Mammals · Vermilingua

Anteaters

Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater)

Vulnerable

Anteaters are toothless mammals native to Central and South America, using long snouts and sticky tongues to feed almost entirely on ants and termites.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Pilosa

Suborder: Vermilingua

Other names: Antbear, ant bear

Anteater Species

Pygmy Anteater (Silky Anteater)

Cyclopes didactylus

Giant Anteater

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Lesser Anteaters (Tamandua)

Tamandua tetradactyla / Tamandua mexicana

Size

The silky anteater is the smallest species at 14–18 in. long and about 14 oz. The giant anteater is the largest at 40–48 in. long (plus a 28–35 in. tail) and 60–140 lbs. Males are heavier than females.

Habitat

South and Central America — dry tropical forest, rain forest, grassland and savanna.

Description

A long, sticky tongue and powerful claws; a tube-shaped mouth with lips but no teeth; dense, long fur that protects against insect bites; small rounded ears and small eyes. All species except the giant anteater have a prehensile tail.

Diet

Large, curved front claws tear open ant and termite mounds; anteaters also eat beetle larvae and bees.

Senses

Good hearing, poor eyesight, and an excellent sense of smell.

Behavior

Anteaters defend a home territory of about 1 to 1.5 square miles.

Gestation

Giant anteaters carry their young for about 190 days; gestation length varies by species.

Life Span

Varies by species. Pumas and jaguars are natural predators of the anteater.

Social Structure

Adult anteaters are normally solitary.

Did You Know?

Anteaters have the lowest body temperature of any mammal, and can tolerate greater fluctuations in body temperature than most mammals.

Did You Know?

The Spiny Anteater, Banded Anteater, Cape Anteater and Scaly Anteater are not considered "true anteaters" — they belong to entirely different mammal families.

Did You Know?

An anteater’s tongue can be up to 2 feet long — but it has no teeth at all in its mouth.

Did You Know?

Giant anteaters walk on their knuckles to protect the long, curved digging claws used to tear open ant mounds.