Giant Anteater

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Giant Anteater | status = vu | image = Myresluger.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Xenarthra | subordo = Vermilingua | familia = Myrmecophagidae | genus = Myrmecophaga | genus_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | species = M. tridactyla | binomial = Myrmecophaga tridactyla | binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 }}

The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is found in Central and South America. It is the only species in the Myrmecophaga genus.

It is a solitary animal, found in many habitats, including grasslands, deciduous forests and rainforests. It feeds mainly on ants and termites, sometimes up to 30,000 insects in a single day, although it can also feed on other insects they can find using their keen sense of smell.

1 Physiology
2 Behavior
3 References
4 External link

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Physiology

The Giant Anteater is the only mammal without any teeth even in a mature state.

The Giant Anteater is covered with stiff, straw-like hair which grows up to 40 cm long on the tail. Young have soft hair until it matures.

It grows to a size of 6 feet (1800mm) to 8 feet (2400mm) long, including a 3foot (900mm) to 4foot (1200mm) torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 to 140 pounds.

It has very strong foreclaws and can use them to defend itself when threatened, killing even large predators.

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Behavior

The Giant Anteater is a territorial animal, with its territories ranging around one square mile for adult males and about 1.5 square miles for adult females.

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