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Fast Facts:

The giant anteater is one of three subspecies of anteater and is the largest of the Order Edentata.
Anteaters do not have teeth, which is why they are classified in the order Edentata, a term meaning "toothless."
Anteaters are thought to be one of the first groups of mammals to have reached South America.
Even though these anteaters are mainly land animals, they are amazingly good swimmers and enjoy their time in the water.

Giant Anteater

Scientific Name:	Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Classification:	Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Edentata, Family Myrmecophagidae, Genus Myrmecophaga, Species tridactyla
Status:	Giant anteaters are listed as vulnerable under CITES Appendix II
Range:	Africa, south of the Sahara Desert
Habitat:	Tropical savannas, forests and swamp areas.
Diet:	Daily diet consists mainly of ants and termites with the addition of other species of insects. Anteaters have little or no need to drink from a water source because the water they need is contained in the insects they eat as well. They also consume extra moisture left on plants and fruits after a rain storm.
Size:	7 feet long from nose to tail (average)
Weight:	86-100 pounds with the male being approximately 20% larger than the female
Lifespan:	Lifespan in wild is currently unknown; however, they may live up to 26 years in captivity
Location:
Print Fact Sheet	Anteater

Special Features:

Anteaters are mainly diurnal and are found to be nocturnal in densely populated areas.
It is nearly impossible to tell the difference between a male and female by the external anatomy alone.
An anteater's tongue grows to a length of 24 inches and has been recorded to move in and out of the mouth at a rate of 160 strokes per minute during feeding.
Anteaters have an amazing sense of smell - it has been found to be 40 times more acute than that of humans.
These large mammals spend the equivalent of 15 hours a day just sleeping.
Of all terrestrial animals, anteaters have been found to have the lowest recorded temperature. Their average temperature is only 32.7 degrees C /91 degrees F.
These amazing creatures travel around 46 feet per minute.
In order to conserve their food supply, the anteater will only consume only approximately 140 insects from each mound at a single feeding.

Social Structure & Behavior:

Giant anteaters are mainly solitary and docile animals. It would be a rare occurrence to see two anteaters together at the same time, except during the mating season. They are non-territorial and have vast housing areas. Unless threatened, they are relatively harmless.

Enemies:

Giant anteaters are threatened and hunted primarily by cougar, jaguar and humans. Humans kill these animals for a meat source and to show as a trophy. At one time, anteaters were believed to be extremely dangerous and were accused of killing dogs and cattle. It was later recognized that this was not true - anteaters are harmless unless threatened by predators.

Breeding:

Giant anteaters reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age. While in the wild, they generally mate in the fall; however, in captivity they will mate in the fall and spring. Contact between a male and female only occurs during estrus and once she is pregnant, the gestation period may last anywhere from 145 to 190 days. When giving birth, the female will stand upright, using her tail as a balance. Anteaters will only have one offspring at a time, and as soon as she gives birth, the young climbs directly onto her back where it will remain for up to one year. The young can walk at 4 weeks of age and will take small breaks from its mother's back to learn to get around. These young ones will not feed on their own until they are two years of age.