Myrmecophagoidea
Myrmecophagoidea (ant-eaters; suborder Xenarthra, infra-order Pilosa) A superfamily that comprises the one family Myrmecophagidae, in which the snout is elongated, the extent of the elongation depending on the overall body size of the animal, so that it is Myrmecophaga (giant ant-eater) that possesses the longest snout. There are no teeth. The tongue is long and sticky, the hard palate extended to the rear by the union of the pterygoid bones. The limbs, of approximately equal length, bear four or five digits, with large claws used for digging and for defence. The tail is long. Myrmecophaga is terrestrial; Cyclopes and Tamandua are smaller, arboreal, and have prehensile tails. There are three genera, with four species, distributed throughout tropical Central and S. America.
More From encyclopedia.com
Galbulidae , Galbulidae (jacamars; class Aves, order Piciformes) A family of small to medium-sized birds that have metallic green and rufous or dull, brown-black… Diplura , Diplura (subphylum Atelocerata, class Insecta) A subclass of small (mostly 6 mm long or smaller), elongate, slender, whitish, blind, entognathous ins… Surfperch , Embiotocidae (surfperch; subclass Actinopterygii, order Perciformes) A family of coastal marine fish that have oval-shaped, compressed bodies, small… Trilobite , Trilobita (trilobites; phylum Arthropoda) The most primitive arthropod class, known from more than 3900 fossil species. Inhabitants of Palaeozoic sea… Aardwolf , aardwolf
Hyaenidae (hyenas; suborder Fissipedia, superfamily Feloidea) A family of carnivores whose ancestors evolved rapidly from the Viverridae (ci… tilefish , Malacanthidae (tilefish; subclass Actinopterygii, order Perciformes) A family of marine fish, known formerly as Branchiostegidae, found mainly in tro…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Myrmecophagoidea