Koller - Out of This World Tuesday, 28 June 2022, 4pm

1880* ♣ GIANT ANTEATER Myrmecophaga tridactyla Around 1950 122 x 48 x 22 cm Provenance: - Old Swiss school collection - Swiss private collection The Giant Anteater is the largest representative of the anteaters (Vermilingua). Like their closest relatives the sloths and armadillos, it belongs to the order of the Xenartha and the Pilosa. The Giant Anteater has, as its Latin name indicates, three large long claws on its front paws. The mammal is found throughout much of Central and South America and feeds exclusively on ants and termites. Their excellent sense of smell helps them find food, and the animals use their strong claws to break open termite burrows. The most striking feature is their long, thin snout measuring up to 45 cm, which has only a tiny mouth opening. The tongue, up to 60 cm long, is covered with sticky mucous membrane, on which the insects stick and are devoured in large numbers. The specimen presented here was completely restored by a Swiss taxidermy artist. CHF 8 000 / 12 000 (€ 7 770 / 11 650) | 80 Out of This World | Natural History, Space Exploration & Entertainment Memorabilia