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The Giant Anteater is the biggest species of anteater. This large, hairy mammal lives in grasslands, savannas (plains with grasses and some trees), and open tropical forests in South and Central America.
Anatomy: The Giant Anteater has a long, tubular snout, a small, pencil-sized mouth and a 2 ft (60 cm) long tongue. This anteater grows to be about 4 ft (124 cm) long plus a puffy tail that is about 3 ft (1 m) long. It weighs up to about 86 pounds (39 kg). Giant anteaters walk on their knuckles; they have long, hook-like claws that do not retract, but curve under the paws when the anteater walks. These claws are used to dig for food and for self-defense. This anteater had long black-gray hair and a very bushy tail.
Senses: Anteaters have terrible eyesight but a keen sense of smell.
Diet: Anteaters are insectivores (insect-eaters). They mostly eat ants and termites but will also eat other insects. They catch insects using their long tongue, flicking the tongue in and out up to 160 times each minute.
