The post 10 Fascinating Facts About Anteaters You Didn’t Know appeared first on A-Z Animals.
If you don’t already have it marked on your calendar, November 19 is World Anteater Day. This big day was created as a way of showing the many interesting characteristics that make anteaters among the most unique creatures in existence. There are many facts about anteaters that most people don’t know, like the fact that they can swim and run at high speeds, and that they eat thousands of ants every day. The annual celebration was also created to raise awareness of the dangers anteaters face and what we can do to preserve their existence. Check out this list of amazing anteater facts and see how you can help them thrive.
They’re Named for Their Long Tongue
One of the most interesting facts about anteaters is that they don’t have teeth. Anteaters, sloths, and armadillos are all edentates, meaning they don’t have teeth. Instead, the anteater is famous for its long tongue. In fact, the name anteater is based on their famous tongue. There are four species of anteater, which include:
- Giant anteater
- Silky anteater
- Northern tamandua
- Southern tamandua
All four of them are under the suborder Vermilingua. It’s a Latin word that can be translated to “worm tongue.”
The Tongue is Covered in Spines
While the size of an anteater’s tongue can vary based on the species, a giant anteater’s tongue is two feet long. While that’s not the largest tongue of any animal (that award goes to the blue whale), it is long enough to slip into ant hills and termite mounds for a meal. Anteaters can flick their tongues up to 150 times per minute. Their tongues are covered in spines and sticky saliva, which makes it easy for them to eat many insects quickly. They can maneuver their tongue through the narrow paths where ants and termites hide. It really doesn’t matter how crafty an ant may be; the anteater will almost always get to them. However, the ants do fight back, so anteaters do need to take frequent breaks.
Anteaters Eat a Lot
Giant anteaters have long tongues that are covered in spines to eat the many ants as possible at once.
©Diego Grandi/Shutterstock.com
One of the most remarkable facts about anteaters is how much they eat. During a single day, anteaters can eat and swallow around 35,000 termites and ants. This is good because, not only are they satisfying their appetite, but they’re also helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem by controlling ant, termite, and other insect populations, which contributes to the stability of their local habitat.
With that said, they don’t only eat insects. Though they are insectivorous, anteaters mostly eat bugs; they have also been known to eat ripe fruit, such as avocados and mangos, that falls from trees. Anteaters break open fruit with their claws and then use their lips to pull the fruit into their mouths.
They Have Mighty Claws
Yes, anteaters have mighty claws that they use to do more than just rip open fruit. Anteaters also use their claws to tear into ant hills so they can gain easier access to the food within. Their claws are quite long (up to four inches) and incredibly sharp, often compared to daggers or knives. Their claws are so large that anteaters walk on their knuckles, curling their feet into fistlike balls.
Like many other animals, anteaters also use their claws for defense against predators or humans. Though anteaters aren’t naturally aggressive, they will defend themselves when necessary. In many cases, giant anteaters will stand on their hind legs to fend off attackers. They’ll often fight off jaguars and pumas. There have been several cases of humans being harmed by anteaters, and a few documented cases of death, so it’s best to leave them alone.
Anteaters Are Very Good Swimmers
Anteaters are capable of swimming long distances to get to their next meal.
©slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com
Seeing an anteater swim up to you in the water would probably be one of the strangest experiences in your life, but it’s possible. This is especially true when you learn that anteaters are surprisingly good swimmers. When necessary, they’ll cross streams and rivers to get to another food source. When they do, most of their bodies will be submerged. However, their snout stays above the water so they can keep breathing.
Like other animals, the anteater will use the dog-paddle motion of using all four limbs to propel itself forward. Anteaters can also swim hundreds of feet at a time. When they get to land, they shake off excess water, remove any debris, and look for the next ant hill.
Anteaters Have A Strong Sense of Smell
One of the reasons why anteaters can often become defensive is that they may become startled. That is due to their poor vision. To make up for this shortcoming, anteaters have an exceptional sense of smell that is 40 times better than that of a human. They primarily follow their sense of smell to their next meal because they can detect ants and insects from a great distance.
Anteaters Give Birth Standing Up
Among the wild facts about anteaters is how they give birth to their young. In short, the females give birth while standing up. You’re typically going to see anteaters by themselves as they are very solitary animals. However, they come together during mating season. Anteaters only have one baby at a time. Their babies are called pups. They give birth while standing, using their tails to maintain balance during the ordeal.
After giving birth, the male anteater leaves, and mom and her pup are on their own. At first, the baby rides on its mother’s back until it can walk on its own. After that, mother and baby typically stay together for two years before going their separate ways.
Their Tails Have Many Uses
Giant anteaters use their tails to cover their bodies while sleeping to avoid predators and harsh weather conditions.
©Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock.com
Some of the most interesting facts about anteaters are about what they can do with their tails. In addition to providing stability during birth, their tails have many other uses. While they sleep, a giant anteater will use its tail to cover its body like a blanket to protect it from the rain or harsh sun. When they’re sleeping, the tail can also act as camouflage, helping them avoid being detected by predators. This tail-blanket combination also helps protect their bodies from biting insects.
If they are bothered by a predator, they can also raise their tail to appear larger and scare off the threat. Finally, tamanduas, a smaller species of anteater, use their tails to wrap around branches for stability while climbing trees.
They’re Fast!
Anteaters are full of surprises, including their ability to run up to 30 miles per hour. They don’t typically move that fast. Instead, they move at a slow shuffle. However, if they’re startled or attacked, they can run quickly. Because they walk on their ankles, moving quickly for long periods is uncomfortable for them. They’re not long-distance runners. Because of their low body temperature and bulky frame, they can run out of gas fairly quickly, but it’s enough to get out of a jam.
They Need Your Help
One of the most alarming facts about anteaters is that, if we’re not careful, some of the species may soon be endangered. According to the Red List of Threatened Species, the giant anteater has been listed as having a “vulnerable” status. This means their population is decreasing, with fewer mature individuals in the wild able to breed and raise young.
Common dangers to the population include loss of habitat due to wildfires and the expansion of farming properties where anteaters call home. Sometimes, farmers set fires in the forest to clear land, forcing anteaters to find new habitats. Climate change is also a threat, as rising temperatures force anteaters to travel farther to find suitable habitats and food.
You can do your part to help these majestic creatures by donating to organizations, such as the Anteaters and Highways Project. That organization aims to improve road planning so that routes don’t run directly through the areas where anteaters live. Many zoos are also doing their part to help anteaters live long and healthy lives. You can help by purchasing a zoo ticket to support the cause while seeing anteaters and other animals in a safe environment. Together, we can help anteaters, among the most unique creatures in the animal kingdom, thrive for years to come.
The post 10 Fascinating Facts About Anteaters You Didn’t Know appeared first on A-Z Animals.
November 18, 2025 at 06:02PMJustin Zipprich.jpeg)
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