1(56 AMERICAN ANTEATERS 



Sris-OuDEK 1. XENAKTHEA. 



Fam. 1. Myrmecophagidae. — The family ilynnecuphagidae 

 (jontains three genera, all South American in range. Tliese 

 genera, 3ryrmecopJi(iga, Tamanihia, and Cycloturus, agree greatly 

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

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

 they ha\'e powerful claws wherewith to break down the strong 

 ant-hills upon whose inhabitants they feed. Tamandua and 

 Cycloturus are arboreal, AIyrmecO'phi(ga is teiTestrial in habit. 



Pig. 91. — Great Anteater. Jli/nnecnjjhni/n jubata. x jJ^. 



The claws of the arboreal forms are useful to destroy the bark, 

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



The genus Myrmecophaga contains but one species, the Great 

 Anteater, Myrmer.oph/ga jitbata. It is a large and handsome 

 animal, with long, shaggy, grej'ish-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 

 salivarj^ glands that this and the allied genera were originally 

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

 enormou.s ; they extend back over the chest, and open by three 

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



