Pygmy anteater - a unique two-toed inhabitant of Central and South America

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

The pygmy anteater is a representative of the order of edentulous, the family Cyclopedidae, in some sources it is assigned to the subfamily Cyclopedinae of the family Myrmecophagidae. This small creature is the exact opposite of a giant relative, although it looks very much like it (the same elongated muzzle, powerful claws). However, the smaller brother has a tenacious tail, allowing him to move through the crowns of trees.

Description

The pygmy anteater does not grow more than 45 centimeters in length, while the tail reaches 18 centimeters. The average weight of the animal is 266 grams, the largest individuals reach 400 grams.

The creature's coat is short, brown, reddish-brown, yellow-gold. At the end of the muzzle of the animal is a proboscis for eating ants and other insects. It has no teeth, but has a large and muscular, sticky tongue. The soles of the paws and the tip of the nose of the animal are red.

The anteater's tail is bare at the end. There are 4 fingers on the front paws, two of which end in large claws, the other two are in embryoniccondition. There are five toes on the hind legs. It is because of the two well-developed front fingers that the animal is also called "two-toed".

The body temperature of the animal is from 27.8 to 31.3 degrees. An interesting fact: this species of anteater has 64 chromosomes, while other representatives of this genus have only 54.

Habitat

The pygmy anteater lives in tropical forests, found in shrub savannahs. Distribution area - South and Central America: Brazil, Northern Argentina, territories from Mexico to Bolivia. It is assumed that the animal lives even in Paraguay, where he even has his own popular name - "miko dorado".

It lives where it is possible to move through the trees without going down to the ground.

How is life?

The lifestyle of the pygmy anteater is nocturnal, that is, it stays awake at night. During the day, she usually sleeps curled up.

Inhabits trees. It is believed that the animal most of all prefers trees from the genus Ceiba, since the crown of this plant is most similar in color to the coat color. And this is an additional opportunity to hide from danger. When it occurs, like other members of the family, it becomes in a protective stance, that is, it rises on its hind legs, and holds its front legs in front of it. The animal is able to strike with its sharp claw.

This very slow creature can eat up to 8,000 ants a day.

Family and children

Dwarfthe anteater leads a solitary way of life, does not group in flocks. The mating season is in the summer.

Females bear cubs for an average of 135 days. During this time, she builds a nest in the hollow of a tree, laying it out with dry leaves. As a rule, one baby is born, in the upbringing of which both parents participate. They feed him by regurgitating half-digested ants.

A few days after birth, the baby already begins to travel with his parents, who carry him on their body.

Latest Research

For the first time, the pygmy anteater (the photo of the animal is presented in the article) was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Since then, it was believed that this is the only representative of its kind.

However, data from Mexican researchers appeared last year. Scientists during 17 expeditions to Suriname and Brazil examined 287 individuals, conducted molecular and other studies and concluded that the animals are represented by seven groups. They differ genetically and, accordingly, can be assigned to different populations. Differences were found in the shape of the skull, the structure and color of the coat. And the molecular clock proved that pygmy and other anteaters diverged in their development as early as 30 million years ago. The division within the genus of pygmy anteaters has been formed over the past 10.3 million years. The evolution of individuals occurred against the backdrop of changes in the nature of the Amazon basin. Against their background, populations were isolated from each other for a long time, which gave impetus to the accumulation of significant differences in species.

Actual problems of reducing the number of animals

The main threat to small anteaters is the loss of their natural habitat. Huge tracts of Central and South America are being handed over for agricultural land development and livestock breeding.

In addition, deforestation on the continent has increased by 20% since the 90s of the last century. According to the latest data, about 60 million hectares have been lost over the past 15 years. All these factors lead to a reduction in the anteater population.