Anteaters are a group of four specialized insect-eating mammals: the Giant Anteater, the two species of Tamandua, and the Silky Anteater. Found across Central and South America, these animals are recognizable by their elongated snouts and powerful claws. They belong to the suborder Vermilingua, which translates to “worm tongue.” Anteaters consume ants, but their diet involves a preference for certain types of insects over others.
The Primary Diet Distinction
Anteaters are classified as insectivores, relying almost exclusively on social insects for their sustenance. While they are named for consuming ants (Formicidae), termites (Isoptera) often constitute a substantial, sometimes greater, portion of their diet. The specific ratio of ants to termites varies significantly based on the anteater species, geographic location, and season.
The Giant Anteater readily consumes both ants and termites. In grassland areas, termites are often the predominant food source, while in regions prone to seasonal flooding, ants may become the primary prey. A Giant Anteater consumes up to 30,000 ants and termites daily to meet its nutritional requirements.
The specialized diet also includes other small invertebrates, such as soft-bodied grubs, insect eggs, and larvae. The nutritional makeup of this prey is important because anteaters have a notably low body temperature and metabolic rate compared to other placental mammals. The insects provide necessary protein, and the anteater’s digestive system is adapted to process this chitin-rich food source.
Specialized Tools for Insect Consumption
The anteater’s physical structure is adapted to facilitate its feeding strategy, beginning with its powerful forelimbs. The front feet possess large, highly curved claws, particularly on the third digit, which are used for excavation. These claws are powerful enough to rip open the hardened exterior of termite mounds and deeply set ant nests.
To maintain the sharpness of these digging instruments, anteaters walk on the sides or knuckles of their forefeet. This distinctive gait keeps the long claws tucked away and out of contact with the ground, preventing them from becoming dull or damaged. Once the nest is breached, the second specialized tool comes into play: the tongue.
The Giant Anteater’s tongue can measure up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length and is anchored deep within the chest cavity, attaching to the sternum. This structure is covered in tiny, backward-pointing hooks called filiform papillae, which help secure the insects. The tongue is perpetually coated with thick saliva secreted by enlarged salivary glands, ensuring the insects cannot escape.
The elongated snout houses a tiny mouth opening, and anteaters possess no teeth, having lost them through evolution. Captured insects are pressed against the animal’s hard upper palate before being swallowed whole. The grinding and digestion of the hard insect exoskeletons are completed by the anteater’s highly muscular stomach.
The Speed and Selectivity of Feeding
Anteaters locate their prey using a sense of smell estimated to be 40 times more sensitive than a human’s. This sensory ability allows them to identify a suitable nest and determine the species residing within before beginning to dig. The feeding process is designed to maximize food intake while minimizing risk.
When feeding, the tongue flicks in and out of the mouth at rates of up to 150 times per minute. This rapid action is necessary because ants and termites possess soldier castes that quickly mount a defense using painful bites or acidic chemical weapons. The anteater typically spends only about one minute feeding at a single location before moving on.
This quick-strike feeding prevents the colony from mobilizing and overwhelming the predator. It is a conservation strategy, as the anteater consumes only a small fraction of the insects from a nest, sometimes as few as 140 individuals. By not destroying the colony, the animal ensures the nest survives to replenish its population, guaranteeing a reliable future food source. A Giant Anteater may visit and exploit up to 200 different nests during a single day of foraging.