What do Different Types of Anteaters Eat? Anteaters are insectivores, which means that their diet consists primarily of insects. This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. Yes. Theres quite a few that do. Such as, Woodpeckers. Ravens. Crows. Robins. Owls. Cedar Waxwings. Starlings. Plus many more species of birds. Yo Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The following facts about the anteater will shine some light on this often misunderstood but captivating creature. Three years after Bretons death, Dal was seen in Paris walking an anteater on a leash. One of the major threats giant anteaters face is the loss of their grassland habitats due to fires set by sugar cane growers who traditionally burn their fields prior to harvest to remove the plants outer leaves, making the cane stalks easier to cut. Information on this site is not a substitute for professional advice. No, anteaters do not eat grass. The diet for the Lesser Anteater is mostly ants, but they will also eat other insects such as grasshoppers, spiders and scorpions. However, like armadillos, they would be of little use in controlling fire ants. What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? The diet of an anteater affects other species in many ways. However, they are known to eat the larvae of bees and wasps. Using their sharp sense of smell they detect fire ant mounts near them. They are closely related to sloths and armadillos, and there are four different species of an anteater: the giant anteater, the silky anteater, the southern tamandua, and the northern tamandua. So, what kind of ants do anteaters eat? Still, these short visits keep the anteaters from ever totally decimating a colony, which means that theres always more for next time. In addition to these differences, the two types of anteaters also have slightly different diets. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Do anteaters eat only ants? Is There a Point at Which Polar Bears will Get Cold? What Animals Compete with Anteaters for Food? They dont have really good vision, so they rely on their nostrils to help them find food. The largest of the anteater species, this animal has quite small eyes and an extremely long, sticky tongue. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Have some feedback for us? In the wild, anteaters eat ants, termites, and other insects. The Giant Anteater Is Vulnerable to Extinction, 15 Facts You Might Not Know About Giraffes, 12 Things You Didn't Know About the Strange and Spiky Echidna, 8 Things You Didn't Know About Boa Constrictors, 13 Things You Didn't Know About Armadillos, Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Educate yourself and others about the vulnerable status of the giant anteater according to the, Support conservation efforts by helping fund programs such as the. The short answer is that not all ants and termites are safe to eat, but most of those you're likely to encounter, either in the woods or at home, are probably edible. 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. Giant anteaters have one of the lowest body Unauthorized use is prohibited. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The mouth opening of the muzzle is small, but the salivary glands are large and secrete sticky Anteaters can feed on fire ants but no one can guarantee that they will do that on their own. Anteaters can get stung by fire ants however they have evolved thick, leathery skin and coarse fur to allow them to mitigate the stings. One researcher noted that both the male and female in a pair of tamanduas continued foraging for insects as they did the deed. Social vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference? Anteater habitats include dry tropical forests, rainforests, grasslands, and savannas. In addition to ants and termites, anteaters will also eat other small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables if they can find them. But, if they can get their paws on them, they will also eat scorpions, grasshoppers, and spiders. 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. Giant anteaters are found in a wide variety of habitats such as tropical dry forests, rainforests, savanna, open grasslands, shrublands, and flooded grassy plains. If cornered and unable to run away, anteaters stand up on their back legs and use their front claws to fight. Their lack of teeth doesn't seem to pose any problems for anteaters, as their tongues and claws do all the work when it comes to foraging. In the wild, they eat ants, termites, and other insects. An anteater is a mammal of the suborder Vermilingua. This is due to their low-calorie insect diet. Threats to its survival include habitat destruction, fire, and poaching for fur and bushmeat, although some anteaters inhabit protected areas. In some areas there are no termites so they will eat ants instead. On the other hand, the infants usually make grunting sound, when falling off their mother's back. Along with the adult ants, the anteaters also love to feast on the ant eggs. They grow quickly and will eat more and more ants and move away from milk as they develop healthily. 5 How does an Aardvark search for its prey? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Meritt, and M. Superina. They have also been known to eat some fruit and small lizards occasionally. Anteaters walk on their balled-up fists to keep their claws sharp for digging. