This red silky anteater is one of the distinct silky anteater species recognized in modern taxonomic work. The specialist account confirms records in Brazil's western Amazon and says the southern range limit is unknown.
The dorsum has a distinct reddish tone, while the tail and limbs are more yellowish red. It has no dorsal or ventral stripes.
It occurs in Amazon forest, lives in trees and feeds almost entirely on ants.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.