Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Giant anteaters are found in Central and South America in a wide range of habitats from savanna to montane and tropical rainforests.  They are in the order Edentata which means "without teeth" and includes sloths and armadillos.

 The anteater's mouth is a small opening at the end of a long snout on an elongated head.  The ears are short and round, and the eyes are small and sleepy-looking.  They have very poor eyesight but well-developed hearing and smelling senses.  The body is narrow and can be 5 to 7 feet in length including the thick, bushy tail.  They can weigh between 44 and 86 pounds with males being 10 - 20% larger than females.  Their fur is coarse and dense with a stiff ridge of bristles along the back.  The coat is gray in color with a distinctive black and white shoulder stripe.

 The forelimbs are powerfully developed for opening termite and ant nests.  The second and third fingers have long claws but the claw of the third finger is the primary digging and defensive claw.  Anteaters walk on the outer surface of the last finger -- they appear to be walking on their knuckles, protecting the claws.  They are capable of galloping up to 31mph over short distances, are good swimmers, and can be very dangerous.  When provoked they sit back or rear up on their hind legs and strike with their claws.

 Anteaters are solitary animals.  Males and females get together only for mating.  Gestation is 190 days with one offspring per birth.  After birth the young is carried on the mother's back for up to a year.  Maturation occurs at about 2 years; anteaters in captivity live about 26 years. 

 They are diurnal animals although they may take on a nocturnal cycle if disturbed during the day.  They sleep on their side with the head tucked between the forelegs and the tail pulled over them for cover and camouflage.

 In the wild, anteaters feed on ants and termites ripping open a nest and  harvesting the insects with their long thin grey tongue that can grow up to a meter in length.  The tongue is covered in tiny prickles that point backwards and covered in a viscous saliva that makes the ants stick to it when the tongue is inserted into an anthill, which it can do up to 150 times a minute.  They also eat worms, larvae, and some fruit.

 Our male giant anteater, Spike, is named for the ridge of bristles along his back.  He was born on August 16, 2002 in Florida, and arrived in Hilo on April 21, 2003.  His diet consists of Meow Mix blended with leafeater diet, and any stray ants he can find.  Penny Ant-E, an unrelated female born April 10, 2003 in Florida, arrived in Hilo on August 26, 2003 and joined him in the adjoining enclosure November 8, 2003.  She was adopted by schools, classes, and individuals to help with her acquisition and travel expenses.