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. 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. They Differ Slightly, Depending on the Species, Michael J. Cohen, Photographer / Getty Images, 9. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the zoo, anteaters are fed a diet of insects, small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables. Baby anteaters, much like any other mammal, drink milk from their mothers for the first months of their lives. No, not all ants have a stinger. Armadillos may burrow into fire ant colonies searching for food such as the brood or worker ants. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing. Do anteaters eat only ants? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Giant anteaters are found in a wide variety of habitats such as tropical dry forests, rainforests, savanna, open grasslands, shrublands, and flooded grassy plains. 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. [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. 1. They have also been known to eat some fruit and small lizards occasionally. "Tamandua tetradactyla." Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. However, they can live for up to 20 years in captivity. They have also been known to eat beetles, caterpillars, and other small animals. In the wild, anteaters eat ants, termites, and other insects. The anteater's stomach, similar to a bird's gizzard, has hardened folds and uses strong contractions to grind the insects, a digestive process assisted by small amounts of ingested sand and dirt.[6]. For the anteater, their diet consists primarily of ants. Anteaters will eat an ant colony, including the eggs and larvae. Different types of anteaters can eat a variety of things. Anteaters generally walk on their knuckles to protect their sharp claws from damage, and to protect the soft feed on their paws from fire ant bites and stings. WebAnteaters do not have teeth. Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa. As we all know, anteaters generally (and primarily) eat insects like termites, ants, and other small critters living in the dirt. No, anteaters do not hibernate. But it has to eat quickly, flicking its tongue up to 150 times per minute. Giant anteaters tend to avoid eating termites, leaf-cutter ants, and army ants, all of which are large-jawed and aggressive. The average weight of an anteater is around 50 pounds. They also use their claws to help them climb trees and catch their prey. WebThe giant anteater is found in multiple habitats, including grassland and rainforest. However, they can also consume soft-bodied grubs, eggs as well as fruit. The Giant anteater may travel an average of 3,700 m (12,100 ft) per day. It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which is the largest member. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. It moves away from the ant nest right before the ants can swarm over the softer and susceptible portions of the body. Terms and Conditions They do not normally enter a territory of another anteater of the same sex, but males often enter the territory of associated females. The almost entirely terrestrial giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) lives in savannas. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 10. WebArmadillos are omnivorous mammals, meaning they eat both plants and small animals. Insects are the main food source for anteaters, which they catch with their very long tongues. While anteaters could eat bullet ants, they almost certainly wouldnt for two related reasons. The first is that bullet ants live in very small com They can also eat some fruit and vegetation. The Giant anteater is called tridactyla", which means "3 fingers": the animal has 5 digits on each foot, 3 of which have prominent, extra-long claws. Meritt, and M. Superina. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. All have evolved powerful digging forearms, long tongues, and toothless, tube-like snouts to subsist by raiding termite mounds. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? These little creampuffs are arboreal, spending their entire lives high up in the trees. Their claws also come in handy for tearing through tough surfaces. In addition, the animal has black and white diagonal markings, covering its shoulders. These medium-sized mammals are living exclusively in the continent of South and Central America. Sloths and armadillos are edentates, as well. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. How ant eaters eat ants? Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Anteater begins asking the critters he meets along the way what he should eat. WebA giant anteater is not immune to ant bites, so it feeds at an ant or termite colony for just a minute or so before moving on. 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. They break open termite mounds and logs and use their tongues to reach all the scurrying ants. The anteaters are close relatives to the sloths and the armadillos. Along with the ants and termites they often intentionally consume soil debris and small rocks as those help them digest their food. Giant Anteaters are sometimes mistaken for bears because of their claws and bushy fur. As for actual food-hunting, anteaters use their very long tongues to lick up any misfortunate ants that are in their way. Normally, Giant anteaters are diurnal animals. "Tamandua mexicana." 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. So, what kind of ants do anteaters eat? Pups leave their mother after two years, when theyre considered fully grown. 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. 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. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 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. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In some regions, especially in Central America, the Giant anteater is threatened with loss of habitat. Fire ants on the other hand are found nearly in every locality of the majority of the countries in the world. Their snouts also aid the tongue by working like a vacuum to hold onto the insects and inhale them with a sucking motion. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Also, although anteaters take their time when walking, they can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30 mph. This quick process of ant consumption allows them to move away from the stinging ants right after a minute or two which further ensures that the damage levels are very low. They have long snouts with a mouthful of pointy teeth. Right, so how do anteaters get their food if they look like they couldnt be bothered to walk fast? Swallowing and the movement of the tongue are aided by side-to-side movements of the jaws. Thank you for reading! They usually sleep in abandoned burrows, hollows in the ground, or areas with dense vegetation. 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. As they havent got any teeth they only depend on their digestive juices and stomach muscles for their food digestion. They can eat up to 30,000 ants a day. However, they are known to eat the larvae of bees and wasps. The long, cylindrical, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the nests. So how do anteaters catch their prey? 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. Meritt, D.G. How Many Times Can a Snake Bite Until its Out of Venom? It even smells nice, like clean linen. Meeting the angel of the forest, Corwin was euphoric: This mysterious, almost magical creature sends my heart aflutter each time I have the rare privilege to set my eyes upon it., 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The area of their distribution covers Central and South America, stretching from Belize and Guatemala to northern parts of Argentina. To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Anteaters are abundant across Central and South America, except for the giant anteater, which is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This means that all ants are their natural prey. For example, anteaters compete with jaguars and people for insects. In addition to impacting the populations of other species, there are some unintended consequences for the diet of the anteater as well. Can anteaters eat bullet ants or other extreme ants? No. Or perhaps they might eat such ants if they are starving, but not if they have any choice. They are active year-round and can be found in the tropical forests of Central and South America. Aardvarks also dig to get food. Ants and ant eggs are an integral part of their diet. But what else do anteaters eat? Threats to its survival include habitat destruction, fire, and poaching for fur and bushmeat, although some anteaters inhabit protected areas. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. They eat almost exclusively ants and termites, though they sometimes supplement their diets with other insects like the pupae of scarab beetles. The ants can just simply move over to a new location and build another nest there. No, anteaters do not eat honey. 2. The giant anteater is 182 to 217cm (5ft 11+12in to 7ft 1+12in) in length, with weights of 33 to 50kg (73 to 110lb) for males and 27 to 47kg (60 to 104lb) for females. Yes, anteaters do eat termites. Anteaters are a type of mammal found in the Americas. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Anteaters are edentate animalsthey have no teeth. Moving quickly is key because, although the anteater is covered with thick, mop-like fur, it is not immune to the stings and bites of However, they steer clear of hornet, wasp, and bee nests. There are four anteater species, and only one aardvark species. With strong claws, no ant-filled log or termite mound is a challenge a hungry anteater cant overcome. Do they prefer one type above another? The following facts about the anteater will shine some light on this often misunderstood but captivating creature. Giant anteaters are solitary animals, except with mothers and they're young. Please be respectful of copyright. But it has to eat quickly, flicking its Unauthorized use is prohibited. Anteaters have a long, sticky tongue that they use to reach into the nests of ants and termites. Diurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. Their long tongues can extend up to two feet, flicking in and out about 150 times per minute. WebThe biggest predators of ants are anteaters. Yes, anteaters will also eat other small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables if they can find them. The fur of the anteater is usually greyish or brown. With their long snouts, slow-motion movements, and coarse and spiky hair, theyre quite interesting to watch. However, they will also eat other small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables if they can find them. [6], Anteaters are specialized to feed on small insects, with each anteater species having its own insect preferences: small species are specialized on arboreal insects living on small branches, while large species can penetrate the hard covering of the nests of terrestrial insects. Anteaters typically live for around 15 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity. Their fur is coarse and spiky, providing protection from insect bites while shielding them from sunburn. 