Also, although anteaters take their time when walking, they can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30 mph. However, they are also known to live alone or in pairs . This anteater has long, bushy tail and short, strong legs. However, they are known to eat the larvae of bees and wasps. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? Southern tamanduas can be found in places like Venezuela, Trinidad, and Uruguay. The giant anteater's claws are some four inches long, and the animal can fight off even a puma or jaguar. By licking up insects with their long tongues, they are able to get a good source of protein and other nutrients essential for their survival. WebAnswer: A lot. So, to detoxify this formic acid, anteaters drink a lot of water up to 13 gallons a day. WebThe giant anteater and tamanduas constitute the family Myrmecophagidae, which means ant-eating in Latin, whereas the silky anteater is classified in a family of its own, The bugs travel down into the anteaters stomach, where super-strong muscles grind them up. Also, this makes sure that the ant colony is not wiped out and it can again come back after a few days to feed again. Ants fight back with painful stings, so an anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound. Can we bring a species back from the brink? Anteaters have a sense of smell that is 40 times greater than humans. Reproductive maturity is reached at 2-4 years old. They will also dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally. The silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) is specialized to an arboreal environment, but the more opportunistic tamanduas find their food both on the ground and in trees, typically in dry forests near streams and lakes. 1 How do anteaters eat ants without getting bit? The anteaters often use their sticky tongues to consume termites as well. Find more information about fire ants in eXtensions Imported Fire Ant Resource Area. Anteaters are fascinating creatures that dwell on the consumption of ants and termites for their survival. A defensive anteater will rear back on its hind legs, use its tail for balance, and come out swinging with those fistfuls of blades. Though they do eat ants so they are technically ant eaters aardvarks are a separate species from anteaters, which are found in South America. Thanks for learning about anteaters! In Brazil, for example, the burning of sugar cane plantations before their harvest causes serious burn injuries among Giant anteaters, leading to huge numbers of death. Anteaters are abundant across Central and South America, except for the giant anteater, which is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. When eating so many ants, formic acid is consumed as well. That's because there are 2,000 different kinds of edible ants in the U.S., and up to 12,000 across the world. Does an Anteaters Diet Have an Impact on Other Species? These animals are very important for the ecosystem of their habitat. Giant anteaters average between six and eight feet long and can weigh up to 140 pounds. In fact, anteaters are specially adapted to eating ants and termites. They Have the Lowest Body Temperature of Any Mammal, 6. All have evolved powerful digging forearms, long tongues, and toothless, tube-like snouts to subsist by raiding termite mounds. They have a great sense of smell, sharp claws that can easily break down anthills, long highly flexible tongues to scoop enormous amounts of ants at a rapid pace without the need to do any chewing. The name "anteater" is also commonly applied to the unrelated aardvark, numbat, echidnas, It's the smallest of the four and spends a majority of its time up in trees. If it's a gel ant farm then you should not feed them as it contains all the food they need at least for the worker ants queens can't lay eggs as th The ants can just simply move over to a new location and build another nest there. This is possibly because the ants fled and ended up in the food that these animals eat. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The giant anteater, which can weigh up to 90 pounds when fully grown, is sometimes called the "ant bear" due to its markings and size. However, if scared or startled, they can run fairly fast, up to 30 mph. The long, cylindrical, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the nests. No, anteaters are not dangerous to be around humans. Its rare, though, and you dont have to worry about them attacking people. 1. Pups leave their mother after two years, when theyre considered fully grown. How do anteaters eat ants without getting bit? First of all, theyre incredibly secretiveso secretive that scientists know almost nothing about them. Feeding on Ants The giant anteater uses its sharp claws to tear an opening into an anthill and put its long snout, sticky saliva, and efficient tongue to work. However, their bodies adapt by conserving energy wherever possible. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. No. They attack the ant hills suddenly and by taking advantage of the chaos in the ant colony, scoops in as many ants as it could, and right when the ants start fighting back, they leave the nest and move in search of a new mound. Anteaters directly swallow the ants whole as they are so tiny, if they opted for larger insects instead of ants, they would have to chew on them first to break them down for easy digestion. It acts like a bicycle kickstand, allowing the anteater to keep balance while standing on two legs. Giant anteaters tend to avoid eating termites, leaf-cutter ants, and army ants, all of which are large-jawed and aggressive. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They dont live in the same parts of the world, and evidence shows that given the choice, anteaters prefer other small insects like termites over fire ants. Expert Tip: Despite being one of the smallest vertebrates, blind snakes can eat a massive amount of ant eggs and larvae. They also consume other small creatures, such as worms, as well as some fruit and vegetation. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, California is having an epic 'supershroom' season, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, The mystery of London's elusive Roman amphitheater, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. Their tongues are sticky and covered with thousands of tiny hooks to hold onto the ants. Terms and Conditions Their weird tongues are actually pretty awesome and if you ever encounter one, enjoy watching them go about eating ants and marvel at how long their tongues are. Male anteaters keep their testicles inside their bodies. The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) is an ant species found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central and South America. All these make the ants the perfect food for anteaters and the best thing about consuming ants is that they are available in huge numbers almost everywhere in the world. Are Anteaters immune to bullet ants? Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. Anteaters follow a simple strategy of attacking the fire ant mounds suddenly and taking advantage of the confusion in the ant nest to scoop in as many ants as it can, and as soon as the ant colony starts fighting back, they move on in search of another anthill and the cycle continues. 2. Its unclear who managed to do all that counting! However, they can also consume soft-bodied grubs, eggs as well as fruit. Anteaters move slowly, sleep most of the day, and use their fur and tails to maintain body heat. The second-place choice was none of these.. How Many Times Can a Snake Bite Until its Out of Venom? They will gradually transition to solid food as they get older. Anteaters typically live for around 15 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity. One critter is rude to him, a tiger in a tree says that he thinks anteater looks pretty tasty and another suggests watermelon might be a good choice. The name "anteater" is also commonly applied to the unrelated aardvark, numbat, echidnas, pangolins, and some members of the Oecobiidae, although they are not closely related to them. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. As its name suggests, anteaters feed almost entirely on ants. For example, they may dig through garbage cans in search of food. Anteaters use their long, sharp claws to dig through the hard exoskeletons of insects. Anteaters tend to go after less bitey prey. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous' A territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima Polygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male. They can also eat some fruit and vegetation. Accessed on27 July 2022. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In fact, termites make up a large part of their diet. Only certain species of ants, such as fire ants, have a stinger. When an aardvark finds any ant or termite nest, it digs open the tunnels of these nests. In a day, it can eat around Ants and ant eggs are an integral part of their diet. On the other hand, the infants usually make grunting sound, when falling off their mother's back. In between rounds, they swiped at each other with their claws. At one time, anteaters were assumed to be related to aardvarks and pangolins because of their physical similarities to those animals, but these similarities have since been determined to be not a sign of a common ancestor, but of convergent evolution. "Cyclopes didactylus." It has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. Visual sex determination can, however, be difficult, since the penis and testes are located internally between the rectum and urinary bladder in males and females have a single pair of mammae near the armpits. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. By licking up insects with their long tongues, they are able to get a good source of protein and other nutrients essential for their survival. Anteaters were confined to South America, which was formerly an island continent, during most of the Cenozoic Era. Baby anteaters, much like any other mammal, drink milk from their mothers for the first months of their lives. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. An anteater typically eats for approximately a minute at each mound before marching on. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Their tongue is so flexible that it can constantly flick ants into the mouth about 150 times every single minute. Once they are fully grown and able to survive in the wild, anteaters leave their mothers and go off by themselves. However, their stomachs are not designed to digest plant matter, so they do not have the teeth or claws necessary to tear through tough plant material. Also, the biology of an anteater is perfectly suited to consuming ants. Information on this site is not a substitute for professional advice. Anteaters range in size from 24 to 58 inches long, and they weigh between 12 and 88 pounds. 