ANTEATER DIET
The giant anteater is a unique animal in its feeding. In captivity the anteater diet is much more varied than in the wild and can consist of gruel mixes, mashed fruits and vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and even dog kibble. In the wild though, their diet primarily consists of ants and termites. They spend most of their time foraging for these small insects and can consume around 35,000 ants and termites per day.
The giant anteater is a unique animal in its feeding. In captivity the anteater diet is much more varied than in the wild and can consist of gruel mixes, mashed fruits and vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and even dog kibble. In the wild though, their diet primarily consists of ants and termites. They spend most of their time foraging for these small insects and can consume around 35,000 ants and termites per day.
FEEDING AND FORAGING
The giant anteater has a very keen sense of smell that is about 40 times stronger than humans. The anteater uses it's long, keen nose to sniff out it prey. Once it finds the unsuspecting ant or termite hill and uses its claws to tear it apart, sending the little insects into a frenzy and easily eaten up. The anteater uses its tongue to flick the ants into its mouth where the anteater sticky saliva keep the ants from getting away.
An interesting aspect about the anteater is that doesn't have teeth. Instead, debris often naturally makes it way into the anteater mouth in the process of flicking up the ants. This debris is used to aid in "chewing" up the insects (1).
The giant anteater has a very keen sense of smell that is about 40 times stronger than humans. The anteater uses it's long, keen nose to sniff out it prey. Once it finds the unsuspecting ant or termite hill and uses its claws to tear it apart, sending the little insects into a frenzy and easily eaten up. The anteater uses its tongue to flick the ants into its mouth where the anteater sticky saliva keep the ants from getting away.
An interesting aspect about the anteater is that doesn't have teeth. Instead, debris often naturally makes it way into the anteater mouth in the process of flicking up the ants. This debris is used to aid in "chewing" up the insects (1).
THE TONGUE
The anatomy and physiology of the anteater is tongue is very unique and tailored especially to the needs of the anteater.The anteater tongue is about 16 to 24 inches long and slender. Covering the tongue is backward pointing spines. These spines along with adhesive saliva help the anteater to quickly flick up ants and termites with minimal stinging occurring (2). The giant anteater can flick it's tongue as much as 150 times a minute. There is a bone found in the upper throat of most mammals called the hyoid bone. One of the roles of this bone is to serve as an attachment site for various muscles. In anteaters, this bone has a unique arrangement, which allows the anteater tongue to extend considerably. Additionally, joints around the hyoid bone allow for the anteater to have a wide range of motion with its tongue (3).
The anatomy and physiology of the anteater is tongue is very unique and tailored especially to the needs of the anteater.The anteater tongue is about 16 to 24 inches long and slender. Covering the tongue is backward pointing spines. These spines along with adhesive saliva help the anteater to quickly flick up ants and termites with minimal stinging occurring (2). The giant anteater can flick it's tongue as much as 150 times a minute. There is a bone found in the upper throat of most mammals called the hyoid bone. One of the roles of this bone is to serve as an attachment site for various muscles. In anteaters, this bone has a unique arrangement, which allows the anteater tongue to extend considerably. Additionally, joints around the hyoid bone allow for the anteater to have a wide range of motion with its tongue (3).
HILL PRESERVATION
At one nest an anteater can consume a lot of ants in a short period of time. However, the anteater is carefully to never completely destroy the ant hill where he found his latest meal. If the hill was to be completely destroyed then a valuable food source would be gone
forever. Because of this, an anteater will only spend a few minutes at a particular hill.
In addition the anteater is not immune to the stinging of the angry ants and termites. This also shortens the feeding time of the anteater (1).
At one nest an anteater can consume a lot of ants in a short period of time. However, the anteater is carefully to never completely destroy the ant hill where he found his latest meal. If the hill was to be completely destroyed then a valuable food source would be gone
forever. Because of this, an anteater will only spend a few minutes at a particular hill.
In addition the anteater is not immune to the stinging of the angry ants and termites. This also shortens the feeding time of the anteater (1).
REFERENCES
1. Anteater Online. (2014.). Anteater Online. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.maiaw.com/anteater/feeding.html
2. Giant Anteater. (2014). - wildlife animals, conservation, adaptation and information. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.funzoomiami.org/Animals/AllRegions/Mammals/Giant-Anteater#
3. Naples, V. L. (1999). Morphology, evolution and function of feeding in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Journal of Zoology, 249(1), 19-41.
1. Anteater Online. (2014.). Anteater Online. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.maiaw.com/anteater/feeding.html
2. Giant Anteater. (2014). - wildlife animals, conservation, adaptation and information. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.funzoomiami.org/Animals/AllRegions/Mammals/Giant-Anteater#
3. Naples, V. L. (1999). Morphology, evolution and function of feeding in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Journal of Zoology, 249(1), 19-41.