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Giant anteater

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  • Hàbitat Natural
  • Location in the zoo
  • Escolta'l
Geographic distribution:

Geographic distribution:

Central and South America

  • Scientific name:
    • Myrmecophaga tridactyla 
  • Taxonomy:
    • Class: Mammalia 
    • Order: Xenarthra 
    • Family: Myrmecophagidae 
  • Biology:
    • Area of origin: America 
    • Habitat: Savanna 
    • Social life: Solitary 
    • Food: Insectívora 
  • Rating:
    • Mammals 
  • Physical Characteristics:
    • Longevity: up to 26 years in captivity 
    • Weight at birth: 1-1,5 kg 
    • Middleweight: 30-35 kg 
    • Length: 100-130 cm 
  • Reproduction
    • Reproduction: Viviparous 
    • Gestation: 180-190 days 
    • Nombre de cries: 1 

Risk level of the species

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Red list: Scale according to the situation of the species IUCN

Risk level of the species near threatened

Description

The giant anteater is a curious South American mammal that eats almost exclusively ants and termites. The opening of the mouth is very small, with no teeth and an extremely long and narrow tongue, up to 1 m long. This tongue has tiny sharp growths directed backwards and impregnated with a viscous saliva that make ants stick to it when the animal sticks it into their nests, up to 150 times a minute.
To access the inside of the ant and termite hills, the anteater uses its strong curved nails. These are also important for defence: When attacked by a jaguar or puma (its only natural enemies), it sits back on its rear legs and hits them with its claws, which can cause great injury to these powerful predators. Due to the length of the nails, it walks putting its hands sideways.

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