№1
As their name suggests, anteaters feed on ants. They catch ants and termites through holes located at the top of the anthill. However, these animals are very smart. They know that if they destroy the entire anthill, they will never be able to feed from it again. Therefore, they never destroy the entire anthill, leaving it time to restore the population.
Enemies in the garden
Anthills located in the garden or vegetable garden are also not immune to attacks. Danger can creep up even from the air.
For example, birds are faithful assistants to gardeners; they destroy midges, caterpillars and aphids. They do not disdain to feast on working ants and are able to catch queens that have left the shelter with their tenacious paws.
Moles and shrews attack larvae and adults underground. This happens while the animals are creating another complex tunnel.
Fast lizards can overtake their prey both in an open area of land and in a closed greenhouse.
The myrmeleon, that is, the antlion, is also a specialist in catching ants. This netted insect tends to hunt using sand.
№3
One of the most amazing facts about these animals is that they can eat up to 35,000 insects per day. And at the same time, not a single insect will bite the anteater. They have developed a unique method of hunting that allows them to remain unbitten by ants. To do this, they instantly catch the insect with their tongue and draw it into the oral cavity. An anteater can "click" its tongue 150 to 160 times per minute.
Ant - protector of forests, gardens and human health
Ants are frequent guests in garden plots. They bring both benefit and harm, so most often gardeners and gardeners try to get rid of them in every possible way. However, before you start fighting them, it’s worth knowing that ants have a lot of useful qualities. The importance of the ant in nature is very great.
- Why are ants needed in the forest?
- Why are ants useful in the garden?
- Treatment
- Photo
- Useful video
- Useful materials
The status of the ant in relation to the forest is very high. Everyone knows from school that you should not destroy ants’ nests. These insects are protected by the state and are specially dispersed artificially to new places.
These insects are the most useful inhabitants of forests.
With their usefulness, they even earned the title “the ants of the forest.”
What benefits do ants bring to the forest? Ants that settle in dead wood accelerate its decomposition, thus freeing the forest from diseased specimens.
These insects are predators and omnivores. During the summer season, the inhabitants of the anthill free the forest from five million harmful insects. This amount frees up a hectare of forest. Of course, birds are also involved in destroying pests, but ants cope with this task more effectively, about 20 times faster.
Ants are seed distributors of many plants. While collecting them and dragging them home, he loses some along the way. This is how plants reproduce throughout the forest area.
Like bees, ants are pollinators for flowers, eating sweet nectar.
By building their underground houses and making numerous passages for their movement, they help loosen the soil. That is why forest plants living above anthills develop most actively. At the same time, in addition to breathability, the soil becomes more nutritious, enriched with organic matter and minerals.
Ants are beneficial insects for songbirds. They take them internally and externally. An ant shower helps birds get rid of parasites. While swimming in anthills, birds tuck insects under their wings and crush them on their feathers.
Why are ants useful in the garden?
Despite some harm caused by insects in the garden, they also have a number of positive properties.
They build their anthills at a depth of one and a half meters, thereby loosening the ground. The soil is mixed at a depth of up to 70 centimeters, raising particles from the lower layers to the surface. At the same time, the soil becomes loose, therefore, it allows air and moisture to pass through better. Plant roots receive more nutrition under these conditions.
Ants increase the nutritional value of the soil because their activity helps remove greenhouse gases from the soil. The soil treated with insects is enriched with minerals. The area above the anthill is ideal for growing all garden crops.
In the soil treated with them, the potassium content doubles, and the phosphorus content increases almost 10 times.
Thus, the presence of black ants in a summer cottage is a sign of good soil quality. They prefer to live in healthy, well-warmed soil. But if they suddenly ran away from your plot, it means that there is something wrong with it and you most likely will not have good results in growing garden crops on it.
Insects actively destroy garden pests. Garden pests: caterpillars, worms, slugs are a real treat for them. Scientists have calculated that the inhabitants of one anthill destroy about two thousand garden pests and their larvae in just one day of summer.
Treatment
The healing properties of ants have been known for a long time. From time immemorial, people have made tinctures and ointments from them. These insects are still used today. The main active ingredient in such preparations is formic acid.
Acid-based drugs help in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatic and atrophic, neuroses, dizziness in old age. They can also alleviate the condition of patients with hepatitis.
Preparations with a hemostatic effect are prepared from ants. Their venom also contains antibiotics that can fight fungal and bacterial infections, including staphylococci and streptococci.
Before you destroy these little workers on your plots, evaluate the benefits they bring.
