Giant Anteaters
ExploreMammals
Giant Anteaters
Myrmecophaga
Giant anteaters are big, furry animals with long snouts and sharp claws. They love to eat ants and termites, using their long tongues to catch them. They are very gentle and spend a lot of time sleeping.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Giant Anteater has a distinctive long, tubular snout and a bushy tail that can be as long as its body. Its coarse fur is mostly greyish-brown, with a striking black stripe bordered by white, running from its chest to its back. Its large claws are highly noticeable, often tucked under its body.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderPilosaFamilyMyrmecophagidaeGenusMyrmecophaga
Category
MammalsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Anteaters can snap up 160 ants per minute with their lightning-fast tongue!
Giant anteaters walk on their knuckles to protect their super-sharp claws from wearing down!
Their bushy tail acts like a warm blanket or umbrella when they rest!
They have one of the lowest body temperatures of all mammals, saving energy!
Special abilities
Ability
Termite Mound Buster
Giant Anteaters can shred tough termite mounds because of their powerful, 10cm long claws that help them dig for food.
Ability
Super Sniffer
Giant Anteaters has an incredible sense of smell that helps them locate insect nests deep underground, even without seeing them.
Ability
Sticky Tongue Trap
Giant Anteaters can rapidly flick their super-long, sticky tongue to slurp up thousands of ants and termites in minutes.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 182-220 cm
- Weight
- 33-50 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-16 years
- Top Speed
- 48 km/h
- Litter Size
- 1
- Gestation
- 183-190 days
Watch
Diet & Feeding
They use their long snouts and sticky tongues to slurp up thousands of ants and termites daily.
Primary Foods
- Ants
- Termites
- Insect larvae
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Jaguar
Panthera onca
A primary predator of adult and young anteaters.
eaten by
Puma
Puma concolor
Hunts anteaters, especially the young or vulnerable adults.
eats
Mound-building termite
Cornitermes cumulans
A common termite species often consumed by anteaters.
Traits
Furry
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Endangered
Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Also known as
Ant BearAnteater
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals like anteaters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Giant Anteaters?
182-220 cm
How much does Giant Anteaters weigh?
33-50 kg
How long does Giant Anteaters live?
10-16 years
How fast can Giant Anteaters move?
48 km/h
What does Giant Anteaters eat?
They use their long snouts and sticky tongues to slurp up thousands of ants and termites daily.
Where is Giant Anteaters usually found?
Grasslands
How does Giant Anteaters hunt?
Foraging
How many babies does Giant Anteaters usually have?
1
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