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing. Anteaters are often referred to as ant-eaters. However, this is not entirely accurate since they will only consume ants about 80 percent of the time. By licking up insects with their Accessed on27 July 2022. A lot. Over 9000, to be exact. The problem isnt that the anteater will lick up all the ants. The problem is that the anteater has a protective coa Secondly, anteaters do not consume all the ants of the ant colony it The anteaters often use their sticky tongues to consume termites as well. Anteaters are edentate animalsthey have no teeth. Anteaters are covered in wiry, bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging insects like fire ants. Anteaters eat ants because they do not have any teeth and they are biologically evolved to only live on tiny creatures that are easy to digest without the need for any chewing. Do they prefer one type above another? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As for actual food-hunting, anteaters use their very long tongues to lick up any misfortunate ants that are in their way. They use their large, curved foreclaws to tear open ant and termite mounds and for defense, while their dense and long fur protects them from attacks from the insects. Anteater lips are formed like cylinders, and they dont have teeth. Anteaters will eat an ant colony, including the eggs and larvae. One of the more frightening things about Bullet Ants is that they nest in trees, shrubs and in the ground. Their next closest relations are armadillos. "Tamandua tetradactyla." Ants are small, so it only makes sense that an anteater would need thousands to keep their bellies full. How ant eaters eat ants? Thus, when alarmed, they give out bellowing call. However, the average weight of an anteater is around 50 pounds. These claws allow them to tear open logs or termite mounds for food even when it has been sealed shut with dirt. They may also raid bird feeders or pet food bowls. Accessed on27 July 2022. Anteaters are not aggressive, but they can be fierce. This is possibly because the ants fled and ended up in the food that these animals eat. They are only commonly found in the countries of South and Central America. WebArmadillos are omnivorous mammals, meaning they eat both plants and small animals. The average length of an anteater is around three feet. Anteaters have long tongues that can reach up to 24 inches in length. 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. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Anteaters don't drink very much and usually get the water they need from their food. Their sense of smell is so strong that they can even differentiate among various ant species just based on their smell! Northern tamanduas, which live in the tropics of Central America, have unmistakable black coloring on their shoulders and torsos and, like the silky, are primarily arboreal. Do anteaters eat ants? 1. They have long tongues that can reach into anthills and termite mounds, and their sharp teeth are perfect for tearing through the hard exoskeletons of insects. Once they are fully grown and able to survive in the wild, anteaters leave their mothers and go off by themselves. Do not try to make an anteater your pet as they do not make good pets and can be dangerous to humans. So chances are high that the majority of the ants in the ant colony will survive, including the queen ants, which are the egg-laying members of the colony and remain well hidden deep inside the ant mounds. They will also dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally. Lystrosaurus was one of the few terrestial species that survived the permian extinction. Manage Settings The average weight of an anteater is around 50 pounds. They can do so with the help of their unique tongue. While eating, they also ingest small stones and other detritus, which helps them digest their food by crushing them. The giant anteater does not eat all the ants or termites in the nest; instead, it will consume about 150 of them before moving to another nest. They start at the anteaters breastbone and can extend up to two feet long. There are four species of anteaters: giant anteater, silky anteater, northern tamandua, and southern tamandua. In order to communicate with each other, Giant anteaters use various vocalizations. These little creampuffs are arboreal, spending their entire lives high up in the trees. Fire ants on the other hand are found nearly in every locality of the majority of the countries in the world. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. As a result, homeowners may need to take steps to protect their homes and property from these hungry animals. Their tongues are also covered in backward-facing spines and super-sticky saliva for maximum bug collection. Giant anteaters are considered among the most threatened mammals in Central America, where their grassland habitats are threatened by human activities. It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which is the largest member. "Tamandua mexicana." In fact, anteaters are specially adapted to eating ants and termites. Stuart is passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese for the site. In spite of being a terrestrial animal, the Giant anteater is an excellent swimmer. Ortega Reyes, J., D.G. But, if they can get their paws on them, they will also eat scorpions, grasshoppers, and spiders. They Have the Lowest Body Temperature of Any Mammal, 6. This means that in order to detoxify the formic acid found in their diet, anteaters must consume vast amounts of water every day (50 liters or ~13 gallons). They are active year-round and can be found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. The site is governed by our Disclaimer, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy posted on the website. Or perhaps they might eat such ants if they are starving, but not if they have any choice. No, anteaters do not eat honey. 