The Giant Anteater

The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a mammal found native to Central and South America, where they are typically found to inhabit wetlands, grasslands, and tropical rainforests. The Giant Anteater is known for its big claws, thin tapered snout, and long tongue. They are typically brown, black, and white, and have a long bushy tail. The largest individuals in the species can reach between 6-8 feet long, and weigh between 60 to 100 pounds. They can live up to an impressive 26 years in human care, with an unknown range for wild individuals.

As mentioned before, the Giant Anteater’s most famous asset is its tongue. The tongue of this animal is around two feet long. This special feature that Giant Anteater’s possess help them with their very specific diet of ants and termites. Giant Anteaters are able to smell and identify particular species of ants and termites before they even find the nest, and lead themselves to their food source with their powerful sense of smell. Using their claws and powerful upper body strength, Giant Anteaters are able to rip into the termite and ant nests with ease, and using their tongue, penetrate deep into the nest and eat up to 140 insects per mound in each feeding. This strict diet of insects makes Giant Anteaters what is known as an insectivore.

Giant Anteaters are not known to be social, preferring to keep to themselves at most times. The only exception to this, is during mating season, or when a mother is caring for her young. A young anteater, known as a pup, will be born typically in a liter of one, and spend most of its life on top of its mother’s back, staying there for a whole year. The pups are typically silent, not making much if any noise at all, except for the occasional shrill grunt. The mother anteater will typically only care for her young for two years, before the pups leave their mother and become individuals themselves.

The Giant Anteater also is known to have unusual sleeping habits, one that is mostly dictated by the human population density in the local area. If there are many people, or a large density, the Giant Anteaters will lean towards being nocturnal. In less populated areas, they are known to be diurnal.

While not known to be violent, the Giant Anteater does have a defense mechanism in the form of its giant claws. When threatened, the Giant Anteater will rear up onto its back legs, using their large tails as a balancing tool, and use their claws to swipe at the threat.

Although not considered endangered, due to habitat loss and deforestation, Giant Anteaters are extinct in countries such as Guatemala, Uruguay and El Salvador. Other major dangers to the Giant Anteater population include roadkill (such as being hit by cars), hunting, feral dogs, and hunting. Giant Anteaters are not known to be the fastest animals, as they tend to walk on their knuckles, and as such avoiding dangers such as cars and firearms is not in their natural defenses.

Overall, anteaters are an important part of the ecosystem, and an integral part of the diversity we find in the rainforest.