Giant Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla

The largest of the anteaters, the giant anteater spends its day sniffing out and sucking up ants and termites. At night, it curls up on the ground or in an abandoned burrow and covers itself with its long, hairy tail to hide from predators like the puma or jaguar.

Fact File

Weight: 48 to 86 lbs

Length: 3.3 to 4.2 ft

Lifespan: Up to 26 yrs in captivity

Habitat: Grassland, swamp, and tropical forest

Prey: Ants and termites

Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk/near threatened)