O giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) it is one of the most striking and peculiar mammals that exist. Of the four different species of anteaters, it is the largest.
These insect-eating giants have an extremely strong sense of scent for their prey. Giant anteaters have a sense of smell 40 times better than humans. This allows them to detect ants or termites over long distances.
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This mammal usually has only one calf per year and is therefore an animal very sensitive to human persecution and loss of natural habitat. Because of these two dangers, the anteater is considered an endangered animal. extinction.
Its body can reach 2.1 meters in length. He has an elongated snout and a very bushy tail. The thick, dense fur that covers the body varies between dark brown and black. It has white forelegs with black bands around the wrists, and a broad band of black fur extends from the chest region to the middle of the back.
This band is delimited by a thin line of white fur, in gray or light brown. Its tongue is extremely long, measuring up to 60 centimeters in length. Anteaters have large front claws and powerful legs that allow them to break through termite mounds in a single swing.
This animal can be found in all areas of Brazil. In addition, it is also recorded from southern Belize to northern Argentina. Their preferred territory includes swamps and humid forests, but they are mostly seen in fields, where termites and ants are easily found. They travel constantly in search of food, taking care to take only a small number of insects from each nest, avoiding excessive exploitation of food sources in their area of home.
In nature, the giant anteater mainly consumes termites, ants, beetles, larvae of larger insects, worms and fruits. Their long snout and tongue allow them to sniff out the homes of their main prey and lick them with ease. When he feeds, his tongue moves 150 times every minute – allowing him to eat 30,000 insects in a day.
This species reproduces at any time of the year, when they are in the wild. Usually they only have one calf annually. The gestation of an anteater lasts 184 days, on average. After birth, the female carries the young on her back. The female's care is only completed when the animal completes ten months of life.
Although anteaters are not in serious danger of extinction, they have lost much of their population due to hunting and habitat destruction. Scientists estimate that only 5,000 individuals remain in the wild. These distinctive looking animals have been around for 25 million years and – with enough protection for their habitat – should continue to survive well into the future.