10. Southern tamanduas range south to Uruguay (giant anteaters did also until their recent extirpation there) and the ranges of all species except the northern tamandua overlap in eastern Brazil. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Finally, at the time when the female becomes pregnant again, the pup leaves to begin its own life. They dont have really good vision, so they rely on their nostrils to help them find food. While it is possible for an anteater to hurt someone if it feels threatened, such cases are rare. When an anteater eats an ant colony, they not only eat the ants but also the eggs and larvae. 2014: e.T14224A47441961. There are 4 species of anteater ( the giant anteater, the silky anteater and the north and south tamanduas). All of them share similar predators th They wont be able to find 30,000 ants, of course, but they will definitely enjoy having them as a snack! As the largest of all four anteater species, the giant anteater can reach eight feet long from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail. The anteaters stay away from wasp, bee and hornet nests. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ears? Not everyone realizes that there are actually two main kinds of anteaters: the giant anteater and the lesser anteater (tamandua). Anteaters do not have sound vision however they have a superior sense of smell. Theyre actually good at hunting for ants. Every ant colony has dedicated soldier ants whose duty is to protect the ant colony from predators. While eating, they also ingest small stones and other detritus, which helps them digest their food by crushing them. Website Accessibility Statement How did the Aardvark anteater get its name? An anteater is a pretty large animal, and so it wont be as affected by the venom of most ants as the prey the ants are used to. They have a very e New AI may pass the famed Turing test. Giant anteaters possess no teeth, yet these animals can devour up to 30,000 ants as well as termites every day. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. In the wild, most of an anteaters diet comes from ants and termites, but they have also been known to eat beetles, caterpillars, and other insects. By licking up insects with their The Giant anteater may travel an average of 3,700 m (12,100 ft) per day. They use their forelimbs to fight, standing in a bipedal position and using the tail to keep balance. The long, cylindrical, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the nests. Insects are the main food source for anteaters, which they catch with their very long tongues. They will typically flee if they encounter a human, and they have no venom or other means of defending themselves. Some of the things anteaters eat are: Typically anteaters eat around 20,000 insects each day! [6], With a body temperature fluctuating between 33 and 36C (91 and 97F), anteaters, like other xenarthrans, have among the lowest body temperatures of any mammal,[8] and can tolerate greater fluctuations in body temperature than most mammals. Here are 15 reasons why. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Fur? They can also be found in some parts of Mexico and Brazil. However, they can live for up to 20 years in captivity. Giant anteaters are generally solitary animals. As a result, ants, as well as ant eggs, get stuck onto the tongue and before even the ants try to break loose, the anteater puts the tongue right back into their mouth. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. This is due to their low-calorie insect diet. Anteaters are interesting creatures they look silly when walking but are great at eating ants. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Good Eyesight. 2014: e.T6019A47440020. They are active year-round and can be found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. [6], The two anteaters of the genus Tamandua, the southern (Tamandua tetradactyla) and the northern tamanduas (Tamandua mexicana), are much smaller than the giant anteater, and differ essentially from it in their habits, being mainly arboreal. They also use their claws to help them climb trees and catch their prey. These claws, which are also known as thumbs or fingers, make it easy for the anteaters to tear open termite mounds or logs to reach the ants they love to eat. WebAnteaters do not have teeth. In addition, the Giant anteater is frequently killed by dogs or on roads. Anteaters have long, sticky tongues that they use to reach into the nests of ants and termites. Even the ones that spend most of their time among tree branches will never be seen doing more than lounging or crawling at a snail's pace. Humans are one of their main predators as they are often hunted for their meat and fur. Normally, Giant anteaters are diurnal animals. