IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group

Overview and description

Description:

Anteaters, sloths and armadillos play important roles in a diversity of ecosystems across the continent. Many of them have already suffered great losses from fierce overhunting and the ceaseless ...

Dr Mariella SUPERINA

Chair

After graduating from University of Zurich, Switzerland, I obtained a doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine from University of Zurich and a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology at University of New Orleans. As a Research Scientist with CONICET in Mendoza Province, I study the conservation biology and conservation medicine of armadillos, as well as the ecoepidemiology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. I am also an associate researcher of Fundación Omacha, Colombia, where I act as the scientific advisor of the Conservation and Management Program for the Armadillos of the Llanos of Colombia. Finally, I am the advisor for conservation training at Foundation for International Aid to Animals.

Dr Agustin ABBA

Red List Authority Coordinator

Red List authority IUCN SSC Anteater, sloth and armadillo specialist group since 2009. After graduating from University of La Plata, Argentina, he started working on his dissertation on the ecology and conservation of armadillos in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, which he successfully defended in 2008. He is now a Research Scientist with CONICET at the Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, La Plata. He is currently involved in several research projects on the ecology, natural history, parasitology, distribution, and conservation of armadillos in Argentina.

More about the Specialist Group

Under the guidance of the IUCN SSC, the Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group is the world's leading body of scientific and practical management expertise on the status and conservation of all xenarthrans. The ASASG’s primary responsibility is to evaluate the conservation status of all xenarthran species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, working with current information from experts in the field. In addition, it focuses on research and ...

MISSION

The mission of the IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group is to promote the long-term conservation of the extant species of xenarthrans (anteaters, sloths and armadillos) and their habitats.

Specialist Group work

The ASASG works on behalf of xenarthrans by supporting field research, conservation measures and educational programs in their range countries. In addition, the ASASG provides technical support to rehabilitation centers and zoological institutions that care about, and care for, xenarthrans. The development or endorsement of action plans and capacity building in range of countries are other priorities of the ASASG.

Understanding the threats to Anteater, Sloth and Armadillos

Increasing scientific knowledge, raising awareness, developing and implementing comprehensive action plans and securing protection of their habitat. Capacity building through training courses will allow us to increase the number of researchers dedicated to conservation-relevant research on armadillos, sloths and anteaters. We predict that our awareness campaigns will increase knowledge about our species and their conservation problems among the general public.