Grand fourmilier

Scientific name:

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Threat level:

Near threatened

Authority:

Linnaeus, 1758

Common names:

• Giant anteater (English)
• Oso hormiguero (Spanish)
• Oso caballo (Spanish)
• Hormiguero gigante (Spanish)
• Banderón caballo (Spanish)
• Tamanoir (French)

Version:

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.

Geographic ranges:

• Argentina (Native)
• Bolivia (Native)
• Brazil (Native)
• Colombia (Native)
• Costa Rica (Native)
• Ecuador (Native)
• French Guiana (Native)
• Guyana (Native)
• Honduras (Native)
• Nicaragua (Native)
• Panama (Native)
• Paraguay (Native)
• Peru (Native)
• Suriname (Native)
• Uruguay (Native)
• Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic Of (Native)
• Guatemala (Regionally extinct)
• Belize (Presence uncertain)

Population trend:

Decreasing

Ecosystems

• Terrestrial

List of habitats:

• Forest
• Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
• Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane
• Savanna
• Dry
• Shrubland
• Subtropical/Tropical Dry
• Subtropical/Tropical Moist
• Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude
• Grassland
• Subtropical/Tropical Dry

List of threats:

• Residential & commercial development
• Housing & urban areas
• Agriculture & aquaculture
• Annual & perennial non-timber crops
• Small-holder farming
• Natural system modifications
• Fire & fire suppression
• Trend Unknown/Unrecorded

List of conservation actions:

• Land/water management
• Site/area management
• Species management
• Species management
• Harvest management
• Law & policy
• Legislation
• International level
• National level