Giant Anteater

Giant Anteater

The Giant Anteater is widespread, inhabiting Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Currently the Giant Anteater is listed as vulnerable but not endangered.

Giant Anteaters are preyed upon by cougars, jaguars and alligators. Humans also prey upon the Giant Anteater when hunting,

The Giant Anteater has a dense, thick, bristled coat of fur which is longer towards their rump. Brown in color, Giant Anteaters have black and white stripes on their back or shoulder areas.
They have 5 short claws on their hind feet, while on their forefeet they also have 2 short claws and 3 claws that are long and sharp.

The Giant Anteater weighs in between 40 to 90 pounds on average. Their length is usually between 3 1/2 to 4 feet. The snout can be 1 1/2 feet in length. The Giant Anteater has a large tail measuring an 2 to 3 feet in length.

The Giant Anteater is a solitary animal. Only a mother and her young remain together until the young is independent. Having little need for communication they have a few vocal calls, consisting of snarls, grunts or hisses.

Breeding can occur at any time of the year. Females give birth standing up, and the new born anteater will immediately climb onto the mother's back. The young anteater remains with their mother for around 2 years. The young anteater will suckle from the mother for 2 to 6 months. For the first six to nine months a mother carries her young on her back.

As the name suggests, the Giant Anteater is the largest living species of anteater found in the world.

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