[Myrmecophaga tridactyla}
Habitat: Tropical forests, savannas, grasslands
Length: 3-4′
Weight: 40-85 lbs
Average Lifespan: 26 years (captive)
Gestation Period: 6 months
Number of Young: 1
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
– Largest living anteater
– The long nose is a bone tube formed by the fusion of the upper and lower jaw
– Their long, sticky tongue can measure up to 20 inches
– Long hair and rubbery skin protect them from ant and termite bites
– Almost blind, but have a very keen sense of smell
– Rips open anthills and termite mounds with their powerful claws
– Drinks in their prey by creating a vacuum in their throat, sucking the insects in, aided by their long sticky tongues
– Carry their young on their back, aligned with the white stripe for camouflage