Giant Anteater
Description
Protected by the following WLT projects:
- Chaco/Pantanal Project, Paraguay
- Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil
- Misiones Rainforest Corridor, Argentina
The Giant Anteater, as its name suggests, is the largest of the 4 species of anteaters and can weigh up to 23 kg (50 lb) and can measure up to 240 cm in overall length. All anteaters are insectivorous and Giant Anteaters have a long tube-shaped nose, with a tiny mouth and a long, sticky tongue. They use their strong front claws to open termite hills and also for defence; when walking their claws are tucked under and they walk on their knuckles. They live in forests and open plains and are active by day and night depending on weather conditions. Male and females are alike in appearance; females give birth to a single young which may continue to ride around on its mother's back for up to a year (well after the weaning stage).
Threats and Conservation
The range of the Giant anteater once extended from the South of Mexico to North West Argentina, but numbers have declined throughout most of its range resulting in scattered, isolated populations. The main threats to the Giant Anteater is habitat loss by agricultural encroachment and fires.
The Giant Anteater is classified as Near Threatened by IUCN.
Help protect habitat for the Giant Anteater: Donate to WLT
Learn more about Giant Anteaters
- See IUCN Red List of Threatened Species for more information on the classification of the Giant Anteater
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