Giant Anteater
Name: Giant AnteaterScientific Name: Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Basic Information:
The Giant Anteater is the largest species of anteater on Earth. You can find them in Central and South America. As you can guess from the name, anteaters eat small insects (ants and termites). They don't have any teeth so they crush them after scooping the up with their tongues.
When you see them, you will be surprised at how large they are. Our anteater is about 7 feet long. Half of its body is made up of a massive tail. They are covered in hair and mixtures of grey, brown and blacks. Their tongue can get to be about 2/3 of a meter long (2 feet).
They use their sense of smell to find the nests of small insects and then dig into burrows to scoop up the prey.
Habitat Information:
Temperate Forest - Many different types of animals can be found in temperate forest habitat at Windaroo Zoo. Large mammals from both North America and Asia highlight this exhibit, as well as birds, insects, and other small animals.
Giant Anteater at Windaroo:
Our single family has a habitat all their own. Look for them near the other forest enclosures. We like to give them plenty of room to move around.
Related Animals:
Bobcat
Brown Bear
Salamander
A-Z Animal List