Unprecedented research creates visual catalog to identify giant anteaters through marks on their fur

Unprecedented research carried out in the Pantanal and Cerrado discovered that, despite appearing the same, the giant anteater's markings hide a unique combination of details capable of revealing the identity of each animal.

Based on 553 records of anteaters, the study led by researchers at the Institute for the Conservation of Wild Animals (ICAS) organized these differences into a visual catalog.

The tool will facilitate individual identification of the species from photographs, contributing to long-term monitoring studies.

"After approximately 120 hours of analysis, 36 images that met the criteria established by the researchers for visualizing the coat were selected to make up the catalogue", details Gabriel Massocato, biologist and author of the study.

The main result was to show and organize part of the diversity of coat patterns that exist among giant anteaters, which can be used to recognize individuals.

"For the species, what works as an individual identifier is the combination of several characteristics. Using these elements, we were able to build a kind of visual identity for each animal", highlights researcher Alessandra Bertassoni.

The anteater's 'fingerprints'

Differences in anteaters — Photo: Icas

Identification does not depend on a single mark, but rather on the combination of several details on the animal's body. Among the main elements analyzed are:

Back stripes: Thickness, curvature and contrast of the light and dark stripes on the back.

Armband and elbows: The shape and design of the spots on the front paws and joints.

Auxiliary marks: Details on the wrist, mane and the way the colors meet.

Photographic identification is not new for the species, as previous studies have already demonstrated the use of fur for this differentiation.

The advancement of the new work is to visually organize this diversity into comparative tables, offering a reference structure to guide the interpretation of the records.

The study does not propose that a single characteristic is sufficient to recognize the animal. On the contrary: the greater the number of elements analyzed together, the more precise the information to differentiate them.

Knowing who the individual captured by a camera trap is increases the scientific value of the image.

Instead of just confirming the presence of the species, researchers can monitor which animals use the area, how long they remain there and obtain data on population dynamics and landscape use.

This ability is fundamental for the giant anteater, classified as Vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"When we manage to find the same individual in different records, we begin to build a story about that animal", highlights Massocato.

Currently, one of the program's focuses is animals in the dispersion phase, a period in which young people leave their home area to seek new territories. Monitoring them allows you to identify crossing routes, areas with good connectivity and points of risk or barriers.

These young people are called "ecological detectives" by researchers: by revealing where they move, they provide clues about the permeability of the landscape and help identify strategic areas for habitat recovery.