Cyclopes catellus Thomas 1928

7.

Amboro Silky Anteater

Cyclopes catellus

French: Myrmidon de Bolivie / German: Bolivien-Zwergameisenbar / Spanish: Oso hormiguero sedoso de Amboré

Taxonomy. Cyclopes didactylus catellus Thomas, 1928, “Buenavista, 500 metres,” Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Cyclopes catellus was described based on differences in pelage, shortertail, and absence of dorsalstripe but with clearly visible ventral (sternal) stripe, considered broader than

in other taxa. O. Thomas in 1928 stated that observations were based on uniform series of specimens and that even young had this color pattern. Unfortunately, DNA samples of C. catellus were not available for the study by F. R. Miranda and colleagues in 2017, so its phylogenetic relationships and divergence in relation to other taxa of Cyclopes remain uncertain. Cyclopes catellus represents the southernmost occurrence of Cyclopes, being markedly

different from its neighbor’s in qualitative characteristics, and its distribution might suggest an isolated occurrence, not in contact with other species of Cyclopes. Based on distinctive and very consistent color pattern (only taxon with clearly marked venter and no dorsal stripe), unique combination of cranial characteristics, and distribution, it is recognized as a distinct species, pending further genetic studies. Monotypic.

Distribution. C Bolivia, probably Andean slopes forests.

Descriptive notes. No specific data are available. General color of the Amboro Silky Anteater is brown yellowish, and tail and limbs are more yellowish. Dorsal dark stripe is absent, and sternal stripe is strongly developed and extensive. Fronto-nasal region of skull is not depressed, giving a straight profile. External aperture of earis directed anteriorly. Naso-maxillary sutures diverge proximally, with very short fronto-maxillary suture. Fronto-parietal suture is horseshoe-shaped, and pterygoid bone overlaps tympanic bulla.

Habitat. Andean slopes forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

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

Activity patterns. The Amboro Silky Anteater is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Surveys are necessary to delineate areas of occurrence of the Amboro Silky Anteater in Bolivia and to evaluate its conservation status.

Bibliography. Gardner (2008), Miranda et al. (2017), Thomas (1928).