Anteaters, Sloths and Armadillos
- Comments
-
Glasgow Museums has a collection of 22 anteaters, sloths and armadillos. These date from 1875 to 1991.
This collection relates to two mammal orders, the anteaters and sloths (Pilosa) and the armadillos (Cingulata). There are four mounted anteaters, representing three species – two silky anteaters (Cyclopes didactylus), one juvenile Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and one southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). There are four two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus), comprising of three mounted specimens and one skeleton, and two three-toed sloths (Bradypus tridactylus), comprising of one mounted specimen and one skeleton. There are also five hairy armadillos (Chaetophractus villosus), which comprise three mounted specimens and two skeletons. There are also five nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), three are mounted specimens and two are foetuses preserved in spirit. A further two specimens are currently unidentified. Most of the specimens are from Guyana, Brazil and Argentina. In the Adam White archives there is an original drawing and hand sheet of the first anteater ever to be seen in Britain, in the early 1800s.
About anteaters, sloths and armadillos
There are four species of anteaters, six species of sloths and 21 species of armadillos. They all live in South and Central America, and species of armadillos extend into the southern United States. Anteaters feed only on social insects, mainly ants and termites. Sloths are leaf-eaters and are well known for their slow movements. Armadillos have a tough carapace of armoured plates, and some can roll into a ball for protection. - Broader term
- Staff Contact