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Species ProfilesGiant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
It comes as no surprise that this 'giant' is the largest of the four known species of anteater. The giant anteater weighs an average of 65 lbs., and its body can measure up to four feet long while its tail adds another three feet! It rests its bulk on its knuckles to avoid the cutting edges of its four-inch claws. The claws are used to open insect nests, and for self-defense. All anteater species defend themselves by rearing up on their hind legs and using the claws on their forefeet for protection. The giant anteater has a dark and shaggy coat, with a white stripe along the shoulder and black bands around the wrists. Its tail is actually covered in scales rather than skin beneath its bushy exterior. Its most recognizable feature is its elongated snout. This anteater's tongue can extend out two feet, coming out an average of 150 times per minute when on the hunt for food. From tip to tail, it's a fine-tuned foraging machine, consuming up to 30,000 insects each day! The giant anteater digests the insects using a series of growths inside its mouth, as it has no teeth. These growths are also inside the stomach. Sticky saliva aids in easing digestion of their typical meal: a combination of ants, termites, and other large insects. They live in a wide range of habitat, including rainforests, wetlands, and grasslands in Central and much of South America -- areas where their favorite insects are found. It finds its food using its acute sense of smell. Anteaters are generally solitary animals, only coming together to mate. Females give birth to one offspring at a time after a gestation period of about six months. After birth, the babies climb up to their mother's back and stay there until they grow to about half the mother's size. Anteaters cannot feed themselves until they reach the age of two. Giant anteaters have no permanent nest and sleep in open, or covered spaces. They have been known to be active during the day, though they are usually active at night. The giant anteater has a lifespan of about 14 years in the wild. They are extinct throughout part of their range and are considered rare. Sources:
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