The giant anteater, also known as palm tree bear, is a peculiar species that lives in the American continent. Despite its name, it does not belong to the group of ursids or true bears, from which it differs in many aspects. In total, there are four species of anteaters and they are related to sloths.
In this tab on our site we want to introduce you to the characteristics of the giant anteater, as they are truly distinctive within the group to which they belong. In addition, we will tell you about their habitat, customs and state of conservation. Keep reading!
Taxonomic classification of the giant anteater
As we have discussed, the giant anteater is one of the four species of anteaters. Here is the taxonomy of the giant anteater:
- Animal Kingdom
- Phylum: Chordates
- Class: Mammals
- Order: Pilosa
- Family: Myrmecophagidae
- Genus: Myrmecophaga
- Species: Myrmecophaga tridactyla
- Subspecies: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Myrmecophaga artata and Myrmecophaga centralis
Giant Anteater Features
The giant anteater has very particular characteristics that differentiate it considerably from the rest of the species. These characteristics are the following:
- The giant anteater is the largest of all the anteaters. It measures between 1 and 2 meters in length and weighs around 50 kg, with males being larger than females.
- It has a characteristic elongated snout, tubular in shape and about 45 cm long. This snout ends in a small mouth and nostrils.
- Another characteristic of the giant anteater is that it has a long tongue, which can extend up to about 60 cm.
- It also has a typical long, non-prehensile tail, thick with fur, which measures between 0.6 and 0.9 meters.
- Another distinctive feature within the group is its large head, which is larger than that of the rest of the anteaters. It measures approximately 30 cm long.
- As for the senses, he has poor eyesight, with relatively small eyes. However, the sense of smell is extremely developed, far superior, for example, to that of the human being.
- The neck is particularly thick and behind it there is a small hump.
- The fur is quite thick and increases in abundance towards the ventral and dorsal regions, but particularly on the tail.
- The giant anteater is gray or dark brown on the back, with a lighter head and forelimbs, on some cases even whitish. It presents a broad black band bordered by two white lines, one above and one below the broad band. These lines extend in a triangular shape from the throat area to the middle of the body.
- Finally, we note that it has long and powerful claws.
Giant Anteater Habitat
The giant anteater is a species native to Central and South America, currently extending from Honduras to Argentina. Given such a wide distribution, it is present in a diversity of habitats. In this way, the giant anteater lives in a variety of forests, both wet and dry, also in open-type savannahs and grasslands and is even present in natural areas of the Gran Chaco, as well as in timber plantations. On the other hand, it is also estimated to have a presence in highland forests of the Brazilian Amazon. Discover the most representative Amazon Animals in this other article.
For the subsistence of the giant anteater the presence of areas with large extensions that have patches of forest is necessary.
Customs of the Giant Anteater
They are animals of mainly solitary habits, except for the reproductive moment or, in the case of females, when they are taking care of their pups. They tend to wander extensively through the areas they inhabit and, in the event of encounters with individuals of the species, they are normally ignored, unless they are males and females in reproductive periods.
Although their habits are mainly diurnal, when they live in areas with human presence they tend to change them and be more active at night. They are terrestrial, although they can swim properly and it has been indicated that they eventually climb to escape from places where they are held captive.
They do not dig burrows, but it is common for them to occupy an abandoned one or seek out areas of thickets to sleep. Giant anteaters are usually slow animals, although they can run if necessary.
Giant Anteater Feeding
The giant anteater is an insectivorous animal, because its diet consists mainly of ants, termites and larvae To get food, it first uses its large claws, so that it opens the colonies of insects that are on the ground or on the trunks. Then, it uses its long tongue, which is covered with sticky saliva, and when it is introduced into the nest, it moves very quickly, collecting a large number of insects, larvae or eggs.
Normally it does not stay long in the same nest to avoid possible damage in the case of the presence of very aggressive ants. Eventually, you can have some fruit.
Giant Anteater Reproduction
Females give birth once a year, giving birth to only one offspringThe gestation period lasts between 171 and 184 days, approximately. Currently, there is not much data on the reproductive biology of the giant anteater in the wild. In this sense, for example, regarding the sexual maturity of females, in captivity it is known to occur between 18 and 22 months of age.
Once the cub is born, it will climb on its mother and will stay with her for about 6 monthsThe little bear giant anteater will be born with features very similar to those of an adult. In captivity, individuals of about 20 years of age have been reported, however, in the wild it is estimated that they live about 7 years.
Giant Anteater Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the giant anteater as vulnerable Unfortunately, it has disappeared from some regions where it was previously present. The main threat to this animal is the loss of habitat in much of its common range, particularly in Central America, according to records. Other actions that affect the species is the burning of certain crops which ends up damaging these animals, who die from burns. It is also common for them to die on the roads, due to illegal hunting for certain consumption or being used for marketing.
Regarding conservation actions for the giant anteater, it has been included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which establishes strict measures commercialization to try to stop the advance of the danger to which the species are exposed. On the other hand, in some areas there are special regulations and some protected spaces have been declared where the giant anteater lives. However, more and better measures are required, such as the control of crop fires to protect this animal.
