Giant anteater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant anteater |
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Myrmecophaga
Linnaeus, 1758
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| Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758
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The giant anteater, Myrmecophaga, is an animal that lives in Central and South America.It is also known as the ant bear.
It the only mammal without teeth. Its diet consists of termites and ants, hence the name. It is the largest anteater: its length is between 182 cm and 217 cm. Males weigh between 33 and 41 kg, female are 27 and 39 kg. This species lives on the ground, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths which are arboreal or semi-arboreal. It forages in open areas and rests in more forested habitats.
Contents
Mode of life
The giant anteater is adapted to eat termites and ants, and does not have any teeth in its mouth. It uses its front claws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them. They eat about 30,000 ants and termites every day.
The tongue can reach up to 45 cm (18 in), longer than the length of the skull, and move in and out around 160 times per minute (nearly three times per second). The anteater's tongue has little to no attachments to the hyoid and this is what allows it to flick its tongue at such distances and speed. The hyoid apparatus is large, V-shaped and flexible and supports the tongue as it goes in and out of the mouth. Before being swallowed, insects are crushed against the palate.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Anteater with tongue extended
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In the grasslands of Serra da Canastra National Park, Brazil
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Sleeping under its tail
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Two captive anteaters. The species is generally solitary in the wild.
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Foraging
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Adult with offspring clinging to her back
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Anteater mask and scratcher used by Kayapo boys in their ceremonies
See also
In Spanish: Myrmecophaga tridactyla para niños
