Giant Anteater, Powerful Insectivore

With tiny eyes and ears that greatly contrast its large snout, body, and tail, the world's largest anteater is truly an extraordinary animal to see. Giant Anteaters are found from Belize to northern Argentina, including Iwokrama Forest and the Rupununi Savannahs. 

Anteaters are all members of the Family Myrmecophagidae. The Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) and Pygmy Anteater (also known as Silky Anteater, Cyclopes didactylus). are other anteater species found in the region. They are all members of the Order Xenarthra, which includes armadillos and sloths.

Giant Anteater

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Physical Description*

Giant Anteaters are quite distinctive morphologically, they are the largest of the anteater species. The snout is long (up to 45 cm in length [18 in.]) and the skull is streamlined with small eyes and ears. The tail is large and bushy and is nearly as long as the body. Head and body length measures 1,000 to 1,200 millimetres [39 to 78 in.] and tail length 650 to 900 millimetres [26 to 35 in.]. Weight ranges from 18 to 39 kilos [40 to 86 lbs.]. Giant Anteaters have fur that is thick and coarse and longer towards the tail. Their coat is brown with black and white stripes on the shoulders and a crest of hair along the middle of the back. The forelegs are white with black bands at the toes. Their hindfeet have 5 short claws, while their forefeet have 5 claws with the inner 3 being very long and sharp. They walk on the wrists of their forefeet, with these large claws curled out of the way. Giant anteaters have no teeth. The tongue can be extended 610 millimetres [24 in.] outside of the mouth and has spine-like protrusions. (Naples, 1999; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Habitat*

Giant Anteaters use a variety of habitats, including swamp, forests, and grasslands. They choose secluded, covered areas for sleeping. Giant anteaters can be found in both rural and densely populated areas. (Anderson, 1967; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Diet*

Giant Anteaters eat ants, termites, and soft-bodied grubs. Using the long, sharp claws on their forelimbs, they open insect colonies and tree trunks. They then use the tongue to collect the eggs, larvae, and adult insects. The salivary glands secrete sticky saliva during feeding that coats the tongue. They only stay at one ant colony for a short period of time because soldier ants arrive but giant anteaters can consume a few thousand insects in minutes. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. They may sometimes eat fruit. (Naples, 1999)

Strong legs and sharp claws enable Giant Anteaters

to defend themselves quite effectively from potential predators; they have even been known to kill Jaguars,

although probably done only in self-defense.

(Photo © Eva Hejda)

Family Life*

The mating system of M. tridactyla is not known. Reproductive behavior is primarily observed in captivity. The male stands over the female who lays on her side during copulation. (Jones, 1982)

Gestation is approximately 190 days, after which females give birth to a single young which weighs about 1.3 kilos [46 oz.]. Females give birth standing up and immediately the young anteater climbs onto her back. Young are born with a full coat of hair and adult-like markings. Breeding occurs year-round in captivity and the wild, though seasonal breeding times have been reported in portions of their range. Inter-birth intervals can be as low as 9 months. Sexual maturity is reached between 2.5 and 4 years. The mammary glands are lateral to the 'armpits' on the chest. (Nowak, 1999; Redford and Eisenberg, 1992; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Young are born with a full coat of hair and adult markings and are capable of clinging to their mother at birth. A mother will carry the baby on her back until it is almost half her size, about 6 to 9 months. Young suckle for 2 to 6 months. They become independent after about 2 years, or when the mother becomes pregnant again, which may be sooner. (Nowak, 1999)

Giant anteaters have been known to live up to 25 years and 10 months in captivity. Their longevity in the wild is unknown. (Jones, 1982)

Behavior*
Giant anteaters are usually solitary, except for mother-young pairs, only coming together for brief periods for courtship and agonistic encounters. They may have large, defined home ranges up to 9,000 hectares [35 mi.] in area, but they also wander extensively. When giant anteaters encounter each other in the wild they often simply ignore each other or run away, though agonistic encounters do also occur. Usually diurnal, giant anteaters will become nocturnal in areas of high human density or during certain kinds of weather. They are terrestrial but are good swimmers as well and, though they don't often climb in the wild, they are reported to be skilled at climbing out of enclosures in captivity. Sleeping occurs in abandoned burrows, dense vegetation, or depressions in the ground. Although they have the ability to dig well, they do not construct burrows. When fights occur individuals rear into a bipedal stance using the tail to balance and the forelimbs to fight. They shuffle while walking and move slowly but are capable of running quickly if necessary. Their weight is born on the knuckles and wrist to protect the claws. (Anderson, 1967; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Most communication occurs between young and their mothers or during fighting. It consists of snorts, sniffs, and hisses, as well as roaring during fights. Sight and hearing are diminished. Smell is highly developed: 40 times that of humans. (Redford and Eisenberg, 1992; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Interaction with Local People*

Giant anteaters are increasingly killed in car accidents. (Rain Forest Conservation Fund, 2001). [They] are hunted for food, fur, and sport. They are also valuable for the critical ecosystem roles they play. (Anderson, 1967; Shaw, Machado-Neto, and Carter, 1987)

Species in the Wild

Habitat destruction is the primary threat to Giant Anteaters.

As of 11th November 2004:

• Listed as Appendix II by the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) - trade in the animal must be controlled.
• Listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List - the species is experiencing a significantly declining population.

*Section content reprinted from Woltanski, A. 2004. "Myrmecophaga tridactyla", Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 11, 2004