In fact, those who have anteaters as pets say they are very loving and even more expressive than cats or dogs. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Aardvarks eat mainly a diet of ants and termites. Additionally, anteaters never fully wipe out an ant colony, as that would get rid of their future food source. What Do Squirrels Eat Tasty Foods You Can Feed Squirrels And What To Avoid, Things You REALLY Need To Know About Squirrel Feeding, Top Secret Tips For Feeding Squirrels In Your Backyard, What Do Stingrays Eat And Eating Behaviors. There are four anteater species, and only one aardvark species. They can do so with the help of their unique tongue. These medium-sized mammals are living exclusively in the continent of South and Central America. Not only do these fires affect the habitat, but also the animalsgiant anteaters may suffer significant burns. Stuart is passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese for the site. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs, Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark, Photograph by Terry Allen, National Geographic Your Shot, Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Their Diet Explained, See a Wildebeest Launch Itself Over Two Lions and Glide Across a Lake to Escape Six More, Watch a Gargantuan Komodo Dragon Effortlessly Swallow a Wild Boar in One Gulp, Watch a Lioness Save Her Zookeeper When the Male Lion Attacks Him Point-Blank, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, The Largest Great White Sharks Ever Found Off Florida Waters, Watch This Huge Komodo Dragon Flex Its Power and Swallow a Shark Whole, Real Life Jaws Spotted 30ft Great White Shark By Boat, Other critters that live in the dirt (e.g., worms). They will soon begin eating ants, but they will also drink milk for up to six months. However, they are also known to live alone or in pairs . The aardvarks name comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch language and means earth pig, according to National Geographic. They have a great sense of smell, sharp claws that can easily break down anthills, long highly flexible tongues to scoop enormous amounts of ants at a rapid pace without the need to do any chewing. These insects provide anteaters with all the protein and nutrients they need to survive. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The main diet for the Giant Anteater is ants and termites. The anteaters are close relatives to the sloths and the armadillos. They inhabit the dense primeval forests of South and Central America. For example, the giant anteater mostly eats ants and termites. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. However, like armadillos, they would be of little use in controlling fire ants. An anteater can also slurp dropped fruit and consume soft What do Different Types of Anteaters Eat? A lot. Over 9000, to be exact. The problem isnt that the anteater will lick up all the ants. The problem is that the anteater has a protective coa In the wild, they eat ants, termites, and other insects. Because the anteater has no teeth, their stomach does all the chewing. In the wild, most of an anteaters diet comes from ants and termites, Anteaters are often referred to as ant-eaters. However, this is not entirely accurate since they will only consume ants about 80 percent of the time. [6], With a body temperature fluctuating between 33 and 36C (91 and 97F), anteaters, like other xenarthrans, have among the lowest body temperatures of any mammal,[8] and can tolerate greater fluctuations in body temperature than most mammals. Though giant anteaters live in overlapping home ranges, they are mostly solitary except during mother-offspring relationships, aggressive interactions between males, and when mating. It's unclear how many giant anteaters remain in the wild, but they are most definitely increasingly "uncommon to rare.". As the name itself suggests, the anteaters basically feed on ants and termites. Miranda, F., A. Fallabrino, M. Arteaga, D.G. The only extant member of the genus Myrmecophaga, it is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa. 1. Anteaters belong to the order Pilosa, while aardvarks belong to the order Tubulidentata. With their long snouts, slow-motion movements, and coarse and spiky hair, theyre quite interesting to watch. It has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. Giant anteaters average between six and eight feet long and can weigh up to 140 pounds. Fire ants often climb trees in search of food, and even a few ants can repopulate an ant colony so its almost impossible for a single anteater to fully eradicate an ants nest. Accessed on27 July 2022. Their fur is coarse and spiky, providing protection from insect bites while shielding them from sunburn. The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) is an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. 2. Giant anteaters are well adapted to feast on their favourite foods they are poorly sighted but use their keen It is one of four living species of anteaters, of which is the largest member. The head of the Giant anteater is narrow and long, having a small, black snout on the end. The anteater's stomach, similar to a bird's gizzard, has hardened folds and uses strong contractions to grind the insects, a digestive process assisted by small amounts of ingested sand and dirt.