Giant Anteater
Giant Anteater Facts
| Size | 7-55 inches (18-140 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 19 mph (30 km/h) |
| Weight | 6 ounces to 85 pounds (175 grams to 39 kg) |
| Lifespan | 4-9 years |
| Food | Ants, termites |
| Predators | Cougars, snakes, jaguars |
| Habitat | Central and South America |
| Order | Pilosa |
| Suborder | Anteater |
| Family | Myrmecophagidae |
| Scientific name | Myrmecophaga tridactyla |
| Characteristics | Mammal with the longest tongue and tube-shaped snout |
Main Characteristics
The giant anteater is a type of xenarthra. Among all land mammals, it has the longest tongue, reaching up to 24 inches (61 cm)! With this impressive tongue, it consumes around 30,000 to 35,000 ants and termites each day. Notable features include its elongated snout that houses the tongue, and its bushy tail, which acts like a stabilizer to help maintain balance. There are also smaller anteaters with short fur, prehensile tails, and a tree-dwelling lifestyle.
Species
There are four species: the giant anteater, the silky (or pygmy) anteater, and the Northern and Southern tamandua.
Relatives
In the past, it was believed that anteaters were related to aardvarks and pangolins due to their similar body structure, which includes an elongated snout, a long tongue, and a diet of termites. However, we now understand that while these animals have evolved in similar ways, they are not actually related. The closest relatives of anteaters are sloths and armadillos.
Distribution and Habitat
The home of anteaters is in South and Central America. They thrive in grasslands, savannas, and rainforests. The giant anteater prefers to stay on the ground, while the silky anteater is an excellent climber and lives exclusively in trees. Tamanduas can be found both on the ground and in trees.
Way of Life
Anteaters are solitary creatures that only come together to mate. They spend a lot of time searching for insects, which they collect using their long, sticky tongues. Giant anteaters are active during the day, and at night, they wrap their bushy tails around themselves like a blanket to stay cozy and warm. This is crucial since they have a low body temperature of just 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and can easily get cold. Tamanduas are active both day and night, while silky anteaters are strictly nocturnal.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
The largest anteater is the giant anteater (surprise!). It measures between 40-55 inches (100-140 cm) in length and weighs between 48-85 pounds (22-39 kg). On the other hand, the smallest is the silky (or pygmy) anteater, which only grows to about 7-8 inches (18-21 cm) long and weighs a mere 6-14 ounces (175-400 grams).
Tongue
The tongue of the giant anteater can reach lengths of up to 24 inches (61 cm), setting a world record! No other land mammal has a tongue this long. It's only 0.4-0.6 inches (10-15 mm) wide and can be flicked out up to 160 times per minute, much like a tiny jackhammer.
Tail
The giant anteater has a bushy tail that is 23-35 inches (60-90 cm) long, which is about half the length of its body. In contrast, the tail of the silky anteater and the tamanduas is roughly the same length as their bodies.
Fur
The giant anteater has a long, coarse coat, except for its face. The hairs on its tail can be as long as 16 inches (40 cm). In contrast, the silky anteater and the tamanduas have short fur all over.
Anteater or Aardvark – What's the Difference?
Anteaters and aardvarks may look alike and both feed on ants and termites, but they can be easily distinguished by their ears. Large anteaters have barely visible ears, while aardvarks have long, donkey-like ears. Additionally, aardvarks are not part of the xenarthran group. They belong to the 'tubulidentata' and are native to Africa.
Anteater or Coati – What's the Difference?
Anteaters and coatis share some similarities: both have long snouts, hunt for food on the ground, and inhabit Central and South America. However, they are two entirely different species. Anteaters are classified as xenarthrans, while coatis belong to the carnivorous group, specifically the small bears.
Diet
Anteaters are carnivores. They consume about 30,000 to 35,000 ants and termites each day. Occasionally, they also enjoy soft larvae, fruits, and eggs.
Behavior
Hunting
Claws at the Ready!
Anteaters use their keen sense of smell to sniff out ants and termites. To catch their prey, giant anteaters and tamanduas dig into nests with their strong, long claws and then insert their snouts to collect the insects with their tongues. The silky anteater 'slurps' up insects directly from the tree bark.
Speed Is the Key
Ants and termites defend themselves against attacks from anteaters by using formic acid. This is why the anteater only eats for about 40 seconds at a time—so that the insects are consumed before they can retaliate. The giant anteater's tongue can flick in and out up to 160 times per minute. Ants and termites that get stuck in the sticky saliva are scraped off as the tongue retracts and are swallowed. Yum!
Locomotion
Giant anteaters don't walk on the pads of their feet. Instead, they move on their 'fists' to protect their long claws. This way, they avoid contact with the ground and prevent wear and tear. After all, they need sharp claws for digging and defense.
