Anteaters live on the grassy plains and in the rainforests of Central and South America, feeding on ants and termites. They have a long snout and a long tail. Giant anteaters have bushy tails, but other anteater species have tails that help them climb trees. Anteaters detect insects using their keen sense of smell, then break open their nests using their strong claws. They lap up insects with their long, sticky tongues. Their dense fur protects them from attacks by the insects.

Anteaters are xenarthrans, a group of mammals that also includes armadillos and sloths. Xenarthrans have few or no teeth. Their backbones have extra joints that strengthen and support their bodies when they dig. There are four species of anteater: the giant and silky anteaters and the northern and southern tamanduas. The silky anteater is the size of a squirrel, while its close relative the giant anteater is six times as long.

Tamandua

The tamandua, unlike its close relative, the ground-dwelling giant anteater, lives in rainforest trees. It uses its long, prehensile tail, to help it move quickly from one tree branch to the next. It feeds on ants and termites, using its excellent sense of smell and listening out for them with its large ears. It then rips open the nest with its claws and gathers the insects up with its 40-centimetre (16-inch) sticky tongue. It lets other animals know it is around by giving off an unpleasant odour.