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Bellerby & Co Globemakers
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Giant anteaters can reach up to 2m in length and weigh up to 55kg – on its hind legs, giant anteaters are taller than a grown man! . One of the closest relatives to the giant anteater is the pygmy sloth, who both shared a common ancestor over 55 million years ago! . Giant anteaters have been recorded from Central America through to Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, although in its Central American range it is greatly reduced and confined to highland regions. They tend to be found in tropical moist forest, dry forest, savannas and open grasslands. . #GiantAnteaters are quite distinctive looking - their long snouts contain a sticky tongue which can extend up to 50cm! They have long claws for opening up termite and ant nests which are so large that they appear to walk on their wrists. They also have a bushy tail which they use as a sunshade. . Anteaters primarily eat ants and termites – up to 30,000 a day. . Giant anteaters are well adapted to feast on their favourite foods – they are poorly sighted but use their keen sense of smell to detect ant and termite nests and then their sharp claws to rip them open. They don’t have teeth, so they slurp up their prey with their long sticky tongues. . These ants will bite back, so giant anteaters are equipped with thick skin and long hairs to protect them from ant bites. . Giant anteaters tend to be solitary animals, with a female birthing and raising a single offspring per year. The baby is carried on its mothers back for up to six months. . Giant anteaters are generally docile, but if they feel threatened they can rear-up on their hind legs and swipe with their claws. They’re not to be messed with - giant anteaters can fight off pumas and jaguars! . #GlobeFacts via BBC Wildlife.