The oldest fossil tamanduas date from the Pleistocene of South America, although genetic evidence suggests they m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern Tamandua
The northern tamandua (''Tamandua mexicana'') is a species of tamandua, an anteater in the family Myrmecophagidae. They live in tropical and subtropical forests from southern Mexico, through Central America, and to the edge of the northern Andes. Description The northern tamandua is a medium-sized anteater with a prehensile tail, small eyes and ears, and a long snout. The fur is pale yellow over most of the body, with a distinctive patch of black fur over the flanks, back, and shoulders, that somewhat resembles a vest in shape. The tail has fur on its upper surface for about a third of its length, but is otherwise hairless. The hind feet have five toes, while the fore feet have only four. Males and females are similar in size and colour, and range from in total length, including the tail. Adults weigh between . The northern tamandua closely resembles its southern relative. In contrast to the northern tamandua, which always has a black-vested pattern, southern tamanduas are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tamandua
''Tamandua'' is a genus of anteaters with two species: the southern tamandua (''T. tetradactyla'') and the northern tamandua (''T. mexicana''). They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. They mainly eat ants and termites, but they occasionally eat bees, beetles, and insect larvae. In captivity, they will eat fruits and meat. They have no teeth and depend on their powerful gizzards to break down their food. The word Tamanduá is Tupi-Guaraní. Extant species Description Tamanduas have tapered heads with a long, tubular snout, small eyes, and protruding ears. Their tapered mouths house a tongue reaching upwards of in length. The tail is hairless and pink in color, marked with an irregular pattern of black blotches. The forefeet possess four clawed digits, the third digit bearing the largest claw, while the hind feet have five digits. Their fur is thick, bristly, yellowish-white to fawn in color, often with a broad black lat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neotamandua
''Neotamandua'' is an extinct genus of anteaters that lived in the Miocene to Pliocene in South America. Taxonomy Their fossils have been found in the Miocene Collón Cura Formation of Argentina, the Honda Group at La Venta in Colombia and the Pliocene Araucano Formation in Argentina. Its closest living relatives are the giant anteater (''Myrmecophaga tridactyla'') and tamanduas (genus ''Tamandua''). The species ''Neotamandua borealis ''Neotamandua borealis'' is an extinct species of anteater. Fossils were found in the Honda Group, Colombia, Honda Group at the Lagerstätte, Konzentrat-Lagerstätte of La Venta (Colombia), La Venta, Colombia. It was suggested to be an ancestor ...'' was suggested to be an ancestor of the giant anteater. Patterson (1992) suggested the ''Neotamandua'' fossils are very similar to ''Myrmecophaga'', which would mean ''Neotamandua'' may be congeneric with ''Myrmecophaga''. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3558598 Anteaters Prehistoric placent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Myrmecophaga
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. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. The giant anteater is in length, with weights of for males and for females. It is recognizable by its elongated snout, bushy tail, long fore claws, and distinctively colored pelage. The giant anteater is found in multiple habitats, including grassland and rainforest. It forages in open areas and rests in more forested habitats. It feeds primarily on ants and termites, using its fore claws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them. Though giant anteaters live in overlapping home ranges, they are mostly solitary except during mother-offspring rela ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palaeomyrmidon
''Palaeomyrmidon'' is an extinct genus of anteater. Its closest living relative is the silky anteater (''Cyclopes didactylus''). Although the silky anteater is arboreal, ''Palaeomyrmidon'' lived on the ground. ''Palaeomyrmidon'' is known from a fossil skull that was found in the Andalhualá Formation of Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ....Rovereto, Cayetano. 1914. Los estratos Araucanos y sus fósiles. ''Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Buenos Aires'' 25: 1-247. References Anteaters Miocene xenarthrans Pliocene xenarthrans Prehistoric monotypic mammal genera Miocene mammals of South America Pliocene mammals of South America Chapadmalalan Montehermosan Neogene Argentina Fossils of Argentina Fossil taxa described in 1914< ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silky Anteater
The silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater, has traditionally been considered a single species of anteater, ''Cyclopes didactylus'', in the genus ''Cyclopes'', the only living genus in the family Cyclopedidae. Found in southern Mexico, and Central and South America, it is the smallest of all known anteaters. It has nocturnal habits and appears to be completely arboreal; its hind feet are highly modified for climbing. A taxonomic review in 2017, including both molecular and morphological evidence, found that ''Cyclopes'' may actually comprise at least seven species. The only known extinct cyclopedid species is '' Palaeomyrmidon incomtus'', from the Late Miocene ( c. 7 to 9 million years ago) of modern-day Argentina. Description Silky anteaters are the smallest living anteaters, and have proportionately shorter faces and larger crania than other species. Adults have a total length ranging from , including a tail long, and weigh from . They have dense and soft fur, whi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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