Fun Anteater Facts for Kids - Giant Anteaters, Silky Anteaters, Tamandua

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Interesting Information about Anteaters Fun Anteater Facts for Kids

Check out our range of fun anteater facts for kids. Learn what they look like, where they live, what they eat and much more. Read on for all kinds of interesting information about anteaters!

Anteaters are mammals found natively in Central and South America.

As their name suggests, anteaters are known for eating large numbers of ants and termites. Their long snouts and thin tongues are perfectly designed for this.

Their tongue features thousands of small hooks that hold insects while they lick them up.

They have an amazing sense of smell but poor eye sight.

Anteaters defend themselves with large, curved claws.

Sloths are the closest relatives to anteaters.

For a while it was believed anteaters were closely related to aardvarks but it is now understood that the two evolved similar characteristics independently in different parts of the world.

Different species include the silky anteater, giant anteater, southern tamandua, and northern tamandua.

Silky anteaters are the smallest, with soft fur and black eyes.

Southern and northern tamandua are larger than silky anteaters. They are often found in forests and usually hunt at night.

Giant anteaters are the largest of all anteaters, reaching up to 215 cm (7 ft) in length and weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb).

Giant anteaters have bushy tails as well as their famously long snouts.

Anteater facts