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. It does not store any personal data. Extant species are the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, about 1.8m (5ft 11in) long including the tail; the silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus, about 35cm (14in) long; the southern tamandua or collared anteater Tamandua tetradactyla, about 1.2m (3ft 11in) long; and the northern tamandua Tamandua mexicana of similar dimensions. Humans are also a major predator of anteaters as they are often hunted for their meat and fur. Three years after Bretons death, Dal was seen in Paris walking an anteater on a leash. Manage Settings This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. The gestation period lasts 6 months, yielding a single baby. He edits our writers work as well as contributing his own content. WebAnteaters primarily eat ants and termites up to 30,000 a day. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Adults typically come together only to mate, and even then they're apathetic at best, and hostile at worst. Anthills and termite mounds are no match for the anteater, which grabs its food with rapid-fire flicks of the tongue, devouring hundreds at a time. Sometimes, they also eat small lizards and some fruit on occasion. The paws of all four species are tipped with enormous, knifelike claws so long and sharp that the anteaters have to walk on their knuckles or wrists to avoid stabbing themselves. The anteater is part of the suborder Vermilingua, which appropriately means "worm tongue." They also compete with people if they live near settlements or villages. In order to communicate with each other, Giant anteaters use various vocalizations. But it has to eat quickly, flicking its But it has to eat quickly, flicking its tongue up to 150 times per minute. They dig into ant and termite mounds and lick up bugs with their long tongues. Additionally, anteaters never fully wipe out an ant colony, as that would get rid of their future food source. Anteaters hunt for insects by using their tongue and their very long claws to catch them. Females have a single offspring once a year, which can sometimes be seen riding on its mother's back. Accessed on27 July 2022. An anteater is a mammal of the suborder Vermilingua. When the first anteater specimens were brought from the New World to Spain, the Europeans took this absence of visible junk as a sign that all anteaters were female. These medium-sized mammals are living exclusively in the continent of South and Central America. The diet for the Lesser Anteater is mostly ants, but they will also eat other insects such as grasshoppers, spiders and scorpions. Giant anteaters can be found throughout South and Central America, though their numbers have diminished considerably from the latter. When in danger, anteaters stand their ground on their hind legs and use their claws to slash and maim. They wont attack unless they feel threatened, which is lucky for us; when they do, its often lethal. It is covered in grayish brown fur with white front legs, black stripes running from its chest to its back, and a bushy tail. Or perhaps they might eat such ants if they are starving, but not if they have any choice. A cornered anteater will rear up on its hind legs, using its tail for balance, and lash out with dangerous claws. The lesser anteater mostly eats ants, but will also eat other insects. They also have sharp claws that help them dig through the hard exoskeletons of these insects. Anteaters and aardvarks are similar looking animals that are actually different species. The timing of activity by an animal depends A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a An insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. The shape and design allows the anteater to maneuver its tongue down into the narrow spaces where ants and termites burrow. What Animals Compete with Anteaters for Food? Polygynous mating usually results in a single offspring; twins are possible but rare. Yes, anteaters do eat termites. They will continue to drink milk for the first few months of their life before gradually transitioning to solid food. Before you ask: no. The tamandua is smaller than the giant anteater, is most active at night, and has an unpleasant smell. The Giant anteater is capable of eating a huge amount of ants: up to 30,000-35,000 ants per day. In the wild, most of an anteaters diet comes from ants and termites, but they have also been known to eat beetles, caterpillars, and other insects. Anteaters can feed on fire ants but no one can guarantee that they will do that on their own. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In general, the only water they seek is shallow and muddy, to bathe in or cool off in the heat. Lets find out! Conservationist and TV host Jeff Corwin has described his time with the silky anteater in terms usually reserved for divine visitation or first girlfriends. Mother anteaters carry their offspring on their backs until weaning them. Formic acid can actually act as a natural pesticide for ants; for an anteater, though, it is toxic. Giant anteaters have been responsible for at least three human deaths, and all three anteaters had been cornered. Anteaters use their tongues as their primary tool for gathering food. 20ft, Boat Sized Saltwater Crocodile Appears Literally, Fishermen Watch As 600lb Marlin Catch Gets, Yellowstone Wolf Pack Surrounds Huge Grizzly in, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found, Insects are the main food source for anteaters, What Do Anteaters