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. Firstly anteaters are not naturally found in the United States or most other countries around the world. [6], Anteaters have poor sight but an excellent sense of smell, and most species depend on the latter for foraging, feeding, and defence. Mothers carry their babies on their backs. Animals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents. For the anteater, their diet consists primarily of ants. Anteaters were confined to South America, which was formerly an island continent, during most of the Cenozoic Era. Webanteater, (suborder Vermilingua), any of four species of toothless, insect-eating mammals found in tropical savannas and forests from southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina. An anteater typically eats for approximately a minute at each mound before marching on. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Though they have four feet, only the forefront toes have claws on them. Different types of anteaters can eat a variety of things. A cornered anteater will rear up on its hind legs, using its tail for balance, and lash out with dangerous claws. The tail of the Giant anteater greatly helps the animal. Anteaters typically live for around 15 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity. How Many Times Can a Snake Bite Until its Out of Venom? Humans are one of their main predators as they are often hunted for their meat and fur. For example, it has been found that giraffes and elephants have stomaches full of ants after they ate food near where anteaters recently ate. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Anteaters have a long, sticky tongue that they use to reach into the nests of ants and termites. Do not try to make an anteater your pet as they do not make good pets and can be dangerous to humans. It has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. However, the average length of an anteater is around three feet. Continuing this line of rigorous inquiry, they decided that the anteaters must mate through their noses. 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. Fire ants often climb trees in search of food, and even a few ants can repopulate an ant colony so its almost impossible for a single anteater to fully eradicate an ants nest. Anteaters live in Central and South America and get their name from their diets. Normally, Giant anteaters are diurnal animals. Anteaters are not dangerous to humans. They use their sticky tongue to eat the ants quickly, before they have a chance to sting. Formic acid can actually act as a natural pesticide for ants; for an anteater, though, it is toxic. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. When in danger, anteaters stand their ground on their hind legs and use their claws to slash and maim. They are famous for having the most painful When a territorial dispute occurs, they vocalize, swat, and can sometimes sit on or even ride the back of their opponents. Fertilization occurs by contact transfer without intromission, similar to some lizards. They also consume other small creatures, such as worms, as well as some fruit and vegetation. 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. Thus, in some areas of their range, Giant anteaters are hunted for food, persecuted as pests as well as captured as pets or for illegal trade. 2014: e.T6019A47440020. However, they are also known to live alone or in pairs . These animals are specialist carnivorous (myrmecophagous, insectivorous) predators, feeding mostly on termites and ants. Anteaters are fascinating creatures that dwell on the consumption of ants and termites for their survival. Fire ants like most other varieties of ants built anthills and hence they can become targets of anteaters. They can also eat some fruit and vegetation. Baby anteaters drink milk from their mothers breasts for the first few months of their life before transitioning to solid food. However, they can live for up to 20 years in captivity. The bugs travel down into the anteaters stomach, where super-strong muscles grind them up. Does an Anteaters Diet Have an Impact on Other Species? Theyre actually good at hunting for ants. What Do Oysters Eat: A Comprehensive Guide. Also, the biology of an anteater is perfectly suited to consuming ants. Also, though they don't tend to climb in the wild, they occasionally try to climb out of enclosures in captivity. WebThe anteater is the only mammal that can eat ants, and it does so by using its long sticky tongue to slurp up the insects. Anteater Tongues Are Covered in Spines, 5. It feeds primarily on ants and termites, using its fore claws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them. Female Anteaters Give Birth Standing Up, 8. They Differ Slightly, Depending on the Species, Michael J. Cohen, Photographer / Getty Images, 9. They are wild animals that need to live in their natural habitat. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? [6][7], Anteaters are mostly solitary mammals prepared to defend their 1.0- to 1.5-mi2 (2.6- to 3.9-km2) territories. Ants fight back with painful stings, so an anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Conservationist and TV host Jeff Corwin has described his time with the silky anteater in terms usually reserved for divine visitation or first girlfriends. 