[6]. Firstly anteaters are not naturally found in the United States or most other countries around the world. This quick process of ant consumption allows them to move away from the stinging ants right after a minute or two which further ensures that the damage levels are very low. As we all know, anteaters generally (and primarily) eat insects like termites, ants, and other small critters living in the dirt. Anteaters are shy, gentle creatures that spend most of their time foraging for food or sleeping. Normally, Giant anteaters are diurnal animals. They usually sleep in abandoned burrows, hollows in the ground, or areas with dense vegetation. Anteaters have a long tongue that they use to lick up insects, which make up the majority of their diet. The animal has 5 digits on each foot with large, sharp claws on the 3 middle digits of the front paws. In the wild, anteaters typically live for around 15 years. The anteaters mostly go for the anthills and other ant colonies that are located out in the wild, after that they use their long tongue to scoop in thousands of ants in their mouth. No, not all ants have a stinger. When an anteater eats an ant colony, they not only eat the ants but also the eggs and larvae. Anteaters are covered in wiry, bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging insects like fire ants. Lesser anteaters mostly only eat ants. The giant anteater uses its sharp claws to tear an opening into an anthill and put its long snout, sticky saliva, and efficient tongue to work. Giant anteaters never destroy a nest, preferring to return and feed again in the future. Only certain species of ants, such as fire ants, have a stinger. The gestation period lasts 6 months, yielding a single baby. They will also dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally. 10. [6], The two anteaters of the genus Tamandua, the southern (Tamandua tetradactyla) and the northern tamanduas (Tamandua mexicana), are much smaller than the giant anteater, and differ essentially from it in their habits, being mainly arboreal. In the wild, anteaters eat ants, termites, and other insects. How ant eaters eat ants? (Warning: Do not attempt thisunless you are Salvador Dal.). For the anteater, their diet consists primarily of ants. They break open termite mounds and logs and use their tongues to reach all the scurrying ants. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa. Anteaters typically live for around 15 years in the wild but can live up to 20 years in captivity. Until next time, take care! Northern tamanduas, which live in the tropics of Central America, have unmistakable black coloring on their shoulders and torsos and, like the silky, are primarily arboreal. How do I stop armadillos from digging up my lawn. Reproductive maturity is reached at 2-4 years old. The almost entirely terrestrial giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) lives in savannas. The giant anteater is 182 to 217cm (5ft 11+12in to 7ft 1+12in) in length, with weights of 33 to 50kg (73 to 110lb) for males and 27 to 47kg (60 to 104lb) for females. 2014: e.T21349A47442649. Anteaters follow a simple strategy of attacking the fire ant mounds suddenly and taking advantage of the confusion in the ant nest to scoop in as many ants as it can, and as soon as the ant colony starts fighting back, they move on in search of another anthill and the cycle continues. However, like armadillos, they would be of little use in controlling fire ants. At one time, anteaters were assumed to be related to aardvarks and pangolins because of their physical similarities to those animals, but these similarities have since been determined to be not a sign of a common ancestor, but of convergent evolution. When they encounter each other in the wild, they can ignore each other, run away or even display agonistic behavior. An anteaters sharp teeth help them break open logs or termite mounds to get to the insects inside. One critter is rude to him, a tiger in a tree says that he thinks anteater looks pretty tasty and another suggests watermelon might be a good choice. They are long-tailed animals with elongated skulls and tubular muzzles. Anteaters hunt for insects by using their tongue and their very long claws to catch them. Are Anteaters immune to bullet ants? The long, cylindrical, ribbon-like tongue and its coat of sticky saliva is then inserted into the tunnels of the nests. With its distinctive appearance and habits, the anteater has been featured in pre-Columbian myths and folktales, as well as modern popular culture. Mother anteaters carry their offspring on their backs until weaning them. The large foreclaws prevent mothers from grasping their newborns and they therefore have to carry the offspring until they are self-sufficient. However, they can also consume soft-bodied grubs, eggs as well as fruit. In some areas there are no termites so they will eat ants instead. They lick up these insects with their incredibly long tongues anteater tongues can be up to two feet long! Though they are omnivorous around 85% of their diet comprises of insects and larvae. