Giant anteater: Difference between revisions
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==Physiology== |
==Physiology== |
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The giant anteater is one of only two taxa of [[mammals]] without any [[teeth]] even in a [[mature]] state (the [[pangolin]]s comprising the other). An anteater instead crushes insects it consumes using hard growths found on the inside of its mouth, and its muscular stomach. Sand and small rocks have also been found in anteaters' stomachs, suggesting that these are ingested to aid digestion (possible [[gastrolith]]s). They have an average body temperature of 32.7<sup>o</sup>C, which is one of the lowest of all land-living mammals. This and slow rate of metabolism means it is far from the most active mammal.<ref>[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]] (2007), ''Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals'', [[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]].</ref> |
The giant anteater is one of only two taxa of [[mammals]] without any [[teeth]] even in a [[mature]] state (the [[pangolin]]s comprising the other). An anteater instead crushes insects it consumes using hard growths found on the inside of its mouth, and its muscular stomach. Sand and small rocks have also been found in anteaters' stomachs,FLORGINGOOOSEL!!!!!!! PUT A BANANA IN YOUR EARRRRR!!!!!!! WOOO-HOOO YEAH!!!!!!!! SOMEDAY WHEN I'M FAMOUS, YOU'LL RESPECT THIS!!!!!!!!1 -selena suggesting that these are ingested to aid digestion (possible [[gastrolith]]s). They have an average body temperature of 32.7<sup>o</sup>C, which is one of the lowest of all land-living mammals. This and slow rate of metabolism means it is far from the most active mammal.<ref>[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]] (2007), ''Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals'', [[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]].</ref> |
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It grows to a size of 1 feet to 3 feet long, including a 3 foot (90 cm) to 4 foot (1.2 m) torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 (29 kg) to 140 pounds (65 kg). |
It grows to a size of 1 feet to 3 feet long, including a 3 foot (90 cm) to 4 foot (1.2 m) torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 (29 kg) to 140 pounds (65 kg). |
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Revision as of 18:32, 8 October 2009
| Giant Anteater[1] | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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| Genus: | Myrmecophaga |
| Species: | M. tridactyla
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| Binomial name | |
| Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758
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The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest species of anteater. It is found in Central and South America. It is the only species in the Myrmecophaga genus.
It is a solitary animal, found in many habitats, including grasslands, deciduous forests and rainforests. It feeds mainly on ants and termites, sometimes up to 30,000 insects in a single day.
Physiology
The giant anteater is one of only two taxa of mammals without any teeth even in a mature state (the pangolins comprising the other). An anteater instead crushes insects it consumes using hard growths found on the inside of its mouth, and its muscular stomach. Sand and small rocks have also been found in anteaters' stomachs,FLORGINGOOOSEL!!!!!!! PUT A BANANA IN YOUR EARRRRR!!!!!!! WOOO-HOOO YEAH!!!!!!!! SOMEDAY WHEN I'M FAMOUS, YOU'LL RESPECT THIS!!!!!!!!1 -selena suggesting that these are ingested to aid digestion (possible gastroliths). They have an average body temperature of 32.7oC, which is one of the lowest of all land-living mammals. This and slow rate of metabolism means it is far from the most active mammal.[3]
It grows to a size of 1 feet to 3 feet long, including a 3 foot (90 cm) to 4 foot (1.2 m) torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 (29 kg) to 140 pounds (65 kg).
The giant anteater is covered with stiff, straw-like hair which grows up to 40 cm long on the tail. Young have soft hair until they are mature. The dominant colouring may be grey or brown, but all have a diagonal black and white shoulder stripe.
The giant anteater is generally acknowledged to have a very keen sense of smell, used to locate ants, but is thought to have poor sight and hearing.
The giant anteater does not sleep in any fixed place, instead curling up in abandoned burrows and hollows. It covers its body with its long, bushy tail to sleep.
