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Anteaters come in four distinct species—the giant anteater, southern and northern tamanduas, and silky anteaters—each boasting unique traits that make them truly remarkable. Here are 15 reasons to admire them.
1. Their tongues are nothing short of extraordinary.
Originating from the anteater’s breastbone, their tongues can stretch up to two feet in length. Covered in backward-facing spines and coated with ultra-sticky saliva, they are perfectly designed for efficient insect capture.
2. Anteaters are completely toothless.
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Once an anteater retracts its remarkable tongue, it consumes its prey whole. The insects are then digested in the stomach, where powerful muscles break them down.
3. Their legs bear a striking resemblance to panda faces.
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Once you’ve noticed it, it’s impossible to ignore. This unique pattern is a key part of the giant anteater’s camouflage. Mothers carry their young on their backs, and the baby’s coloring mirrors its mother’s, helping it blend in while also making the mother appear larger.
4. Their paws are equipped with razor-sharp claws.
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All four anteater species have paws adorned with massive, blade-like claws so lengthy and sharp that they must walk on their knuckles or wrists to avoid injuring themselves.
5. They prefer solitude over companionship.
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Anteaters are solitary creatures by nature. They steer clear of humans and other animals, even their own kind. Adults usually interact only for mating purposes, and even then, their behavior ranges from indifference to outright aggression. One researcher observed that during mating, a pair of tamanduas kept searching for insects while engaging in the act. Between sessions, they lashed out at each other with their sharp claws.
6. They absolutely prefer to be left alone.
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Anteaters rarely attack unless provoked, which is fortunate for humans, as their defensive strikes can be deadly. When threatened, a defensive anteater will stand on its hind legs, use its tail for support, and aggressively swing its clawed paws. Giant anteaters have been linked to at least three human fatalities, all occurring when the animals were cornered. This serves as an important reminder.
7. They’re a popular choice … but just barely.
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The anteater serves as the mascot for the University of California at Irvine, chosen through a student vote in 1965. Interestingly, the runner-up option was “none of these.”
8. Tamanduas are equally formidable.
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Locally, they’re referred to as the “forest stinkers.” When threatened, the tamandua emits a loud hiss and releases a pungent, skunk-like odor from a gland near its tail. This is a remarkably common (and highly effective) survival tactic in the animal world.
9. The term “giant” is entirely accurate.
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Giant anteaters typically measure between six and eight feet in length and can weigh as much as 140 pounds. They are capable of consuming up to 30,000 ants in a single day.
10. Their diet is remarkably sustainable.
Tamanduas and giant anteaters spend less than a minute feeding at a termite mound or anthill before moving on. This behavior is likely due to the fact that they have roughly 40 seconds before the insects inside realize the threat and launch a defensive attack on the anteater’s exposed tongue. These brief feeding sessions prevent the anteaters from completely destroying a colony, ensuring a future food source.
11. The Surrealists were fascinated by them.
Salvador Dalí and his circle had a particular fondness for anteaters. André Breton, the founder of the Surrealist movement, was affectionately nicknamed “le tamanoir,” or André the Anteater, by his friends. Dalí even sketched an image of Breton as an anteater, albeit in his signature surreal style. Years after Breton’s passing, Dalí was famously spotted in Paris walking an anteater on a leash. (Note: Do not try this unless you’re Salvador Dalí.)
12. They are exceptionally discreet about their anatomy.
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Male anteaters have internal testicles, a feature that led early European explorers to mistakenly believe all anteaters were female when the first specimens were brought to Spain from the New World. This misconception even led to the bizarre theory that anteaters mated through their noses.
13. The silky anteater is irresistibly adorable.
These diminutive creatures weigh less than a pound and are entirely arboreal, living their lives high in the treetops. They have a particular fondness for the ceiba tree, whose golden, fluffy seed pods offer ideal camouflage.
14. However, they are not suited to be pets.
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Before you even think about it: no, you can’t keep a silky anteater. These creatures are extremely elusive, so much so that scientists have gathered very little information about them. They can’t even accurately estimate their population. Additionally, silky anteaters thrive only in the wild. Captivity would be fatal within days, leaving you remorseful for removing it from its natural, tree-dwelling habitat.
15. Encountering a silky anteater is said to be a transcendent experience.
Jeff Corwin, a conservationist and TV host, has likened his encounters with silky anteaters to moments of spiritual awe or youthful romance. In his book Living on the Edge: Amazing Relationships in the Natural World, Corwin passionately describes the anteater’s “heavenly face … Its fur is as smooth as cashmere and glows like golden honey. It even carries a pleasant scent, reminiscent of fresh laundry.” He refers to the creature as the “angel of the forest,” expressing sheer joy: “This enigmatic, almost mystical being fills me with exhilaration every time I’m fortunate enough to see it.”