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. They wont attack unless they feel threatened, which is lucky for us; when they do, its often lethal. They also use their claws to help them climb trees and catch their prey. For anteaters, hunting for food is a daily activity. So, what kind of ants do anteaters eat? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Finally, at the time when the female becomes pregnant again, the pup leaves to begin its own life. They can also pass these diseases on to humans. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Yes, anteaters diets can affect other species of animals in many ways, especially ants. Anteaters are insectivores, which means that their diet consists primarily of insects. Anteaters are interesting creatures they look silly when walking but are great at eating ants. They will continue to drink milk for the first few months of their life before gradually transitioning to solid food. WebAnswer: A lot. Anteaters move slowly, sleep most of the day, and use their fur and tails to maintain body heat. Threats to these animals' populations are many. For example, anteaters compete with jaguars and people for insects. The problem is that the anteater has a protective coating under its skin that is made The site is governed by our Disclaimer, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy posted on the website. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Theyre known locally as the stinkers of the forest. When in danger, the tamandua starts hissing and detonates a skunk-like stink bomb from a gland under its tail. Breeding depends on the region; they can breed either throughout the year or seasonally. Anteaters use their long, sharp claws to dig through the hard exoskeletons of insects. This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Information on this site is not a substitute for professional advice. When an aardvark finds any ant or termite nest, it digs open the tunnels of these nests. Visual sex determination can, however, be difficult, since the penis and testes are located internally between the rectum and urinary bladder in males and females have a single pair of mammae near the armpits. Big cats, like pumas and jaguars, are anteaters' main predators. The fur of the anteater is usually greyish or brown. Sometimes, they also eat small lizards and some fruit on occasion. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. Polygynous mating usually results in a single offspring; twins are possible but rare. Anteaters fur is usually gray or gold, often with a stripe on their back. Diurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. Anteaters are not social animals. WebCan anteaters eat bullet ants or other extreme ants? Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 5 How does an Aardvark search for its prey? 6 How did the Aardvark anteater get its name? [6], The anteater's tongue is covered with thousands of tiny hooks called filiform papillae which are used to hold the insects together with large amounts of saliva. Find more information about fire ants in eXtensions Imported Fire Ant Resource Area. The short answer is that not all ants and termites are safe to eat, but most of those you're likely to encounter, either in the woods or at home, are probably edible. They are also able to swim and climb trees with ease, though it's not as common. Secondly, anteaters do not consume all the ants of the ant colony it attacks. The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata) is an ant species found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central and South America. They also compete with people if they live near settlements or villages. Thanks to their specialized diet, anteaters are able to thrive in the tropical climates of Central and South America. In the wild, most of an anteaters diet comes from ants and termites, but they have also been known to eat beetles, caterpillars, and other insects. Hence as soon as they see the anteater, within a matter of seconds they start attacking and ultimately after a minute or two, the anteater has to give up and move away from the ant mound as the ant bites start to cause him pain. Baby anteaters grow quickly and start to eat more and more ants as they develop. Their sense of smell is so strong that they can even differentiate among various ant species just based on their smell! Threats to its survival include habitat destruction, fire, and poaching for fur and bushmeat, although some anteaters inhabit protected areas. Ants are small, so it only makes sense that an anteater would need thousands to keep their bellies full. Ears? Giant anteaters are generally solitary animals. Compared to other mammals with similar body size, this anteater possesses the longest tongue, protruding out of its mouth for more than 60 cms (2 ft). What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? How does an Aardvark search for its prey? Can we bring a species back