Silky anteater

"Cyclopes (genus)" redirects here. Not to be confused with Cyclope.

Silky anteater[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pilosa
Family: Cyclopedidae
Genus: Cyclopes
J. E. Gray, 1821
Species:
C. didactylus
Binomial name
Cyclopes didactylus
Silky anteater range
Synonyms

Myrmecophaga didactyla Linnaeus, 1758

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.[4] The only known extinct cyclopedid species is Palaeomyrmidon incomtus, from the Late Miocene (c. 7 to 9 million years ago) of modern-day Argentina.[5][6]

  1. ^ Gardner, A. L. (2005). "Species Cyclopes didactylus". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ Miranda, F.; Meritt, D.A.; Tirira, D.G.; Arteaga, M. (2014). "Cyclopes didactylus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T6019A47440020. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T6019A47440020.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ Linnæus, Carl (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I (in Latin) (10th ed.). Holmiæ: Laurentius Salvius. p. 35. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  4. ^ Miranda, F.R.; Casali, D.M.; Perini, F.A.; Machado, F.A.; Santos, F.R. (2017). "Taxonomic review of the genus Cyclopes Gray, 1821 (Xenarthra: Pilosa), with the revalidation and description of new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183 (3): 687–721. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx079. hdl:11336/49474.
  5. ^ McDonald, H. Gregory; Vizcaíno, Sergio Fabián; Bargo, M. Sazano (2008). "Skeletal anatomy and the fossil history of the Vermilingua". In Vizcaino, Sergío Fabian; Loughry, William J. (eds.). The Biology of the Xenarthra. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida. pp. 64–78. ISBN 978-0813031651.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hayssen2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).