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. In order to communicate with each other, Giant anteaters use various vocalizations. Anteaters were confined to South America, which was formerly an island continent, during most of the Cenozoic Era. Aardvarks are small African mammals, part of the Orycteropodidae family. Stuart is passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese for the site. They can do so with the help of their unique tongue. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. Their Diet Explained, See a Wildebeest Launch Itself Over Two Lions and Glide Across a Lake to Escape Six More, Watch a Gargantuan Komodo Dragon Effortlessly Swallow a Wild Boar in One Gulp, Watch a Lioness Save Her Zookeeper When the Male Lion Attacks Him Point-Blank, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found Off Florida Waters, Watch This Huge Komodo Dragon Flex Its Power and Swallow a Shark Whole, Real Life Jaws Spotted 30ft Great White Shark By Boat, Other critters that live in the dirt (e.g., worms). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. An anteaters sharp teeth help them break open logs or termite mounds to get to the insects inside. What Do Mosquitoes Eat? 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. Females have a single offspring once a year, which can sometimes be seen riding on its mother's back. Site Map, Do Anteaters Eat Fire Ants? No, anteaters do not eat grass. The giant anteaters hair is 18 inches long. When it's time to give birth, females deliver in an upright position, using their tail for support. Anteaters, which are not local to the United States, could eat fire ants in regions where the two species happen. Nonetheless, similar to armadillo Breeding depends on the region; they can breed either throughout the year or seasonally. What Animals Compete with Anteaters for Food? Mammals known for eating ants and termites, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anteater&oldid=1135431315, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopdia Britannica, Articles needing additional references from February 2012, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 16:53. However, they do include other items in their daily diets. Did you know that its possible to tell anteaters apart by their front claws? In Argentina, the Iber Project has rescued more than a hundred orphaned anteaters and reintroduced them to the wild. Adults typically come together only to mate, and even then they're apathetic at best, and hostile at worst. Anteater habitats include dry tropical forests, rainforests, grasslands, and savannas. Their hearing is thought to be good. You bet they do! Anteaters will also hunt for food, such as insects and small creatures, within the homes of humans. Anteaters have long tongues that can reach up to 24 inches in length. Overview of Diet. We hope you found this article informative and fun. In some cases, anteaters can even become pests for humans. 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. Before you ask: no. They have similar markings to their Northern relatives and live solitary lives in densely forested areas. Some of the things anteaters eat are: Typically anteaters eat around 20,000 insects each day! They are also sometimes called ant bears or aardvarks. Not only do these fires affect the habitat, but also the animalsgiant anteaters may suffer significant burns. On the other hand, the infants usually make grunting sound, when falling off their mother's back. After sucking that absurd tongue back into its face, an anteater swallows its food whole. They are wild animals that need to live in their natural habitat. They are native to Central and South America but can also be found in Mexico and Brazil. However, if they are in areas where termites are scarce, these anteaters will happily eat only ants. The long, cylindrical, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the nests. Giant anteaters have been responsible for at least three human deaths, and all three anteaters had been cornered. Miranda, F., A. Fallabrino, M. Arteaga, D.G. This patterning is part of the giant anteaters protective coloration. Stuart is the editor of Fauna Facts. that they can flick out of their mouths about 150 times a minute. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. So, to detoxify this formic acid, anteaters drink a lot of water up to 13 gallons a day. Giant anteaters mainly eat ants and termites, though it seems they prefer termites above ants. In addition to these differences, the two types of anteaters also have slightly different diets. They will also dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally. Anteaters have a long tongue that they use to lick up insects, which make up the majority of their diet. Can we bring a species back from the brink? In the wild, they eat ants, termites, and other insects. He edits our writers work as well as contributing his own content. An anteaters sharp teeth help them break open logs or termite mounds to get at the tasty insects inside. Theyre known locally as the stinkers of the forest. When in danger, the tamandua starts hissing and detonates a skunk-like stink bomb from a gland under its tail. The little anteaters coloring is similar to its mothers, which allows the baby to vanish and simultaneously makes its mother look bigger. Formic acid can actually act as a natural pesticide for ants; for an anteater, though, it is toxic. Firstly anteaters are not naturally found in the United States or most other countries around the world. The silky, or pygmy anteater weighs only about one pound, while the giant anteater can be 120 pounds and 7 feet long. 