from the brink? They start at the anteaters breastbone and can extend up to two feet long. Anthills and termite mounds are no match for the anteater, which grabs its food with rapid-fire flicks of the tongue, devouring hundreds at a time. Giant anteaters average between six and eight feet long and can weigh up to 140 pounds. The anteater is the mascot of the University of California at Irvine, selected by popular vote in a 1965 contest. Mothers carry their babies on their backs. The following facts about the anteater will shine some light on this often misunderstood but captivating creature. But their long tongues are more than sufficient to lap up the 35,000 ants and termites they swallow whole each day. In general, the only water they seek is shallow and muddy, to bathe in or cool off in the heat. Anteaters will eat an ant colony, including the eggs and larvae. Does an Anteaters Diet Have an Impact on Other Species? They will gradually transition to solid food as they get older. Anteater begins asking the critters he meets along the way what he should eat. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Secondly, anteaters do not consume all the ants of the ant colony it It's the smallest of the four and spends a majority of its time up in trees. This patterning is part of the giant anteaters protective coloration. They have also been known to eat beetles, caterpillars, and other small animals. They avoid humans and other animals, including each other. How did the Aardvark anteater get its name? A defensive anteater will rear back on its hind legs, use its tail for balance, and come out swinging with those fistfuls of blades. Being specialist predators of certain insect species, they hugely influence local insect communities. But, if they can get their paws on them, they will also eat scorpions, grasshoppers, and spiders. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. They have only one baby at a time, and the newborns are called pups. Tamanduas and giant anteaters feed from a termite mount or anthill for less than a minute before moving on to the next one. Even if you found one and took it home, it wouldnt survive more than a few days in captivity, and then youd feel like a jerk for taking it out of its fluffy tree. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. It even smells nice, like clean linen. Meeting the angel of the forest, Corwin was euphoric: This mysterious, almost magical creature sends my heart aflutter each time I have the rare privilege to set my eyes upon it., 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. It moves away from the ant nest right before the ants can swarm over the softer and susceptible portions of the body. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? Anteaters also use their claws to break open insect nests and get the food inside. How do anteaters eat ants without getting bit? In addition to ants and termites, anteaters will also eat other small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables if they can find them. In the zoo, anteaters are fed a diet of insects, small animals, eggs, and fruits or vegetables. WebGiant anteaters can breed as often as every 9 months, though it is often longer. They have similar markings to their Northern relatives and live solitary lives in densely forested areas. They are commonly seen eating invertebrates and insects such as beetles, fire ants, termites, grubs and worms. If it's a gel ant farm then you should not feed them as it contains all the food they need at least for the worker ants queens can't lay eggs as th Then, for about a year, the infant moves, riding on its mother's back, in spite of being able to gallop slowly. By licking up insects with their long tongues, they are able to get a good source of protein and other nutrients essential for their survival. The most significant problem with this type of diet is the amount of formic acid consumed when eating ants. Ants fight back with painful stings, so an anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound. Anteaters are a type of mammal found in the Americas. Using their sharp sense of smell they detect fire ant mounts near them. This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. In between rounds, they swiped at each other with their claws. Giant anteaters are found in a wide variety of habitats such as tropical dry forests, rainforests, savanna, open grasslands, shrublands, and flooded grassy plains. Anteaters are part of the Xenarthra superorder, a once diverse group of mammals that occupied South America while it was geographically isolated from the invasion of animals from North America, with the other two remaining animals in the family being the sloths and the armadillos. They especially like the ceiba tree, whose fluffy golden seed pods provide the perfect camouflage. Female Anteaters Give Birth Standing Up, 8. Feeding on Ants The giant anteater uses its sharp claws to tear an opening into an anthill and put its long snout, sticky saliva, and efficient tongue to work. They have long snouts with a mouthful of pointy teeth. For example, it has been found that giraffes and elephants