The anteater, a mammal belonging to the family Myrmecophagidae, is highly specialized for consuming massive quantities of tiny, defensive insects. Sustaining itself requires the daily consumption of thousands of ants and termites. Understanding how the anteater manages this volume reveals a combination of unique biological adaptations and a refined foraging strategy.
The Daily Consumption Total
The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the largest species, typically consumes between 20,000 and 35,000 ants and termites daily. Achieving this enormous tally requires a specific feeding strategy that prioritizes volume over depth. The anteater does not spend long at any single nest, instead visiting dozens of nests throughout its foraging period.
This immense consumption is divided into many short feedings, often lasting only a minute or less at each colony. By limiting the time spent at one location, the anteater prevents the total destruction of the nest. This conservation measure ensures the colony can recover, allowing the anteater to return and feed from the resource again later.
Specialized Feeding Apparatus
The ability to process a high volume of insects is rooted in the anteater’s highly adapted anatomy, starting with its elongated snout and small, toothless mouth. The most distinctive feature is its narrow, worm-like tongue, which can extend up to two feet in length in the Giant Anteater. This tongue is not anchored at the back of the throat like most mammals, but rather to the sternum, allowing for its incredible extension.
The tongue is coated in a thick, sticky saliva produced by enlarged submaxillary glands, which acts like flypaper to capture prey. The surface of the tongue is covered in tiny, backward-pointing spines or papillae, which help secure the insects before the tongue is retracted. Since the anteater lacks teeth, the captured ants and termites are swallowed whole and crushed by the powerful, muscular walls of its pyloric stomach.
Why Anteaters Eat So Quickly
The speed of the anteater’s feeding is a direct response to the defenses of its prey. Ants and termites launch a counter-attack involving painful bites, stings, and the release of defensive chemicals, such as formic acid. The anteater must penetrate the nest, consume enough insects, and withdraw before the colony can fully swarm and overwhelm it.
The anteater’s tongue is capable of flicking in and out of the snout at a remarkable speed, often exceeding 150 times per minute. This rapid action allows the animal to harvest hundreds of insects in seconds. Moving quickly from nest to nest minimizes the anteater’s exposure to concentrated toxins and defensive actions, ensuring efficient foraging.
Species Differences in Diet
While the Giant Anteater is the largest, the other three species—the two Tamanduas and the Silky Anteater—have different diets. Tamanduas are smaller and partially arboreal, living both in trees and on the ground. Their diet consists primarily of ants and termites, but they are selective, often avoiding aggressive or highly defended species like army ants.
The Silky Anteater, the smallest species, is exclusively arboreal and has the most specific diet. Its diet consists almost entirely of arboreal ants, with little evidence of termite consumption. This preference highlights how different anteater species have specialized to exploit specific ecological niches, reducing competition for resources.