Next you will see a photo of how ants are used in nature:
№4
As we mentioned earlier, they feed mainly on termites and ants. However, it is not a carnivore. That is, the anteater eats not only meat. Its diet is not limited to ants and termites. They also eat fruit. Giant anteaters also feed on fruits that have ripened and fallen to the ground. Three other species (which are smaller) often climb trees and pick fruits, which they then feast on.
Population and species status
The number of these unique animals inhabiting our Planet is decreasing every year. This is due to both natural factors, which are associated with selectivity in diet, as well as poor fertility, and external factors associated with human life.
Anteater meat does not attract even local residents, and their skin, although used in leather making, is quite rare. In other words, these animals suffer little at the hands of local residents or hunters. Despite this, the number of giant anteaters is constantly decreasing and it is already difficult to find them within their usual habitat, and in some regions they are not found at all.
This mainly happens because people are introducing themselves into their living space, plowing up more and more territories and cutting down forests, taking away their natural habitat from these animals.
In the vastness of South America, some hunters simply shoot anteaters in order to take possession of an unusual trophy. These animals are also persecuted by exotic animal traders, which has become very fashionable nowadays to keep exotic animals at home. In some areas of Brazil and Peru, only memories remain of such animals.
Four-toed anteaters are hunted for sport using dogs. This is due to the fact that people are interested in watching how an animal defends itself. Often these animals die under the wheels of cars, but the main threat is associated with the reduction of territories, which leads to the death of these animals due to lack of food.
№5
If you think that there is only one type of anteater, then you are mistaken. There is a family of Anteaters (Myrmecophagidae), which includes 4 species:
- Giant (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), also three-toed and large).
- Dwarf (Cyclopes didactylus), also known as two-toed.
- Four-toed tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla).
- Mexican tamandua (Tamandua mexicana).
All of these species vary in size. The giant grows up to 2.1 meters in length including the tail. The dwarf grows up to 35 cm in length. Four-toed and Mexican grow up to 1.2 meters in length.
Ants eat depending on their type
There are species of gourmet ants that prefer 1-2 constant products to a varied diet:
- leafcutter ant. Insects of this species collect tree leaves in their home, carefully chew them into porridge and put them in special chambers. In the warm leaf mass there is a rapid development of fungi, which the leaf cutters feed on. The leaf blades themselves are too rough for their delicate stomachs and are not suitable for consumption;
- centromexes. They feed exclusively on termites;
- Dracula. These ants suck the juice of their own larvae, and the latter do not suffer much from this. Adult insects are engaged in catching large insects: spiders, centipedes, but they do not eat them themselves, but feed the younger generation;
- harvester ants. They feed on the seeds of dried plants. This food is not very digestible, so insects grind it into pulp with their strong jaws;
- carpenter ants. The source of carbohydrate for this species is tree resin, which is released in places where the bark is damaged;
- Ponerins. This is a whole subfamily. Each species feeds on a specific insect pest. They are rightly called forest orderlies.
Ants are unique creatures. Tireless workers, they bring considerable benefits to forests, loosening the soil and destroying parasitic insects. True, ants often cause a lot of serious problems for people by eating seedlings, leaves and ripe root crops in their summer cottages or food supplies in their homes.
№7
They have very long claws, up to 10 centimeters long. The claws do not extend or retract.
You might think that their claws are designed to catch insects, but this is not the case. In fact, these mammals use their long claws to protect themselves from predators. The main enemies of anteaters are pumas and jaguars. Their long claws help them defend themselves against these cats.
Anteaters are not aggressive by nature, but if cornered, they stand on their hind legs supporting themselves with their tail, and strike with their long claws.
Anteater: description
The encyclopedia says that the anteater family belongs to the order of partially toothed mammals. In the vastness of South America, specialists were lucky enough to find the remains of similar animals living on our Earth during the Miocene period. Despite this fact, scientists suggest that these animals appeared on our Planet even earlier.
The anteater family includes three genera, such as:
- Giant (large) anteaters.
- Tamandua anteaters or four-toed anteaters.
- Pygmy anteaters.
Depending on their genus, these animals differ from each other in various characteristics, but they also have common characteristics.
It is not for nothing that giant anteaters bear this name, since their size is quite impressive. Adults grow up to one and a half meters in length, with the length of the tail almost matching the length of the body. Since the anteater’s tail looks very voluminous, we can safely say that the size of such an animal is three meters.