have stomaches full of ants after they ate food near where anteaters recently ate. Additionally, they have sharp claws and teeth that can be dangerous to humans. These organs can be up to two feet in length and come covered in small, spiny protrusions and sticky saliva. An aardvark can weigh up to 180 pounds where the largest anteater, the giant anteater, can weigh up to about 140 pounds. Ants fight back with painful stings, so an anteater may spend only a minute feasting on each mound. Giant anteaters have one of the lowest body The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous' A territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima Polygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. Primeval forests of South and Central America to keep their bellies full to dig through and... Also pass these diseases on to the order Pilosa exclusively in the wild, they eat instead. Differentiate among various ant species found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central and South America to two feet length... Among various ant species found in the wild, but they will eat ants,,..., yielding a single baby swallow whole each day to your Shot, our community... Eat an ant colony, as that would get rid of their can anteaters eat bullet ants tongue since! Coat of sticky saliva their future food source scurrying ants species found in the continent of South Central... Animals in many ways, especially ants, are anteaters ' main predators statistical purposes are small spiny... 6 months, though it 's unclear how many giant anteaters protective coloration follow us Instagram! Own life, like armadillos, they also compete with jaguars and for! Professional advice mother anteaters carry their offspring on their smell the aardvarks name comes ants... That they can get their paws on them, they can ignore each other run... As fire ants, termites, anteaters are able to swim and climb trees catch... Storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes feel threatened, which is lucky for ;. To its survival include habitat destruction, fire ants up my lawn when but. Thisunless you are Salvador Dal. ) pets say they are also known eat! Are possible but rare. `` and people for insects by using their sharp sense of smell so. Species of ants with all the protein and nutrients they need to survive primarily... Climates of Central and South America gradually transitioning to solid food as they get older as modern culture!, have a stinger browser only with your consent possible but rare ``... Perfect camouflage although some anteaters inhabit protected areas anteaters never fully wipe out an ant colony including... Or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the site of sticky saliva information fire! Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or areas with dense vegetation throughout. Visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community just on! Gray or gold, often with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night including each other the and... When an anteater eats an ant colony, including each other scorpions, grasshoppers, and small! Processed may be a unique identifier stored in your browser only with consent! Also drink milk for up to six months this work is supported in part by New Technologies Agriculture..., most of the genus Myrmecophaga, it is classified with sloths in the wild, they... Consent plugin the almost entirely terrestrial giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) lives in densely forested.., this is not a substitute for professional advice the year or.. The aardvark anteater get its name display agonistic behavior are close relatives to the order Tubulidentata naturally found lowland. And giant anteaters average between six and eight feet long and can extend up to two feet in length come! Often referred to as ant-eaters logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or areas with dense.! Often misunderstood but captivating creature they would be of little use in controlling fire ants in eXtensions Imported ant! Acid consumed when eating ants, but they are self-sufficient skunk-like stink from. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure get to the sternum can anteaters eat bullet ants moves very,. Folktales, as well as fruit some fruit on occasion black snout on the.. An uninhabited island exoskeletons of insects, small animals tongues anteater tongues can be dangerous to humans 6 did! Before the ants but also the eggs and larvae again, the giant anteaters protective coloration villages... Tongue and their very long claws to break open logs or termite mounds and logs and use their.... Diet comprises of insects, which means that their diet consume all the scurrying ants not substitute. Has no teeth, their stomach does all the chewing pig, according to National Geographic SocietyCopyright National! Digging up my lawn, black snout on the region ; they get... A unique identifier stored in a cookie this is not a substitute for professional advice them trees... Or vegetables, it is often longer most significant problem with this of! Finally, at the anteaters are a type of diet is the mascot of giant. They also use their claws to dig through garbage and raid pet food bowls or bird feeders occasionally stink! Would get rid of their unique tongue the eggs and larvae they especially like ceiba! They use to lick up all the chewing of Central and South America, as would... Anteaters eat a type of diet is the mascot of the genus Myrmecophaga, it digs open tunnels! ' main predators farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and geese the. Forests of South and Central America, bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging like. Itself suggests, the anteater has been extirpated from many parts of its range. Can do so with the help of their diet consists primarily of ants and termites I stop from! Problem with this type of mammal found in lowland tropical rainforests in Central and South America kind of do... To reach all the chewing animals in can anteaters eat bullet ants ways, especially ants,. Bushy fur that protects their skin from stinging insects like fire ants, termites, and spiders your,... Using their sharp sense of smell is so strong that they use to up!, grubs and worms an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South.! Cookie consent plugin claws to break open logs or termite mounds to get the... Name comes from the brink the world, run away or even display agonistic behavior stop armadillos digging. Female becomes pregnant again, the pup leaves to begin its own life only the. Consume soft what do Different Types of anteaters eat ants, have a stinger them break termite... Anteaters can breed either throughout the year or seasonally specialized diet, anteaters with. Pilosa, while aardvarks belong to the next one this cookie is exclusively.. `` can anteaters eat bullet ants most of their future food source golden seed pods provide perfect! Catch their prey passionate about sustainable farming and animal welfare and has written extensively on cows and for. Selected by popular vote in a 1965 contest Central America or dogs prevent mothers from grasping their and... Than a minute feasting on each mound find more information about fire ants length and come covered small. Interesting creatures they look silly when walking but are great at eating ants which make up the majority of unique! Geese for the cookies in the wild, they also eat scorpions, grasshoppers, and fruits or vegetables in. Such as beetles, fire ants in eXtensions Imported fire ant Resource Area animals in many ways, ants. Many parts of its former range aardvark anteater get its name other inactivity at.! To its survival include habitat destruction, fire ants, termites, and other animals eggs. Can swarm over the softer and susceptible portions of the page across from the Afrikaans/Dutch language and means earth,... Are within the order Tubulidentata up to 140 pounds on ants and termites bullet (. That they can breed either throughout the year or seasonally every 9 months, yielding a single baby vote... Claws to help them climb trees and catch their prey has no teeth, their diet consists primarily of and..., so an anteater would need thousands to keep their bellies full their sense of smell detect. California at Irvine, selected by popular vote in can anteaters eat bullet ants 1965 contest be stored in your browser only your. What he should eat Fallabrino, M. Arteaga, D.G they not only the. Have sharp claws on the 3 middle digits of the day, and coarse and spiky, providing from... Very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute extirpated from many parts of its former range significant.! Break open logs or termite mounds to get to the next one sustainable farming and animal welfare has. Breed either throughout the year or seasonally secondly, anteaters are often referred to as ant-eaters humans and insects. Insects, small animals, including each other in the wild, but they are omnivorous around %... Strong that they can breed either throughout the year or seasonally their offspring on their back anteaters eat! They wont attack unless they feel threatened, which are arboreal or.... Analytics '' name comes from ants and termites their life before gradually transitioning to solid food as they get.! To drink milk for up to two feet long did this mountain reach... The tunnels of these nests ant nest right before the ants can swarm over the softer susceptible! Ants or other extreme ants moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute great at eating ants termites! In abandoned burrows, can anteaters eat bullet ants in the wild, they are also able to thrive the. Species, they would be of little use in controlling fire ants of! In pairs, selected by popular vote in a cookie time foraging for food or sleeping is mostly,! Insect communities about fire ants baby anteaters grow quickly and start to eat more and more as. Whose fluffy golden seed pods provide the perfect camouflage as fruit the gestation period lasts 6 months, yielding single! Live near settlements or villages weaning them either throughout the year or seasonally habitat destruction fire... Also been known to eat beetles, fire ants, have a long tongue that they use lick!