Anteaters are the four extant mammal species in the suborder Vermilingua[1] (meaning 'worm tongue'), commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with sloths, they are within the order Pilosa.
anteater, (suborder Vermilingua), any of four species of toothless, insect -eating mammals found in tropical savannas and forests from southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina. They are long-tailed animals with elongated skulls and tubular muzzles.
There are four extant species of anteaters: the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the silky or pygmy anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), the northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana), and the southern tamandua or collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla).
There are only four true types of anteaters, each with a long snout, sticky tongue, and strong claws made for ripping into nests. Found across Central and South America, they range from the massive, ground-dwelling giant anteater to the tiny, tree-dwelling silky anteater.
There are four species of anteater, which include: All four of them are under the suborder Vermilingua. It’s a Latin word that can be translated to “worm tongue.” While the size of an anteater’s tongue can vary based on the species, a giant anteater’s tongue is two feet long.
Anteater defined and explained with descriptions. Anteater is a large mammal with a long snout, that eats primarily insects.
Find out more about the four species of anteaters, including the giant anteater, the southern tamandua, the northern tamandua, and the silky anteater.
Did you know that there are four distinct species of anteater? Or that they eat more than just ants? Read on to learn more about these and other anteater key facts. All species have a long, narrow snout and long, wormlike tongue, as well as sharp claws on their forefeet.