General Characteristics

Head to body Length :   100 - 120 cm ( 39 -47 )

Tail length : 70 - 90 cm ( 27.5 -35.5 in ) 

Weight  :  20 - 39 kg ( 44 - 86 lb )

 Description

Giant anteaters have a beautiful brown or gray coat with white-bordered black stripes along each shoulder. Their tail is long and bushy and they have extremely long claws, useful for tearing into termite mounds as well as for self-defense. Their snout is long and narrow, enabling them to reach into holes. They have no teeth, but their tongue is sticky with tiny spines that help them scoop up as many as 30,000 ants or termites in one day. Their tongue muscles are very well-developed, allowing them to flick their tongue in and out of their mouth 150 to 160 times per minute. Because their claws are so long, anteaters walk on their front knuckles, tucking their claws up and out of the way.  Anteaters have small eyes and ears and, although their vision is weak, their hearing and sense of smell are excellent. 

Range - Anteater live in Southern Mexico, Central America, South to Paraguay & Northern Argentina, & Trinidad.

Habitat - It lives in Savanna, parkland, thorn Scrub, and Steppe; Motaine & tropical rainforest.

Diet - They eat termites and ants.

Status -  This has the caused numbers to drop. 

Reason for the status -This is because of Human population, encroachment, habitat destruction and hunting. 

What type of animal is it - It is a  Carnivore.

Gestation : 190 days

Longevity : 26 years

Giant Anteater at the San Diego Zoo