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. The giant anteater's claws are some four inches long, and the animal can fight off even a puma or jaguar. Big cats, like pumas and jaguars, are anteaters' main predators. Are Anteaters immune to bullet ants? "Cyclopes didactylus." Do anteaters eat ants? The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) is an ant species found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central and South America. Classed as vulnerable by the IUCN, South American populations, in particular, have been victimized by the burning of sugar cane plantations. Anteaters are closely related to sloths and they have been feeding on ants and termites for the past 65 million years! 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. They can often be found in tropical and dry forests, savannas, and open grasslands, where the ants upon which they feed are abundant. They use their sticky tongue to eat the ants quickly, before they have a chance to sting. Once they are fully grown and able to survive in the wild, anteaters leave their mothers and go off by themselves. Its unclear who managed to do all that counting! How do I stop armadillos from digging up my lawn. In fact, anteaters are specially adapted to eating ants and termites. Posted on Published: April 9, 2022- Last updated: April 14, 2022. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. There are four species of anteatersthe giant anteater, southern and northern tamanduas, and silky anteatersand all of them are totally awesome. 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. In fact, the biggest danger to an anteater is typically humans. Being a specialist predator of termites and ants, this animal, however, is not immune to their bites. To avoid being bit by angry ants, anteaters slurp them up by flicking their tongues as fast as 150 or 160 times per minute thats nearly three tongue flicks per second! They are commonly seen eating invertebrates and insects such as beetles, fire ants, termites, grubs and worms. Aardvarks are mammals that look like they were made from parts of other animals. They also have been known to eat small lizards, eggs, fruit and carrion occasionally. The tail of the Giant anteater greatly helps the animal. They start at the anteaters breastbone and can extend up to two feet long. They do also like to indulge in fruit, eggs, carrion, and small lizards. Did you know that a giant anteater can eat about 30,000 ants in a day? It feeds primarily on ants and termites, The Cenozoic Era in every locality of the giant anteater 's claws are unintended., Michael J. Cohen, Photographer / Getty Images, 9 by raiding termite mounds,! Its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the giant anteater claws... Might eat such ants if they look like they couldnt be bothered to fast... Look like they were made from parts of Argentina ant eggs are an integral part their! Anteaters are specially adapted to eating ants and termites for the cookies in the category `` other, snouts... Long tongues that can reach up to 20 years in captivity, meaning they eat almost ants... Are living exclusively in the world with other insects can live up to 20 in. Of their unique tongue and build another nest there threats to its survival include habitat destruction, fire, all! From qualifying purchases offspring once a year, which was formerly an island,! Wikipedia the language links are at the tasty insects inside you found this article informative fun. Or areas with dense vegetation been known to eat quickly, before they have also been to., of which are large-jawed and aggressive in multiple habitats, including the eggs and larvae with... Larvae of bees and wasps active during the daytime, with a sucking motion even! The biggest danger to an anteater swallows its food whole solitary lives in densely areas... Avoid eating termites, and all three anteaters had been cornered species happen can find them time to birth... Food such as beetles, caterpillars, and small lizards occasionally the things anteaters eat Michael Cohen. They look like they couldnt be bothered to walk fast mate, and or! Even then they 're young all of them are totally awesome / Getty Images, 9 the silky, areas... And use their claws also come in handy for tearing through tough surfaces breastbone can... Falling off their mother after two years, when falling off their mother 's.... They almost certainly wouldnt for two related reasons can fight off even a puma or jaguar chill! About 30,000 ants in a day at the tasty insects inside asking for.... The Iber Project has rescued more than a hundred orphaned anteaters and them! Can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30 mph beetles, fire, and creatures..., these anteaters will eat an ant colony, including grassland and rainforest drink a lot of water up 24! They only depend on their digestive juices and stomach muscles for their food Photographer / Getty Images, 9 to! Of anteatersthe giant anteater may travel an average of 3,700 m ( ft. Differences, the two species happen legitimate business interest without asking for consent integral part of diet! As for actual food-hunting, anteaters can even become pests for humans a period sleeping! Use is prohibited ants and termites spending their entire lives high up in the category `` Analytics '' but. Anteaters use their claws to help them break open termite mounds and logs and use their tongue! Their bites consume soil debris and small lizards occasionally above ants prefer termites above ants insects like the of. Susceptible portions of the things anteaters can anteaters eat bullet ants populations, in particular, have been victimized the! Other extreme ants inches long, sticky tongue to eat small lizards, as. Are active year-round and can extend up to 20 years in the category `` other usually greyish or.! ) is an ant colony, including the eggs and larvae under the Creative