In the wild, the giant anteater is nocturnal or active at night near human settlements and diurnal or active during the day elsewhere. It stays mainly on dry ground but is a strong and capable swimmer.
When threatened, it stands up on its hind legs, using its tail to aid balance, and may strike extremely rapidly with its claws or "hug" attackers much like a bear. An adult anteater is capable of fending off or even killing its main predators, big cats such as the jaguar and the cougar.
Reproduction
It bears a single offspring after a gestation period of 190 days, which will stay near the mother until she becomes pregnant again. The baby spends much of the first part of its life riding on its mother's back, until it is nearly half her size.
The mating system of M. tridactyla is not well known. Reproductive behavior is primarily observed in captivity. The most notable witness to giant anteater mating is Canadian researcher William Sommers. So far, all that he has found is that the male stands over the female, who lies on her side during copulation. Further research is pending.
Gestation is approximately 190 days, after which females give birth to a single young that weighs about 2.8 lb(1.3 kg). Females give birth standing up and immediately the young anteater climbs onto her back. Young are born with a full coat of hair and adult-like markings. Breeding occurs year-round in captivity and the wild, though seasonal breeding times have been reported in portions of their range. Inter-birth intervals can be as low as nine months. Sexual maturity is reached between 2.5 and 4 years. The mammary glands are lateral to the 'armpits' on the chest.
- Breeding interval: Giant anteaters can breed as often as every 9 months, though it is often longer.
- Breeding season: Giant anteaters may breed year round, or seasonally depending on region.
- Number of offspring: 1 (average)
- Gestation period: 190 days (average)
- Time to weaning: 6 months (average)
- Time to independence: 24 months (average)
- Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2.50 to 4 years
- Age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2.50 to 4 years
Communication and perception
Most communication occurs between young and their mothers or during fighting. It consists of snorts, sniffs, and hisses, as well as roaring during fights. They have rather poor sight and hearing.
Food habits
Giant anteaters eat ants, termites and soft-bodied grubs. Using the long, sharp claws on their forelimbs, they open insect colonies and tree trunks. They then use the tongue to collect the eggs, larvae, and adult insects. The salivary glands secrete sticky saliva during feeding that coats the tongue. They only stay at one ant colony for a short period of time to avoid soldier ants, but giant anteaters can consume a few thousand insects in minutes. The tongue is attached to the sternum and moves very quickly, flicking 150 times per minute. They sometimes eat fruit and eggs.
Threats
The jaguar (Panthera onca) and the cougar (Puma concolor) are known predators of giant anteaters. Anteaters use their immense front claws to defend themselves from predators, but their typical response to threat is to run away. Their size makes them invulnerable to all but the largest of predators, jaguars and cougars primarily. They are often killed by humans, either intentionally through hunting or unintentionally through collisions with cars. In April 2007, an anteater at the Florencio Varela Zoo near Buenos Aires, Argentina attacked Melisa Casco, a zookeeper, mauling her abdomen and legs with its sharp front claws. The 19-year old zookeeper was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, and later succumbed to her injuries.[4]
Conservation status
Habitat destruction is the primary threat to giant anteaters. They are listed as Appendix II by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Appendix II is defined as a species not necessarily threatened to extinction but one that should be controlled in trade to avoid overuse. They are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 'Vulnerable' is defined as an estimated population reduction of 20% in the next 10 years. It is estimated that there are only as few as 5,000 left in the wild, and only 90 live in zoos across the United States.
References
- ^ Gardner, A. (2005). Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Template:IUCN2008
- ^ Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
- ^ "Argentine zookeeper dies after anteater attack". 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- Louise H. Emmons and Francois Feer, 1997 – Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, A Field Guide.
External links
- The Online Anteater: information, images, fun facts, and other stuff about the giant anteater
- The Online Anteater Blog
- ARKive – images and movies of the giant anteater.
Gallery
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At Phoenix zoo -
Dictionary illustration -
In San Francisco zoo
