Do anteaters live in the rainforest?

The giant anteater lives in the rainforest and the grass lands of South America. The anteaters are able to smell 40 times better than humans can. This enables them to smell ants or termites from a long distance even up to several miles.

What do anteaters do in the rainforest?

The giant anteater is found in multiple habitats, including grassland and rainforest. It forages in open areas and rests in more forested habitats. It feeds primarily on ants and termites, using its fore claws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them.

How is the anteater adapted to the rainforest?

Sharp, long claws protrude from the three middle toes on each of the anteater’s feet. These strong claws can be used to break open the termite mounds and ant hills that it feeds from. When the anteater is climbing trees, long claws help it to grip onto tree trunks and branches.

How many species of anteaters are there in the rainforest?

There are four species of anteater: the giant anteater, silky anteater, southern tamandua and northern tamandua. You can discover more about anteaters here: Anteater Facts Find out more about the giant anteater here: Giant Anteater Facts Conservation status: Lower Risk / Conservation Dependent Where found: South America

Where are giant anteaters found in the world?

The giant anteaters are found in Central and South America. Unlike the collared anteaters, giant anteaters feed only on the ground. Giant anteaters have bushy tails that they use to cover themselves up with at night. It serves to keep them warm and to camouflage them from predators.

What kind of predator is a giant anteater?

Anteaters aren’t aggressive creatures, but giant anteaters in particular can be fierce when cornered. Anteaters have quite a few predators in their rainforest habitats, including jaguars and cougars. When threatened, the anteater will stand on its back legs and strike out with its front legs.

What kind of food does an anteater eat?

Anteaters. Most anteaters either have no teeth. Instead they use their claws to tear open termite mounds and ants’ nests and then use their long snout and sticky tongue to eat the insects. Because they don’t have teeth to chew up the ants and termites they eat, anteaters have specialized stomaches, similar to a chicken gizzard.