5.

Red Silky Anteater

Cyclopes rufus

French: Myrmidon roux / German: Rotlicher Zwergameisenbar / Spanish: Oso hormiguero sedoso rojo

Taxonomy. Cyclopes rufus Miranda et al., 2017,

“Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brazil (08°51°167S; 064°00’53"W).” This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W Amazon Basin, in interfluve between Rio Madeira and Rio Aripuana; N limit is possibly Amazon River, and S limit is unknown.

Descriptive notes. No specific data are available. Color of the Red Silky Anteater is unique; dorsum has a distinct reddish

tone, and tail and limbs are more yellowish red. Ventral and dorsalstripes are absent. Fronto-nasal region of skull is not depressed, giving a straight profile. External aperture of ear is directed laterally. Naso-maxillary sutures are about parallel, with wide fronto-maxillary suture. Fronto-parietal suture is trapezoidal, and pterygoid bone does not overlap tympanic bulla.

Habitat. Amazonian forest.

Food and Feeding. The Red Silky Anteater is an opportunistic forager. Its diet consists almost entirely of ants.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Red Silky Anteater is found in areas between Madeira and Aripuana rivers that suffer from environmental degradation and effects of large hydroelectric dams. The Red Silky Anteater is probably threatened with extinction, and its distribution and population status, considering recent taxonomic changes, need to be urgently evaluated.

Bibliography. Hayssen et al. (2012), Miranda et al. (2017).