The weight of adult individuals reaches 4 tens of kilograms. The anteater leads a terrestrial lifestyle. It moves by bending its paws, since it has large claws that interfere with walking. He steps on the back of the forelimbs. The shape of the muzzle is elongated, and it is noticeable to such an extent that this animal can hardly be confused with animals of other species. This is not at all surprising, since the animal needs to hide its long tongue, up to 60 cm. In addition, the tongue is sticky and prey in the form of ants easily sticks to it.
Tamandua
Four-toed (tamandua) anteaters are characterized by more modest average sizes, with a maximum body length of 0.9 meters and a weight of up to 8 kilograms. The forelimbs have 4 fingers (which is why they got their name), armed with claws, while the claws on the hind limbs are noticeably smaller, and the hind legs have 5 fingers.
Interesting to know! This mammal has a long tail, the tip of which is not covered with hair. This allows the animal to grab onto tree branches, so four-toed anteaters feel quite comfortable not only on the ground, but also in the treetops.
Pygmy anteaters live up to their name and this is not surprising, since the body length of these animals is about 20 centimeters or a little more, and their weight is no more than half a kilogram. These creatures spend almost their entire lives in the crowns of trees, deftly moving from branch to branch with the help of their clawed limbs, as well as with the help of a long, prehensile tail.
Anteater - interesting facts
Appearance and features
Despite the fact that representatives of this family, depending on the variety, differ markedly from each other, they have common features that indicate they belong to this particular family. One of the obvious signs that an animal belongs to this family is the presence of a long sticky tongue, to which various insects reliably stick. Another sign is associated with the shape of the muzzle, which in anteaters is elongated, so the mouth has the shape of a narrow slit.
It is important to know! There are also common features that are associated with the presence of small, round-shaped ears in animals, as well as small eyes. In addition, anteaters have an interesting gait because they have to rely on the back of their paws due to the presence of long claws on them.
All representatives of anteaters have long tails, while in arboreal species it is the most flexible and most tenacious, covered with short hairs.
Regardless of the variety of such animals, their females are characterized by smaller sizes. The forelimbs of anteaters are armed with long and sharp claws, which allows the animals to effectively defend themselves and feel comfortable among the branches of various vegetation. It should be noted that the claws on the hind limbs are noticeably smaller. Anteaters, regardless of their species, have a coat, the nature of which, depending on the species, is either short, soft and silky, or long, hard and not so shiny.
The color of the coat can also vary: in some species it is golden beige, while in others it is dark gray with black patches. As a rule, the belly area is characterized by the presence of a lighter color. Four-toed anteaters are distinguished by their color, reminiscent of the color of a giant panda: against a general light background, they seem to be wearing a black vest. The long bones of the animal’s skull have increased strength, which is another feature of this family. These amazing living creatures have no teeth, while the lower jaw is thin and rather weak, since it has a rather elongated shape, and the anteater does not have to chew food.
Where does the anteater live?
Various species of anteaters are found across large areas of central and southern America. Therefore, these animals are found in the following countries:
- In Mexico.
- In Bolivia.
- In Brazil.
- In Paraguay.
- In Argentina.
- In Peru.
- In Panama.
- In Uruguay.
Anteaters are mainly found in tropical forests, although some species prefer the open spaces of savannas. Their habitats are associated with the coastal zone of various reservoirs, although these animals can hardly be found at watering places. Judging by the geographical habitats of these animals, we can immediately say that anteaters are heat-loving animals that live in hot climate zones.
The dwellings of anteaters, depending on living conditions, can be either small depressions in the ground, or anteaters occupy empty holes of other animals, or hollows in trees, where four-fingered members of the family feel very comfortable.
Pygmy anteaters also make nests for themselves in tree hollows, but in small ones. Despite this, they can rest on tree branches, securely clinging to them with their sharp claws in the form of hooks. It should be noted that the reliability of the grip is such that these small animals can even sleep suspended.
What does an anteater eat?
Judging by the name of this family, the basis of their diet consists of ants and termites. Despite this fact, anteaters, on occasion, can dine on other insects, but only small ones, since these animals do not have teeth. Since the animal is devoid of teeth, anteaters do not chew their food, but swallow it whole, after which their gastrointestinal tract digests what has entered the stomach. Larger species of anteaters eat larger insects and vice versa, for example, dwarf anteaters have to be content with the smallest species of insects.
Despite such facts, anteaters know which insects they can eat and which they cannot, so they are quite picky about their food. Anteaters need to eat huge numbers of ants and termites to get enough food. A giant anteater can eat up to 30 thousand ants and termites per day, and four-toed anteaters eat almost 10 thousand.
