RWP Zoo: Giant Anteater
 Plan Your Visit > Exhibits & Animals > Giant Anteater

Giant Anteater

   Did You Know?          

>>

A giant anteater's tongue is 2 feet long and looks like a worm. The tongue moves up to 150 times per minute, eating 35,000 ants per day. However they will only feed at one mound for roughly one minute.
>>

Giant anteaters have a keen sense of smell (40x a human's) to locate ant colonies.
>>

Giant anteaters also have a keen sense of hearing to detect approaching predators, but have very poor eyesight.
>>

While you won't usually hear giant anteaters make sounds, they do bellow when they are threatened. Also young will whistle when separated from mom.
>> Giant anteaters use their 4 inch claws on their front feet to break open termite mounds and to defend themselves against predators.
   

 

 Fast Facts

Size:
Body length is 3-4 feet, tail length is
2-3 feet

Weight:
Males weigh 40 - 80 pounds; females weigh 10% - 20% less than males

Diet:
Insectivore; eats ants and termites

Life Span:
Averages 14 years in the wild; 20 - 25 years in captivity

Habitat:
Grassland, swamp, lowland tropical forest

Fun Facts:
Young are carried on mom's back for 1 year.

Giant anteaters walk on their fists.

Conservation:
Near threatened
Main threat is habitat loss; protected in Brazil

Geographic Location:
Central and South America

range of the giant anteater
Roger Williams Park Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue . Providence, RI 02907 . 401-785-3510
© 2000 - 2010 Roger Willliams Park Zoo and RI Zoological Society. 		  All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
Contact Us