i66 



AMERICAN ANTEATERS 



Sub-Ordei! 1. XENAETHEA. 



Fam. 1. Myrmecophagidae. — The family Myrmecophagidae 

 contains three genera, all South American in range. These 

 genera, Myrmecoplinga, Tamandua, and Cycloturus, agree greatly 

 in their outward form. They are all without teeth, and have 

 long snouts and lung protrusible tongues. The fur is thick, and 

 they have powerful claws wherewith to break down the strong 

 ant-hills upon whose inhabitants they feed. Tamandua and 

 Cycloturus are arboreal, Myrriiecophaga is terrestrial in habit. 



Fig. 91. — Great Aiiteater. Mijnnecoph((<jii jnhatK. x y"^. 



The claws of the arboreal forms are useful to destroy the l>ark, 

 and thus bring to light insects which lurk in such situations. 



The genus Myrmecophaga contains but one species, the G-reat 

 Anteater, 3fyrjnecop7iaga juhata. It is a large and handsome 

 animal, with long, shaggy, greyish-black hair and a broad white 

 stripe across the shoulder. The coloration is similar in the two sexes. 

 Including the long and bushy tail it reaches a length of over 

 7 feet. It is on account of its long tongue and greatly developed 

 salivary glands that this and the allied genera were originally 

 placed with Manis. It is the submaxillary glands which are so 

 enormous ; they extend back over the chest, and open by three 

 distinct ducts, of which two unite just before the external orifice. 



