brazil

Brazil's Xenarthrans

Xenarthrans are a group of mammals that include anteaters, sloths, and armadillos. The name xenarthran comes from two Greek words meaning “unusual joints.” Today there are about 40 species of xenarthrans. Some hang upside down from trees, others have a long snout with a very long tongue, and some dig the ground in search of insects and small invertebrates. Some will even eat dead animals! All current and extinct species have been found in specific regions of the Americas, mostly South America. Check out the species below that call Brazil home. To discover the animal’s diet, lifespan, habitat and fun facts click on their image. 

Anteaters

There are three types of anteaters: giant anteaters, tamanduas and silky anteaters.

Sloths
Giant Anteater - Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Giant Anteater

Thomas's silky anteater - Cyclopes thomasi

Thomas's silky anteater - Cyclopes thomasi

Rio Negro silky anteater - Cyclopes ida

Rio Negro silky anteater - Cyclopes ida

Common pygmy anteater - Cyclopes didactylus

Xingu pygmy anteater - Cyclopes xinguensis

Xingu pygmy anteater - Cyclopes xinguensis

Red pygmy anteater - Cyclopes rufus

Red pygmy anteater - Cyclopes rufus

Southern anteater - Tamandua tetradactyla

Souther anteater - Tamandua tetradactyla

Sloths

Sloths play an important role in the tropical forests of the Americas.

Sloths
Hoffmann's Two-fingered Sloth

Hoffmann's Two-fingered Sloth Choloepus hoffmanni

Linné's Two-fingered Sloth

Linné's Two-fingered Sloth Choloepus didactylus

Northern Maned Sloth

Northern Maned Three-Fingered Sloth Bradypus torquatus

Southern Maned Sloth

Southern Maned Three-Fingered Sloth Bradypus crinitus

Brown throated Sloth

Brown-throated Three-fingered Sloth Bradypus variegatus

Pale-throated Sloth

Pale-throated Three-fingered Sloth Bradypus tridactylus

Armadillos

Armadillos are the only mammals that have a carapace or dorsal armor made of small bony plates. Their diversity is truly astonishing.

Sloths
Amazon Naked-Tailed Armadillo

Amazon Naked-Tailed Armadillo Cabassous unicinctus

Cerrado naked-tailed armadillo

Cerrado naked-tailed armadillo Cabassous squamicaudis

Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo

Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo Cabassous tatouay

Greater Long-nosed Armadillo

Greater long-nosed armadillo Dasypus pastasae

Nine-banded Armadillo

Nine-banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus

Seven-Banded Armadillo

Seven-Banded Armadillo Dasypus septemcinctus

Greater long-nosed armadillo

Greater long-nosed armadillo Dasypus kappleri

Greater Long-nosed Armadillo

Greater long-nosed armadillo Dasypus beniensis

Six-banded Armadillo

Six-banded armadillo  Euphractus sexcinctus

Giant Armadillo

Giant armadillo Priodontes maximus

Southern Three-banded Armadillo

Southern three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes matacus

Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo

Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus