Myrmecophaga tridactyla

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA MAMMALIA PILOSA MYRMECOPHAGIDAE

Scientific Name: Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Species Authority Linnaeus, 1758
Infra-specific Authority: Linnaeus, 1758
Common Name/s:
English – Giant Anteater
French – Grand Fourmilier, Tamanoir
Spanish – Banderón Caballo, Hormiguero Gigante, Oso Caballo, Oso Hormiguero

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Near Threatened     ver 3.1
Year Assessed: 2008
Assessor/s Porini, G., Rylands, A.B., Samudio, R. & Members of the IUCN SSC Edentate Specialist Group
Evaluator/s: da Fonseca, G.A.B. (Edentate Red List Authority) & Berridge, R. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification:
The species is widespread geographically, but there have been many records of population extirpation, especially in Central America and the southern parts of its range. More research must be done to estimate the total population loss across its range; a 30% or higher population loss cannot be estimated given present information. The dietary specificity, low reproductive rates, large body size, along with threats to habitat degradation in many parts of its range, have proved to be significant factors in its decline and the species is here listed as Near Threatened due to the knowledge of large declines in much of its range, although the actual rate is difficult to estimate. Almost qualifies as threatened under criterion A2.
History:
2006 – Near Threatened (IUCN 2006)
1996 – Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)
1994 – Vulnerable (Groombridge 1994)
1990 – Vulnerable (IUCN 1990)
1988 – Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1986 – Vulnerable (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1982 – Vulnerable (Thornback and Jenkins 1982)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: This species has been recorded from Belize and Guatemala in Central America, south through South America to Uruguay and the Gran Chaco region of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Within Central America, the species has disappeared from much of its range, with recent sightings generally confined to highland regions. It may be extinct in Belize, but has recently been confirmed from the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua, just south of the Guatemala border (Anon. 2003). In South America, the species may now be extinct in Uruguay (Fallabrino and Castiñeira 2006). In the Atlantic Forest area of Brazil, it appears that the species is expanding its range with ongoing deforestation.
Countries:
Native:
Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Colombia; Costa Rica; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; Uruguay; Venezuela
Regionally extinct:
Guatemala
Presence uncertain:
Belize

Population [top]

Population: The species is locally uncommon to rare. Its density in natural conditions is determined by the density of its primary food source, termites (Eisenberg 1989).
Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: This terrestrial species is found in tropical moist forest, dry forest, savanna habitats and open grasslands; it has also been reported from the Bolivian and Paraguayan Chaco (Meritt 2008; Noss et al. 2008). Animals are generally solitary. The female gives birth to a single young, and captive animals have lived for up to 16 years (Reid 1997).
Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): It is hunted for food throughout its distribution, and is additionally hunted as a pest or for pets in some parts of its range. The species is at risk from habitat loss in parts of its range, and this is a significant threat to Central American populations in particular. Where this species inhabits grassland habitats it is particularly susceptible to fires. Animals are sometimes killed on roads.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. This species has been recorded from many protected areas (e.g. Emas National Park, Brazil). It is listed on several national red data lists, and is protected as a national heritage species in some provinces in Argentina. There is a need to improve fire management practices, especially within the regions of grassland habitat occupied by this species.
Citation: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 12 October 2008.
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