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giant anteater
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A giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) with a long snout and bushy tail forages with its claws in a fallen log on grassy ground in the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil. Illustration of a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) showing its long, bushy tail, elongated snout with a protruding tongue, and distinctive black and white markings along its shoulder and side. A scale bar above indicates length in centimeters and inches. parallel evolution of marsupial and placental mammals
Observe a giant anteater using its long muzzle and wormlike tongue to eat and drink
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giant anteater

mammal
Also known as: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, ant bear
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A giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) with a long snout and bushy tail forages with its claws in a fallen log on grassy ground in the Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil.
giant anteater Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) foraging in a log, Pantanal wetlands, Brazil.

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a large, toothless mammal native to Central and South America. It is characterized by its elongated snout, long, sticky tongue (up to 60 cm or 24 inches), and sharp claws used for tearing open insect nests and defense. These anteaters primarily feed on ants and termites.12

Giant anteaters are solitary animals, typically found in tropical savannas and forests. They can grow up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) long, including their bushy tails, and weigh up to 40 kg (88 pounds). While generally diurnal, they may become nocturnal near human settlements. When threatened, they can stand on their hind legs and tail, using their front limbs to strike.2

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