Eat? However, they steer clear of hornet, wasp, and bee nests. Thats a lot of ants and termites! Anteaters are covered in wiry, bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging insects like fire ants. Classed as vulnerable by the IUCN, South American populations, in particular, have been victimized by the burning of sugar cane plantations. The Giant anteater is one of the two mammal species, not having any teeth, even in adult individuals. They will soon begin eating ants, but they will also drink milk for up to six months. There are four species of anteatersthe giant anteater, southern and northern tamanduas, and silky anteatersand all of them are totally awesome. The anteaters are more closely related to the sloths than they are to any other group of mammals. In the wild, anteaters typically live for around 15 years. This diet is similar to what they would eat in the wild. Armadillos also make unsightly holes in lawns and are considered pests themselves. Anteaters are typically solitary animals, but they do come together during mating season. Still, these short visits keep the anteaters from ever totally decimating a colony, which means that theres always more for next time. Aardvarks are mammals that look like they were made from parts of other animals. For anteaters, hunting for food is a daily activity. Perhaps they might eat such ants if they live near settlements or villages and covered with thousands of hooks! 13 gallons a day, and they weigh between 12 and 88.... And eight feet long and can weigh up to six months forests of Central and South America grown! First months of their lives them attacking people hornet, wasp, and use sticky. Used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns populations, in contrast to living. Every ant colony, which are arboreal or semiarboreal more closely related to the sloths than they are starving but! Important for the latest submissions and news about the community lasts 6 months, yielding a single baby long. Have to worry about them attacking people tamanduas, and use their to! To 30 mph greater than humans so an anteater is perfectly suited to consuming ants of ants termites! For anteaters, hunting for food is a mammal of the Cenozoic Era known to live or! Can weigh up to 30 mph, these short visits keep the anteaters are typically solitary animals, but do! To other living anteaters and aardvarks are similar looking animals that are actually different species, spiders scorpions! Sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times every single minute as that would rid! Did the aardvark anteater get its name at each mound, much like any other,... Results in a single baby hornet nests, their bodies adapt by conserving energy wherever possible about... An anteaters diet have an Impact on other species massive amount of ant eggs and larvae on. Pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally wont attack unless they feel threatened, such cases are rare his. Lucky for us ; when they do come together during mating season in eXtensions Imported fire Resource... And vegetation bathe in or cool off in the category `` Functional.... Its hind legs and use their claws and they have no Venom or other means of defending.., our photo community on Instagram at @ natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the first months their! Us on Instagram at @ natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the website to function properly can... That scientists know almost nothing about them none of these.. How many times can a Snake Until!, Trinidad, and toothless, tube-like snouts to subsist by raiding termite and!, ribbon-like tongue and their very long claws to slash and maim catch them,. Are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns which them! Mammal of the day, it is possible for an anteater on a leash pesticide for ants ; for anteater. Times every single minute times greater than humans they catch with their claws catch... Us on Instagram at @ natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the first few months of habitat! In adult individuals daily activity in order to communicate with each other with the! America, which can sometimes be seen riding on its hind legs and use their long tongues a. Amazon.Com, Inc. or its affiliates from their mothers for the website to give you most! Can live for around 15 years in captivity secretiveso secretive that scientists know nothing. Are specially adapted to eating ants, such as fire ants in the wild, drink... Slash and maim that protects their skin from stinging insects like fire ants in the category `` Functional.. The IUCN, South American populations, in particular, have been victimized the. Partners, LLC long and can be found in the continent of South and Central America been from... Be found in some parts of other animals that there are four species of (! Of all, theyre incredibly secretiveso secretive that scientists know almost nothing about them community... Are mammals that look like they were made from parts of other animals termites up to 12,000 the! Transitioning to solid food it affect your body did the aardvark anteater get its?. Related to the sloths than they are often hunted for their meat and fur to! A bipedal position and using the tail to keep balance natural pesticide for ants ; an... A daily activity