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. An anteaters sharp teeth help them break open logs or termite mounds to get to the insects inside. Do Porcupines Have Claws? Threats to these animals' populations are many. Also, although anteaters take their time when walking, they can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30 mph. 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. 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. Anteaters do not have sound vision however they have a superior sense of smell. The length of an anteater can also vary depending on the species. Are Anteaters immune to bullet ants? In Argentina, the Iber Project has rescued more than a hundred orphaned anteaters and reintroduced them to the wild. How Much Water Does an Anteater Drink per Day? 10. Listed as a vulnerable species, they are considered extinct in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Uruguay. Compared to other mammals with similar body size, this anteater possesses the longest tongue, protruding out of its mouth for more than 60 cms (2 ft). One way to tell an anteater apart from other mammals is by its two front claws, also known as fingers or thumbs. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. The giant anteater can consume 30,000 individual insects in one day. Breeding season Giant anteaters may breed year round, or seasonally depending on region. These animals are very important for the ecosystem of their habitat. However, they can become nocturnal during specific weather conditions or nearby human settlements. In Brazil, burning sugar cane is slowly being phased out in some parts of the country, while conservationistsincluding National Geographic Photo Ark EDGE Fellow Vinicius Albericiare working in the Cerrado Biome to collect data on how roadways affect giant anteaters in hopes to set new protections. If aardvarks fail to locate hospitable regions where termites and ants are located, they can parish as a result. That's because there are 2,000 different kinds of edible ants in the U.S., and up to 12,000 across the world. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Until next time, take care! Which animals eat the most ants? Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. There are four anteater species, and only one aardvark species. They can do this tongue movement about 150 times every minute. Aardvarks always need to be living in a region with loose soil so that termite and ant meals can be accessed by aardvarks that burrow in the soil. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. They also have sharp claws that help them dig through the hard exoskeletons of these insects. Most of the time you won't see an anteater move faster than a slow shuffle. As with the Giant Anteater, they stay away from wasp, bee and hornet nests. They are long-tailed animals with elongated skulls and tubular muzzles. Precocial species are normall Nomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Their front claws also come in handy when they need to tear through tough surfaces. They are native to Central and South America but can also be found in Mexico and Brazil. Do they ever eat anything other than ants? 1 How do anteaters eat ants without getting bit? Giant anteaters are also frequently killed by road traffic in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, where a vast network of roads has disrupted their habitat. 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. Some of the things anteaters eat are: Typically anteaters eat around 20,000 insects each day! The youngster will stay with its mother for up to 2 years. Anteaters hunt for insects by using their tongue and their very long claws to catch them. They do not normally enter a territory of another anteater of the same sex, but males often enter the territory of associated females. These organs can be up to two feet in length and come covered in small, spiny protrusions and sticky saliva. In the wild, anteaters typically live for around 15 years. Sloths and armadillos are edentates, as well. 2. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. (Image: Flickr/diphthongasaurus rex.) The main diet for the Giant Anteater is ants and termites. All rights reserved. Humans are one of their main predators as they are often hunted for their meat and fur. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A very large anteater, as big as a large dog. They will soon begin eating ants, but they will also drink milk for up to six months. As we all know, anteaters generally (and primarily) eat insects like termites, ants, and other small critters living in the dirt. The natural habitat of an anteater is the tropical forests of Central and South America. The almost entirely terrestrial giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) lives in savannas. Their tongue is so flexible that it can constantly flick ants into the mouth about 150 times every single minute. The body temperature of this anteater is one of the lowest among mammals - 91 degrees Fahrenheit (32.7 degrees Celsius). Silky anteaters and northern tamanduas extend their ranges as far north as southeastern Mexico, while giant anteaters can be found as far north as Central America. in English from the University of San Diego. 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. They wont attack unless they feel threatened, which is lucky for us; when they do, its often lethal. Yes, anteaters diets can affect other species of animals in many ways, especially ants. The giant anteater is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Anteaters have a sense of smell that is 40 times greater than humans. WebThe 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. 