Comparison of Estimated Wild Giant Anteater (Myrmecopahaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) Diets with Commercial Diets for Insectivores: Implications for Anteater Health
Using the stomach contents of 24 wild road-killed giant anteaters as proxies for their diet, we found that estimated wild diets were much lower in calcium (about ten times less) and phosphorus compared with manufactured feeds commonly fed to anteaters under human care. Indicators of soil consumption, such as ash, iron, and manganese were higher […]
Captive health and husbandry of the Bradypodidae
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20072.abs Members of the Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths) are rarely seen in the zoological setting. To date, minimal published accounts of the medicine and husbandry needs of this family have been documented. It therefore is often presumed that the same techniques of care and handling of the genus Choleopus (two-toed sloths) can be applied; however, […]
Husbandry of a pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus): case study of a cryptic and little known species in captivity
Abstract Pink fairy armadillos, Chlamyphorus truncatus, are poorly known fossorial mammals that are endemic to central Argentina. These smallest of all extant armadillos are rarely observed in the field and extremely difficult to maintain under captive conditions. This case study describes the husbandry of a male pink fairy armadillo that was maintained in an artificial […]
Assessment of adrenocortical activity and behavior of the collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) in response to food-based environmental enrichment
One of the current standard approaches to the study of animal welfare is measuring hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal activity, frequently in association with behavioral assessment. We studied the effects of food-based environmental enrichment on adrenocortical activity and behavior in zoo-housed collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla; n = 5). We successfully validated measurements of fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) using an 11-oxoetiocholanolone enzyme […]
In‐house monitoring of steroid hormone metabolites in urine informs breeding management of a giant anteater (Myrmechophaga tridactyla)
Although numbers of giant anteaters within North American facilities have been steadily increasing for the last 15 years, the population now exhibits an unstable age distribution with genetically valuable individuals nearing reproductive senescence. Contributing to this issue is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) described lack of standardization of breeding introduction practices and high […]