# List of pilosans

Pilosa is an order of placental mammals. Members of this order are called pilosans, and include anteaters and sloths. They are found in South and Central America, generally in forests, though some species are found in shrublands, grasslands, and savannas. Pilosans primarily eat insects and leaves. They range in size from the silky anteater, at 36 cm (14 in) plus a 18 cm (7 in) tail, to the giant anteater, at 120 cm (47 in) plus a 90 cm (35 in) tail. No pilosans have population estimates, but the pygmy three-toed sloth is categorized as critically endangered.
The ten extant species of Pilosa are divided into two suborders: Folivora, the sloths, and Vermilingua, the anteaters. Folivora contains two families: Bradypodidae, containing four species in one genus; and Choloepodidae, containing two species in one genus. Vermilingua also contains two families: Cyclopedidae, containing a single species, and Myrmecophagidae, containing three species in two genera. Dozens of extinct prehistoric pilosan species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

## Conventions

Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the pilosan's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".

## Classification

The order Pilosa consists of ten extant species in two suborders: Folivora, the sloths, and Vermilingua, the anteaters. Folivora contains two families: Bradypodidae, containing four species in one genus; and Choloepodidae, containing two species in one genus. Vermilingua also contains two families: Cyclopedidae, containing a single species, and Myrmecophagidae, containing three species in two genera. Many of these species are further subdivided into subspecies. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
Suborder Folivora
* Family Bradypodidae
** Genus Bradypus (three-toed sloths): four species
* Family Choloepodidae
** Genus Choloepus (two-toed sloths): two species
Suborder Vermilingua
* Family Cyclopedidae
** Genus Cyclopes (silky anteater): one species
* Family Myrmecophagidae
** Genus Myrmecophaga (giant anteater): one species
** Genus Tamandua (tamanduas): two species
Pilosa
Folivora
Bradypodidae
Bradypus
Choloepodidae
Choloepus
Vermilingua
Cyclopedidae
Cyclopes
Myrmecophagidae
Myrmecophaga
Tamandua :

## Pilosans

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

### Suborder Folivora
#### Bradypodidae

Genus Bradypus – Linnaeus, 1758 – four species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Brown-throated sloth | B. variegatus Schinz, 1825 Seven subspecies B. v. boliviensis B. v. brasiliensis B. v. ephippiger B. v. gorgon B. v. infuscatus B. v. trivittatus B. v. variegatus | Central America and northern South America | Size: 42–80 cm (17–31 in) long, plus 2–9 cm (1–4 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Leaves, flowers, and fruit of Cecropia trees | LC  Unknown |
| Maned sloth | B. torquatus Illiger, 1811 | Eastern South America | Size: 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long, plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Leaves | VU  Unknown |
| Pale-throated sloth | B. tridactylus Linnaeus, 1758 | Northern South America | Size: 45–75 cm (18–30 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Twigs, buds, and leaves of Cecropia trees | LC  Unknown |
| Pygmy three-toed sloth | B. pygmaeus Anderson, Handley, 2001 | Isla Escudo de Veraguas in Panama | Size: 48–53 cm (19–21 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Leaves | CR  Unknown |

#### Choloepodidae

Genus Choloepus – Illiger, 1811 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Hoffmann's two-toed sloth | C. hoffmanni Peters, 1858 Five subspecies C. h. capitalis C. h. florenciae C. h. hoffmanni C. h. juruanus C. h. pallescens | Central America and northern and western South America | Size: 54–72 cm (21–28 in) long, plus 1–3 cm (1 in) tail Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Leaves, as well as buds, twigs, shoots, fruits, and flowers | LC  Unknown |
| Linnaeus's two-toed sloth | C. didactylus (Linnaeus, 1758) | Northern South America | Size: 60–86 cm (24–34 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (1 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Berries, leaves, small twigs, and fruit, as well as insects | LC  Unknown |

### Suborder Vermilingua
#### Cyclopedidae

Genus Cyclopes – Gray, 1821 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Silky anteater | C. didactylus (Linnaeus, 1758) Seven subspecies C. d. catellus C. d. didactylus C. d. dorsalis C. d. eva C. d. ida C. d. melini C. d. mexicanus | Central America and northern and eastern South America | Size: 36–45 cm (14–18 in) long, plus 18–27 cm (7–11 in) tail Habitat: Forest Diet: Ants and termites | LC  Unknown |

#### Myrmecophagidae

Genus Myrmecophaga – Linnaeus, 1758 – one species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Giant anteater | M. tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 Three subspecies M. t. artata M. t. centralis M. t. tridactyla | Central America and South America (former range in red) | Size: 100–120 cm (39–47 in) long, plus 65–90 cm (26–35 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland Diet: Ants, termites, and soft-bodied grubs | VU  Unknown |
Genus Tamandua – Gray, 1825 – two species :
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
| Northern tamandua | T. mexicana (Saussure, 1860) Four subspecies T. m. instabilis T. m. mexicana T. m. opistholeuca T. m. punensis | Central America and northern South America | Size: 47–77 cm (19–30 in) long, plus 40–68 cm (16–27 in) tail Habitat: Forest and savanna Diet: Ants and termites | LC  Unknown |
| Southern tamandua | T. tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) Four subspecies T. t. nigra T. t. quichua T. t. straminea T. t. tetradactyla | South America | Size: 53–88 cm (21–35 in) long, plus 40–59 cm (16–23 in) tail Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland Diet: Ants and termites, as well as bees and honey | LC  Unknown |