# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Ant Bear, Anteater ![Giant Anteaters](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771438794/objects/4004.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Myrmecophagidae - **Genus:** Myrmecophaga ## 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 - **Termite Mound Buster:** Giant Anteaters can shred tough termite mounds because of their powerful, 10cm long claws that help them dig for food. - **Super Sniffer:** Giant Anteaters has an incredible sense of smell that helps them locate insect nests deep underground, even without seeing them. - **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 - **Speed:** 48 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 183-190 days ## 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals like anteaters. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant Anteaters? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Buffalo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buffalo-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chattanooga-zoo-at-warner-park) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Cotswold Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cotswold-wildlife-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Potawatomi Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/potawatomi-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Brandywine Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brandywine-zoo) — Delaware, US · Zoo [View all places to see Giant Anteaters](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/giant-anteaters) ## Watch - [Play video: Giant Anteaters](https://www.snappit.app/videos/giant-anteaters) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=dTlBg_IdZmY) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Giant Anteaters: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-anteaters)