The animal that we commonly know as anteater is actually a vermilinguo, a term that comes from Latin and means "tongue in worm shape." This data brings us closer to one of the peculiarities that this animal presents, since it lacks teeth but has a cylindrical tongue that can reach 60 centimeters in length.
The preferred habitat of the anteater is tropical forests, although we can also find them in open grasslands, swampy places, jungles and savannahs.
For you to learn more curiosities about this animal, in this article on our site we talk about the feeding of the anteater.
What do anteaters eat?
The anteater has a very robust body structure, it can weigh up to 40 kilos and if we take into account the length of its tail it can even measure more than two meters.
Despite the strength of its body, the anteater is a myrmecophagous animal, that is, it feeds on termites and ants, something that is possible thanks to his strong nails and the structure of his tongue.
With its nails, the anteater is capable of penetrating anthills and termite mounds, later capturing insects thanks to its long tongue and its stickiness.
How is the anteater's appetite?
The anteater must eat enough food daily to keep its robust body in optimal condition, therefore, this animal visits numerous termite mounds and/or anthills every day.
He has a great appetite, so much so that to completely satiate it He can eat approximately 20,000 insects a day Contrary to what may think at first, this is not an easy task for the anteater, since for example the termites are capable of defending themselves from the attack, so the contact of the anteater with the termites is very brief, but enough for they stick to your sticky tongue.
Are the anteater's favorite delicacy ants?
These vermilion animals are known throughout the world as anteaters, and this is not an erroneous assessment, since we have seen that much of their diet is based on ants.
However, this is not the favorite delicacy of anteaters, as they enjoy termites much more.
The anteater, an endangered species
Unfortunately, the anteater is a species that is in danger of extinction for various reasons:
- It is captured to be exhibited in zoos and circuses
- On some routes he dies run over by vehicles
- He has been persecuted to consume his meat and use his leather
- It is attacked by other animals, such as some dogs
The loss of biodiversity in the animal kingdom is an unfortunate fact, hence the importance of knowing the circumstances of some endangered animals of extinction, because becoming aware of these facts is important to treat and prevent them.