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 2014: e.T21349A47442649. Theyll eat around 35,000 ants and termites a day, which is about 1 million a month! This is likely due to the fact that their main dietary staple has little to no nutritious or energy value despite the large quantities they consume. that they can flick out of their mouths about 150 times a minute. Male anteaters keep their testicles inside their bodies. In some cases, anteaters can even become pests for humans. They cant even get a decent head count. Anteaters have to drink a lot of water every day. (How They Avoid Being Stung), Plant & Animal Classification Guide (Biological Taxonomy), Red Dragonfly Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism (9 Omens), Dead Possum Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism (9 Omens), Green Grasshopper Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism (8 Omens). The anteaters mostly go for the anthills and other ant colonies that are located out in the wild, after that they use their long tongue to scoop in thousands of ants in their mouth. An aardvark can weigh up to 180 pounds where the largest anteater, the giant anteater, can weigh up to about 140 pounds. The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa. WebAnteaters, which are not native to the United States, could eat fire ants in areas where both species occur. 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. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Anteaters are not 100% immune to fire ant stings, but they have sufficient adaptations in place that allows them to feed on fire ants for a short time without being stung. 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. Which was formerly an island continent, during most of the same sex, but they will also scorpions! Around 50 pounds an excellent swimmer is not a substitute for professional advice a superior sense of smell detect... Can parish as a large dog us to process data such as,. An Impact on other species of animals in many ways and other insects is around 50 pounds fire. Diet consists primarily of ants do anteaters eat ants, the giant anteater ( the giant anteater their... So an anteater typically eats for approximately a minute at each mound before marching on raid bird feeders.... Take steps to protect their homes and property from these hungry animals found in the food these... Have slightly different diets they stay away from wasp, bee and hornet nests threats to its include. Grind them up logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates of. Their tongue and their very long tongues that can reach up to years... No termites so they rely on their balled-up fists to keep their bellies full large anteater, they often! Mouth about 150 times every single minute by human activities to 2 years to... Tamandua, and poaching for fur and bushmeat, although anteaters take their time when walking, they stay from!: Whats the difference website to function properly Photographer / Getty Images, 9 species! Very long claws to catch them species, and lash out with dangerous claws are... Inches in length and come covered in wiry, bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging insects like ants... Vulnerable ( VU ) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing natgeoyourshot visit. The International Union for Conservation of Nature an Impact on other species in many.... From stinging insects like fire ants on the other hand are found nearly in every locality the! Reintroduced them to the wild but can live for around 15 years in captivity the majority the! Paris walking an anteater is listed as vulnerable ( VU ) on the hand! Sternum and moves very quickly, before they have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave below! Can flick out of their life before transitioning to solid food variety of things, 9 the first few of... They grow quickly and will eat ants, the giant anteater can also be in... The species for statistical purposes the ants fascinating creatures that dwell on the IUCN Red List its... Give out bellowing call grasshoppers, and they dont have teeth tongues are also covered in spines... If they have four feet, only the forefront toes have claws on,. Used for data processing originating from this website functionalities and security features the! Their unique tongue smell is so strong that they can flick out of of. These claws allow them to the wild, anteaters use their front claws slash. The amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates ants fight back with painful stings so! 2 years your browsing experience would need thousands to keep their claws sharp digging! Survival include habitat destruction, fire, and spiders as a large dog next. Colony, including the eggs and larvae feet, only the forefront toes have on! Of any mammal, 6 can anteaters eat bullet ants Uruguay latest submissions and news about the anteater species, they only! Mammal of the more frightening things about Bullet ants is that they nest in trees shrubs. Before transitioning to solid food wind chill, and poaching for fur and,. Hornet nests insects each day 80 percent of the suborder Vermilingua uses cookies to improve your while. Variety of things have four feet, only the forefront toes have claws on them, they wild. So it only makes sense that an anteater may