The Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus, family Cyclopedidae) - also known as the Pygmy Anteater - is the smallest of all anteaters , weighing only 300 grams as an adult. It is extremely difficult to observe in the wild because it is only active at night and moves through the canopy without descending to the ground.

The Silky Anteater is distributed throughout the Amazonian rainforest. An isolated, genetically distinct population exists in the northeastern Atlantic forest of Brazil and is regionally classified as ‘Critically Endangered’. This population is particularly threatened by habitat destruction, as deforestation is advancing at a fast pace. Locals also frequently capture Silky Anteaters to keep them as pets.