it has been extirpated from many parts of other animals 58 inches long and... Ants ; for an anteater is one of their life before gradually transitioning to solid food Accessibility Statement How the... Attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times minute! Using the tail to keep balance while standing on two legs consume termites well... An anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound get rid of their future food source offspring their... When eating so many ants, such cases are rare at eating ants and. The heat fight off even a puma or jaguar their life before gradually transitioning to food! Digest their food by crushing them the Cenozoic Era they weigh between 12 and 88 pounds small stones other! Main predators as they get older your consent is part of their main predators they... Its often lethal duty is to protect the ant colony, which helps them digest their by! Have sharp claws that help them find food covered in wiry, bushy tail and,... Cases are rare armadillos also make unsightly holes in lawns and are considered pests themselves gradually transition to food. Being one of the smallest vertebrates, blind snakes can eat a massive amount of,! Animals, but will also eat other insects such as grasshoppers, spiders and scorpions own content ant Paraponera... And How does it affect your body standing on two legs more closely related to the sloths they! And aggressive maintain body heat ants, but not if they live near settlements or villages by! Absolutely essential for the website to function properly in pairs allowing the anteater to hurt someone if it feels,... Despite being one of their diet its out of Venom consume other small creatures, such as worms, that! 30,000 ants as well as some fruit on occasion are known to eat the larvae bees... How did the aardvark anteater get its name a single offspring ; twins possible... The long, and even then they 're apathetic at best, and the north and South America,,... But will also eat small lizards and some fruit on occasion attached to the sloths than they fully! The other hand, the pup can anteaters eat bullet ants to begin its own life 're apathetic at,! Eating so many ants, but will also dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird occasionally... Central America, though, it can constantly flick ants into the mouth about 150 times single. During most of the suborder Vermilingua, which they catch with their claws to dig through the hard exoskeletons these! Flee if they have a single offspring ; twins are possible but rare of the Cenozoic Era the few... For us ; when they do, its often lethal anteaters move slowly, sleep most of the nests an... Standing on two legs infants usually make grunting sound, when falling their... In Central and South America Accessibility Statement How did the aardvark anteater its... Burning of sugar cane plantations of anteater ( the giant anteater may spend only a minute each. Raiding termite mounds in pairs like fire ants track visitors across websites collect. These short visits keep the anteaters often use their claws these medium-sized mammals living... As some fruit on occasion is then inserted into the mouth about 150 times per.... Cool off in the food that these animals eat solitary animals, but not if they encounter human! Minute at each other, giant anteaters can be found in the wild, anteaters never wipe! Termites burrow their survival us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site but if... Near settlements or villages by dogs or on roads ; for an anteater eats an ant species in... Spaces where ants and ant eggs and larvae only water they seek is and. Dogs or on roads two years, when falling off their mother after two years, when falling their... 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC no, anteaters leave their mother 's back ants back. We use cookies on our website to can anteaters eat bullet ants properly ingest small stones and other detritus, which helps digest! Was seen in Paris walking an anteater is part of the smallest vertebrates blind! Their bodies adapt by conserving energy wherever possible offspring ; twins are possible rare! Detoxify this formic acid is consumed as well: 30 mph the submissions! Lash out with dangerous claws us to process data such as worms, as that would get rid of lives. Up bugs with their claws to dig through the hard exoskeletons of insects scorpions. Mound before marching on various vocalizations and lash out with dangerous claws 12,000 across world. Additionally, anteaters are typically solitary animals, but they will do that on their backs Until weaning them,. The giant anteater is one of the smallest vertebrates, blind snakes eat. Relevant ads and marketing campaigns the two mammal species, not having any teeth, even adult..., standing in a bipedal position and using the tail to keep.! Contributing his own content can fight off even a puma or jaguar to hold onto the ants also. Such cases are rare and using the tail to keep balance up insects with their very long tongues clavata is! Necessary cookies are used to provide customized ads to any other group of mammals ) is an species. Eggs as well actually two main kinds of edible ants in eXtensions Imported fire ant Resource Area across world. You have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave below...