Myrmecophaga tridactyla Skull Replica measures 15 inches. Known as the Giant Anteater. Myrmecophaga tridactyla Skull Replica is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Known as the Giant Anteater.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla or Giant Anteater, is a large insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters and is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa. This species is mostly terrestrial.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla can be identified by its large size, elongated muzzle, and long bushy tail. It has a total body length of 5.97 to 7.12 ft. Males weigh 73 to 110 lb. and females weigh 60 to 104 lb., making the giant anteater the biggest extant species in its suborder.

The head of the Myrmecophaga tridactyla, at 12 inches long, is particularly elongated, even when compared to other anteaters. Its tubular snout, which ends in its tiny mouth opening and nostrils, takes up most of its head. Its eyes and ears are relatively small.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla or Giant Anteater does not have teeth and is capable of only very limited jaw movement. It relies on the rotation of the two halves of its lower jaw, held together by a ligament connecting the rami, to open and close its mouth.

This is accomplished by its chewing muscles, which are relatively underdeveloped. Jaw depression creates an oral opening large enough for the slender tongue to flick out.

It has a length of around 24 in. and is more triangular in the back but becomes more rounded towards the front and ends in a rounded tip. The tongue has backward-curving papillae and is extremely moist due to the large salivary glands.

It has poor eyesight, but its sense of smell is 40 times more sensitive than that of humans. Giant anteaters or Myrmecophaga tridactyla can live around 16 years in captivity.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla neck is especially thick compared to the back of the head, and a small hump can be found at the back of the neck. The coat is mostly grayish, brown or black and salted with white.

The forelimbs are white, with black bands around the wrists, while the hind limbs are dark. Thick black bands with white outlines stretch from throat to shoulder, ending in triangular points.

The body ends in a brown tail. The coat hairs are long, especially on the tail. A stiff mane stretches along the back.

While there is some difference in size and shape between the sexes, males being larger and more robust, telling them apart from a distance can be difficult.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla male genitals are located within its body and upon closer examination, its uno-genital opening is smaller and farther from the anus. The female’s two mammary glands are located between the front legs.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla has a low body temperature for a mammal, about 33 °C (91 °F), a few degrees lower than a typical mammalian temperature of 36 to 38 °C (97 to 100 °F). In general they tend to have lower metabolic rates than most other mammals, a trend thought to correlate with their dietary specializations and low mobility.

The Myrmecophaga tridactyla can be found in Savanna grasslands, swamps and humid forests of North East South America, Belize – North Argentina.

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