Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages. Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa. The name "anteater" is also colloquially applied to the unrelated aardvark, numbat, echidnas, pangolins and some members of the Oecobiidae. Extant species are the giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla, about 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) long including the tail the silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus, about 35 cm (14 in) long the southern tamandua or collared anteater Tamandua tetradactyla, about 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) long and the northern tamandua Tamandua mexicana of similar dimensions. Learn more about Anteater
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Anteater Species Videos
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Giant Anteater (21 videos) | Myrmecophaga tridactyla | Vulnerable |
Northern Tamandua (8 videos) | Tamandua mexicana | Least concern |
Short-beaked Echidna (116 videos) | Tachyglossus aculeatus | Least concern |
Silky Anteater (6 videos) | Cyclopes didactylus | Least concern |