Sleeping
Anteaters sleep for 15 hours a day, making them some of the sleepiest animals around.
Defense
Stink Bombs
Anteaters have scent glands that release a foul-smelling liquid. They use this to mark their territory. Tamanduas also utilize their scent glands when they feel threatened, emitting a smell that is said to be far worse than that of a skunk. Because of this, they are often referred to as the 'stinkers of the forest.'
Claws
Anteaters use their long, sharp claws and strong legs to defend themselves against predators. The pygmy anteater hangs from its prehensile tail when threatened and strikes back with its powerful fists.
Are Anteaters Dangerous?
Anteaters are generally calm and peaceful creatures, but they can become quite dangerous to humans if they feel threatened. To protect themselves, they use their sharp claws to strike, which can result in serious cuts.
Senses and Abilities
Senses
Anteaters have an exceptional sense of smell, which is their most important sense. They can smell 40 times better than humans, although their eyesight is quite poor.
Body Temperature
Most mammals have a body temperature ranging from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 37 degrees Celsius), but anteaters are an exception with a significantly lower temperature of just 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius).
Swimming
Giant anteaters may not look like it because of their body shape, but they can swim quite well. On the other hand, pygmy anteaters aren't great swimmers.
Tail
Prehensile Tail
The silky anteater has a prehensile tail, which is essential for its tree-dwelling lifestyle, providing a secure grip. This tail acts like a safety harness in rock climbing, preventing falls even if it slips with its claws. While the tamandua can also use its tail for grasping, it doesn't do so as effectively as the silky anteater. In contrast, the giant anteater lacks a prehensile tail altogether.
Bike Stand
For the giant anteater, its tail acts like a bicycle stand: when it stands upright on two legs, it presses its tail against the ground. This helps it maintain balance and prevents it from toppling over.
Warm Blanket
The tail of the giant anteater is quite long and bushy. At first glance, it may seem that the numerous long hairs are cumbersome as they drag on the ground. However, they serve a crucial purpose: when the nights turn chilly, it wraps himself in its tail like a cozy blanket, helping to maintain its body temperature.
Life Expectancy
The lifespan of anteaters in the wild is still unknown. However, in captivity, they typically live between 4 to 9 years. Interestingly, a female anteater at the Dortmund Zoo (Germany) lived to be 28 years old.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The main natural predators of anteaters include cougars and jaguars. Tamanduas are also hunted by ocelots, foxes, caimans, and harpy eagles. The pygmy anteater faces threats from hawks.
Human Impact
The biggest threat to anteaters is habitat loss. Their forests are being increasingly cleared, leaving them with less protection from predators and harsh weather. Additionally, road traffic poses a significant danger, as many animals are fatally injured by vehicles. In some areas, anteaters are also hunted for their meat.
Importance for the Ecosystem
Anteaters play a crucial role in maintaining nature's balance. They consume around 30,000 to 35,000 ants and termites each day, helping to prevent these insects from overpopulating. This is a blessing for farmers, as it reduces their need for pesticides.
Reproduction
Anteaters are solitary creatures that only come together to mate. Their gestation period lasts between 120 and 190 days, typically resulting in the birth of a single offspring. After giving birth, the mother nurses her baby, often carrying it on her back until it is strong and independent enough. The young anteaters reach adulthood in about 2 to 4 years and then start their own journeys. Additionally, not much is known about their reproductive behavior.
Fun Facts
Pokémon
The fire Pokémon Heatmor is an anteater.
Animal Crossing
In the Nintendo game Animal Crossing, you'll find a variety of anteaters: Anabelle, Annalisa, Antonio, Cyrano, Lulu, Nosegay, Olaf, Pango, Snooty, and Zoe.
Blue Aardvark
In the animated series featuring the Pink Panther, there was a blue aardvark. This character had a long nose and a fondness for ants, especially the clever ant named Charlie. Although the short cartoons are titled 'The Ant and the Aardvark', he often refers to himself as an anteater. However, it's easy to identify the blue creature as an aardvark due to its long ears, which are much larger than those of anteaters, who have very small ears. In the German version, the male aardvark was changed to a female anteater named 'Blue Elise'.
The Giant Anteater Is Related To:
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Ants
- Barn Owl
- Cougar
- Great Horned Owl
- Harpy
- Jaguar
- Ocelot
- Termite
- Toucan
- Peregrine Falcon
Sources:
- „Longest tongue for a land mammal“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Threats to the conservation of the vulnerable giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Cerrado biome: a retrospective survey“ (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- „Study investigates impact of road deaths on giant anteater population in Cerrado“ (https://news.mongabay.com)
- „A brief note on the sleeping habits of the giant anteater - Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus (Xenarthra, Myrmecophagidae)“ (https://www.scielo.br)
- „Loss of forests turns up the heat, literally, on giant anteaters“ (https://news.mongabay.com)
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