Cyclopes ida, Thomas, 1900

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Cyclopedidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 99-102 : 101

3.

Rio Negro Silky Anteater

Cyclopes ida

French: Myrmidon du Rio Negro / German: Rio-Negro-Zwergameisenbar / Spanish: Oso hormiguero sedoso de Rio Negro

Other common names: | da Silky Anteater

Taxonomy. Cyclopes didactylus ida Thomas, 1900 ,

“Sarayacu, Upper Pastasa [= Pastaza| River,” Ecuador .

Based on four specimens, O. Thomas in 1900 described subspecies ida from Ecua- dor as presenting the general color more similar to nominate didactylus than to subspecies dorsalis . Subspecies codajazensis was described in 1942 by E. Lonnberg, and it closely matched C. ida , with uniformly gray body, limbs, and tail and absence of ventral stripe. Despite Lonnberg noting clearly marked dorsal stripe, examination of the holotype specimen revealed it to be much more indistinct, conforming to what is usually found in C. ida . Monotypic.

Distribution. W & S of Rio Negro, with S limit at the Amazon River; additionally, there is a record in forests of E Andes of Colombia, although N limit is unknown.

Descriptive notes. No specific data are available. Dorsal pelage, legs, and tail of the Rio Negro Silky Anteater are completely gray. Underparts are light yellow, without ventral stripe. Dorsal stripe, when present,is indistinct and blended into dorsal fur. Frontonasal region of skull is depressed, giving a concave profile. External aperture of ear is directed laterally. Naso-maxillary sutures are about parallel to each other, forming wide fronto-maxillary suture. Fronto-parietal suture is horseshoe-shaped, and pterygoid bone partially overlaps tympanic bulla.

Habitat. Amazonian forest and common in areas of seasonally inundated blackwater forest (“igap6”) and small tributary rivers or canals (“igarapé”).

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

Breeding. Gestation of the Rio Negro Silky Anteater lasts 120-150 days.

Activity patterns. The Rio Negro Silky Anteater is arboreal and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust. It is necessary to evaluate conservation status of the Rio Negro Silky Anteater because of recent taxonomic revisions, requiring clarification ofits distribution.

Bibliography. Gardner (2008), Hayssen et al. (2012), Lonnberg (1942), Miranda et al. (2017), Thomas (1900).

Figures

1. Central American Silky Anteater (Cyclopes dorsalis), 2. Common Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), 3. Rio Negro Silky Anteater (Cyclopes ida), 4. Thomas's Silky Anteater (Cyclopes thomasi), 5. Red Silky Anteater (Cyclopes rufus), 6. Xingu Silky Anteater (Cyclopes xinguensis), 7. Amboro Silky Anteater (Cyclopes catellus)

Distribution. W & S of Rio Negro, with S limit at the Amazon River; additionally, there is a record in forests of E Andes of Colombia, although N limit is unknown.