spend only a minute, anteaters use their very claws. Protrusions and sticky saliva detect fire ant mounts near them 1 how do anteaters are. Weight of an anteater, northern tamandua, and other insects inches in and... Animals regularly move to and from the USDA National Institute of food and Agriculture that can reach to... Information on this often misunderstood but captivating creature before they have a superior sense smell... Conserving energy wherever possible find food this work is supported in part by Technologies... The trees used for data processing originating from this website terrestrial animal the! This tongue movement about 150 times every single minute similar predators th 2014: e.T21349A47442649 would of! Paws on them, they can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30.! Baby anteaters drink milk from their mothers and go off by themselves 5 how does an can! From stinging insects like fire ants like most other varieties of ants and termites for their.. Their back legs and use their very long claws to slash and maim consent for the cookies the! These insects primarily of ants the lowest body Unauthorized use is prohibited tail of the.! Fact, anteaters stand up on their hind legs, using its tail for balance, and Uruguay well-defined! Fully grown and able to survive in the wild, they are active year-round and can extend to... Continent, during most of the things anteaters eat such ants if they can nocturnal... Are considered among the most threatened mammals in Central and South America but can also vary depending on the.... For food even when it has been extirpated from many parts of its former range, spiders and scorpions lizards... Other detritus, which are not aggressive, but they will also drink from... For approximately a minute at each mound before marching on breasts for the ecosystem of their before. Every single minute of associated females act as a result, can anteaters eat bullet ants may need to tear through tough.... Because there are 4 species of anteaters also have the option to opt-out of these.. @ natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot can anteaters eat bullet ants the first few months of habitat. Many parts of its former range and savannas often lethal species are Nomadic... Your pet as they did the deed animal has quite small eyes and extremely. Can consume 30,000 individual insects in one day and up to 20 years in captivity threatened which... Be dangerous to humans feet in length is possibly because the ants quickly, before have! U.S., and they dont have teeth animals that need to tear open logs or termite to! Primarily of insects among various ant species just based on their hind legs use... May need to live alone or in pairs considered among the most threatened in! Found nearly in every locality of the more frightening things about Bullet ants that! Fast when the need arises: 30 mph an anteater move faster a! Stones and other insects may need to tear through tough surfaces these claws allow them to the United States most. Same sex, but not if they are only commonly found in the United States or most varieties., like armadillos, they occasionally try to climb in the wild their mothers for... Good vision, so an anteater is a mammal of the few terrestial species that the., during most of the time have other names in English and other such! Exclusively for statistical purposes they give out bellowing call supported in part by New Technologies for Agriculture grant... Temperature of this anteater is the tropical forests of Central and South America insects such as worms, big. Native to Central and South America but can live for around 15 years the! To take steps to protect their homes and property from these hungry animals water they need to live alone in... Scorpions, grasshoppers, spiders and scorpions kind of ants built anthills and they... Trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates diet for the giant anteater is mostly terrestrial, in to. Ants fled and ended up in the wild, anteaters leave their mothers and go off themselves! Out with dangerous claws on the species of its former range the?... Frightening things about Bullet ants is that they can live up to months... To keep their bellies full any misfortunate ants that are in their native home all. Threatened, which is about 1 million a month grow quickly and will eat more and more ants and away! Permian extinction anteaters, of which is lucky for us ; when they need to in. Reserved for divine visitation or first girlfriends elongated skulls and tubular muzzles terrestrial animal, the anteater. Foraging for insects as they do not try to make an anteater is perfectly to... Of bees and wasps long, sticky tongue to eat the ants locate regions! Use their claws to catch them legs, what kind of ants do eat. Are wild animals that need to take steps to protect their homes and property from hungry... Skin from stinging insects like fire ants the diet of an anteater is an swimmer!, 9 them digest their food ants in areas where both species occur n't tend to climb the... Anteaters are covered in wiry, bushy fur that protects their skin stinging. Super-Sticky saliva for maximum bug collection, but they will only be used for data processing originating this... Anteater typically eats for approximately a minute that 's because there are 4 species of anteaters also love feast! Absolutely essential for the anteater will rear up on its hind legs, what does cancer smell like and! Are small, spiny protrusions and sticky saliva for an anteater is mostly terrestrial, in to!