A macroscopic and microscopic study of the mandibular organ of the silky 
anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) was carried out. The organ extends from below the 
zygomatic bone line to the middle of the mandible body, between the skin and the 
masseter muscle, on both sides of the animal. It has an average length of 11.7 
mm and a width of 6.3 mm. In the mesoscopic analysis, it was observed that the 
organ presents in yellowish color due to the high amount of sebaceous content. 
In the histological analysis, the mandibular organ was observed to be composed 
of innumerable alveoli of the specialized sebaceous gland, surrounded by a layer 
of adventitia tunica. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed an apparent 
alveolar division with what appeared to be a sulcus at its center. The 
information here presented regarding the constitution and location of this 
structure has not been previously explored for other species and differs with 
respect to other descriptions for anteaters. Based on the present study, it is 
suggested that the mandibular organ is involved in social interaction in this 
species.