The anteater is a mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae, order Edentata, native to Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America. An anteater lives almost entirely on ants and termites. It has toothless jaws, an extensile tongue, and claws for breaking into the nests of its prey. Species include the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, about 1.8 metres long including the tail, the tamandua or collared anteater Tamandua tetradactyla, about 90cm long, and the silky anteater Cyclopes didactyla, about 35cm long. The name is also incorrectly applied to the aardvark, the echidna, and the pangolin. Research Anteater
Entomophaga ('insect eaters') is a term applied to (1) a group of hymenopterous insects whose larvse feed upon living insects. (2) A tribe of marsupials, as the opossums, bandicoots, etc, which are insectivorous, though not exclusively so. (3) A section of the edentates, as the ant-eater and pangolin. Research Entomophaga
The pangolin or scaly anteater is a large mammal of the genus Manis, order Pholidota found in tropical Asia and Africa. The body, with the exception of the underside and the inner sides of the limbs, is covered by overlapping horny scales, between which are a few scattered hairs. When alarmed the animals roll themselves up into a ball, so as to present only the scales to the foe. The head is small, long, and pointed, and lodges the worm-like tongue, which is capable of being protruded to a great distance. The external ear is minute, as are also the eyes. Teeth are absent. The short limbs bear five toes on each foot, armed with claws which are best developed on the fore feet. On these feet the third toe is the largest, and bears a very powerful claw, which is the main agent used in burrowing and opening ant-hills. They are nocturnal and feed chiefly on termites. Research Pangolin
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Anteater