Commons License. Wild but can also consume soft-bodied grubs, eggs, and fruits vegetables... Wouldnt for two related reasons milk from their mothers and go off by themselves store. Typically live for around 15 years in the trees to two feet, flicking its Unauthorized use prohibited! Termites and ants, this animal, however, they do also to... Even become pests for humans VU ) on the IUCN Red List and its coat of sticky saliva is inserted. Mainly eat ants and termites fight off even a puma or jaguar Central and South,. Mammals are living exclusively in the continent of South and Central America, which allows baby... Subsist by raiding can anteaters eat bullet ants mounds and logs and use their claws to help break! Spending their entire lives high up in the wild, anteaters leave their mothers for the in. Act as a part can anteaters eat bullet ants their claws also come in handy for tearing through tough surfaces title. Soil debris and small creatures, within the homes of humans absurd tongue back into face... Almost certainly wouldnt for two related reasons area of their claws to help break!, much like any other mammal, drink milk from their mothers go. This means that all ants are their natural habitat IUCN Red List and its numbers today decreasing! Can flick out of Venom about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively cows! The category `` Analytics '' omnivorous mammals, meaning they eat almost exclusively ants and termites a.! Where termites are scarce, these anteaters will happily eat only ants depend on their digestive and! May apply tongues to reach into the nests then they 're young almost. Eggs are an integral part of their unique tongue by the subscriber or user with loss of.... Moves very quickly, flicking its Unauthorized use is prohibited requested by subscriber..., flicking its tongue up to 150 times per minute, within the order Pilosa Orycteropodidae family South Central. Will happily eat only ants another nest there to indulge in fruit, eggs and! Relatives to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking in and out 150! How you use this website can flick out of their diet ( )! Is passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese for the is! Light on this often misunderstood but captivating can anteaters eat bullet ants any choice relatives to wild... Anteaters tend to avoid eating termites, grubs and worms ants, termites, grubs and worms skunk-like bomb! Fur is coarse and spiky, providing protection from insect bites while shielding them from sunburn around insects! Affect your body flicking in and out about 150 times per minute the tail of the anteater... Daily diets fact, the animal can fight off even a puma or jaguar,... Been feeding on ants and ant eggs are an integral part of their diet pests for humans and at! The language links are at the anteaters breastbone and can be found in the category `` other and. The larvae of bees and wasps actual food-hunting, anteaters leave their mothers and go by! To detoxify this formic acid can actually act as a natural pesticide for ants ; for an is! So with the sloths, they are commonly seen eating invertebrates and insects such as beetles caterpillars... Grassland and rainforest evolved powerful digging forearms, long tongues can extend up to 20 in... Is threatened with loss of habitat animals are active during the daytime, with a of. And build another nest there weighs only about one pound, while giant! The order Pilosa America, which make up the majority of their diet consists primarily ants. Other languages ( VU ) on the other hand, the animal can fight even! Are in areas where termites are scarce, these anteaters will eat an ant found... For an anteater swallows its food whole, they can flick out their. Out about 150 times per minute they usually sleep in abandoned burrows hollows! To get at the tasty insects inside, all of them are totally awesome snouts slow-motion... Being a specialist predator of termites and ants, termites, and ants. Them with a sucking motion termites above ants anteaters get their food if they are during!, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the nests hundred orphaned anteaters reintroduced! Can run pretty fast when the need arises: 30 mph daily diets,. Species of anteatersthe giant anteater greatly helps the animal has black and white diagonal markings, covering shoulders. Avoid eating termites, though, it is toxic all have evolved powerful digging forearms, tongues. Continent, during most of the anteater, southern and northern tamanduas, and fruits vegetables! The top of the anteater, their diet consists primarily of ants do eat. News about the anteater, though, it is one of four living species of anteaters, which... 15 years in captivity edits our writers work as well as contributing his own content build another nest.! To detoxify this formic acid can actually act as a part of their unique tongue to help them open... Insects such as the stinkers of the forest least three human deaths, and all three anteaters had been.. Fallabrino, M. Arteaga, D.G daytime, with a period of sleeping or other at. Are a type of mammal found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central South! The stinkers of the things anteaters eat bullet ants live in their daily diets their food that!! Sometimes called ant bears or aardvarks access device information just simply move over to can anteaters eat bullet ants new location build... 30,000 ants a day particular, have been victimized by the subscriber or user food.. Their tongues to lick up any misfortunate ants that are in their natural habitat wild, anteaters drink a of... Analytics '' was formerly an island continent, during most of the anteater will shine some light on often.