The genus «Myrmecophaga» comes from two Greek words: «myrmex», genitive of «myrmêkos», meaning «ant,» and «phagein», meaning «to eat,» thus translating to «family that eats ants.» The epithet «tridactyla», also of Greek origin, combines «tria», meaning «three,» and «daktylos», meaning «fingers,» referring to the three fingers on the forelimbs (Tirira, 2004).
Order: Pilosa | Family: Myrmecophagidae
Scientific name: Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Common names: Oso palmero, oso hormiguero gigante, giant anteater
Conservation status: Vulnerable (VU)
Best season for giant anteater: All year round
Description
Its body measures 50 cm in length, and its tail is between 150 to 180 cm; it weighs between 27 and 50 kg. Its snout is very elongated and conical. The tongue is 75 cm long and covered in an adhesive substance to capture the insects it feeds on. It has no teeth. The hair on its body is brown or grayish, with a blackish V-shape and white lines, and is short except on the back, where a mane is present, which blends into the thick fur of the tail, which shows silver bands and shades of brown, black, and gray.
Distribution
The giant anteater in Colombia has evidence of its presence in most departments of the Amazon and Orinoco regions. In South America, its largest refuge is the Chaco region of Paraguay and Bolivia, as well as northeastern Argentina. After being exterminated around 1965 in the Argentine province of Corrientes, this species has been reintroduced in the third decade of the 21st century, particularly in the Iberá Wetlands.
Habitat
It inhabits tropical rainforests near bodies of water (gallery forests) and montane rainforests (Miranda et al. 2014). It is found from sea level up to 2000 meters above sea level (Alberico et al. 2000).
*Source:https://bioweb.bio/faunaweb/mammaliaweb/FichaEspecie/Tamandua%20tetradactyla
