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Cyclopes didactylus

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA MAMMALIA PILOSA CYCLOPEDIDAE

Scientific Name: Cyclopes didactylus
Species Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)
Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:
Common Name/s:
English – Pygmy Anteater, Silky Anteater
Spanish – Inti Pelejo, Serafín, Serafín del Platanar
Taxonomic Notes: There are seven subspecies of Cyclopes didactylus (Gardner 2007).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published: 2011
Assessor/s: Miranda, F. and Meritt, D.A.Jr.
Reviewer/s: Bermúdez Larrazabal, L. & Superina, M.
Contributor/s: Tirira, D. & Arteaga, M.
Justification:
C. didactylus is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, its occurrence in a number of protected areas, its tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.
History:
2006 – Least Concern (IUCN 2006)
2006 – Least Concern
1996 – Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: C. didactylus ranges from Mexico (Veracruz and Oaxaca) in the north, south into Colombia from where it ranges west of the Andes to southern Ecuador, and east of the Andes into Venezuela, Trinidad Island, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil (Acre state east to western Maranhão state), and as far south as Bolivia (La Paz and Santa Cruz) (Gardner 2007). The species has not been recorded from El Salvador and it is unclear if the species was ever present there. It has been recorded from sea level up to 1,500 m asl. There is a population of C. didactylus on the northeastern coast of Brazil; it is evaluated separately due to its isolation from the main population.
Countries:
Native:
Belize; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Brazil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Peru; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: Not much is known about the wild populations of C. didactylus.
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: This nocturnal and arboreal species occurs in semi-deciduous and evergreen tropical moist lowland forest, gallery forest, and mangrove forest. It can be found in secondary forest habitat. Adults are solitary; the home range of a male overlaps the home range of three females (Montgomery 1983). The females give birth to a single young once per year.
Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Although general deforestation is taking place over many parts of the range, C. didactylus remains widespread in the Amazon Basin and there are currently no major threats to the survival of this small anteater. In some areas it is captured and kept as a pet species, although it usually does not survive long in captivity.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: C. didactylus is present in a number of protected areas.
Citation: Miranda, F. and Meritt, D.A.Jr. 2011. Cyclopes didactylus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 June 2013.
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