Basically, anteaters do not drink water, since their bodies only need the moisture that comes with their food. As a result of observations, zoological scientists have established that anteaters often feed on the fruits of palm trees. With the help of their sharp claws, they manage to extract not only the juice of the fruit, but also other nutritional components.
Anteaters can be compared to living vacuum cleaners that slowly move through forests and savannas in search of anthills and termite mounds. If the hunt is successful, all hell breaks loose for the ants and termites. Animals, destroying the homes of ants and termites, literally suck out all living things. During such a feast, anteaters actively use their sticky tongue. Anything that sticks to such a tongue is unlikely to get rid of this Velcro.
Interesting moment! The anteater's gastrointestinal tract does not produce hydrochloric acid, unlike other animal species. In this regard, food digestion is carried out due to formic acid, which enters the animal’s body along with food. Often, anteaters, like birds, swallow sand and small pebbles along with food to improve the digestion process.
In this regard, it should be noted that the metabolism in the body of these animals is quite slow. That is why the body temperature of the giant anteater is only 32.7 degrees. It is the lowest among other species of placental mammals. In other species of anteaters, although the body temperature is higher, it is not so much as to indicate significant differences.
Important point! Anteaters living in captivity receive a more varied diet compared to their relatives. They happily eat various fruits and vegetables, drink milk and eat fermented milk products, as well as boiled rice and minced meat. The only thing that is harmful to them is sweets.
Character and lifestyle
The nature of behavior and lifestyle depends on the species, so it is not surprising that giant anteaters lead a terrestrial lifestyle, four-toed anteaters combine a terrestrial and arboreal lifestyle, and dwarf anteaters prefer to lead an arboreal lifestyle. Animals are most active in the dark, although under certain conditions they can be active during the daytime. As a rule, these animals prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, although females are mainly in company with their offspring. It should also be noted that males take part in raising the younger generation for some time.
Anteaters, although rare, can form strong family pairs, but mostly family pairs are formed for a short period of time. Anteaters have an excellent sense of smell, which helps them in searching for food, but anteaters' vision and hearing are poorly developed. Surprisingly, anteaters are excellent swimmers and are able to overcome any water obstacles.
The housing of different types has significant differences and is equipped depending on the living conditions. Tamanduas look for voluminous tree hollows, where they build nests for themselves. Giant anteaters either dig small depressions for themselves in the ground, or look for similar depressions, where they arrange a resting place for themselves. The rest of giant anteaters can last up to 15 hours a day. When resting, these anteaters use their voluminous tail as a “blanket,” which also serves as camouflage. Pygmy anteaters rest with their limbs clinging to a branch, with their tail wrapped around these limbs. In other words, pygmy anteaters rest by hanging upside down.
As a rule, each anteater occupies a certain territory in which it lives and feeds. When there is an abundance of food, individuals occupy small territories, and if there is little food, then this territory reaches an area of \u200b\u200bup to 2 and a half hectares.
Interesting fact! The giant anteater, as well as the four-toed anteater, under certain circumstances, are active not only in the dark, but also in the daytime. As a rule, these circumstances are associated with the presence of natural enemies nearby.
We can safely say that anteaters, by their nature, are peaceful, good-natured inhabitants of the natural environment who coexist peacefully in the same territory with other species of animals. Anteaters never attack first.
When kept at home, as evidenced by the owners of these exotic pets, anteaters are easy to train, which is evidence of their high (among animals) intellectual level. As a rule, the four-toed anteater is kept as a pet. The famous artist Salvador Dali kept a giant anteater and walked it through the streets of Paris on a golden leash, like a dog, surprising passers-by.
Anteater or Giant Anteater
Reproduction and offspring
As mentioned earlier, anteaters prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, but during the breeding season they form married couples. We should pay tribute, as they say, to the males who take part in raising their offspring. Among these animals there are unique pairs that stay together for many years, and sometimes all their lives. Most likely, we should talk about some kind of general sympathy for each other, which is not typical for many.
Giant anteaters, as well as four-toed anteaters, begin to breed as autumn approaches. Depending on the species, the female carries her offspring for 3-6 months. As a rule, the female gives birth to one calf with the onset of spring. The newborn cub has sharp enough claws that help it climb onto its mother's back. For six months, the mother feeds her baby with milk. Despite this, the cub can live next to its mother for up to one and a half years of life, until it becomes a sexually mature individual.
Interesting information! In giant anteaters, the cubs that are born are a complete copy of their parents, but the cubs of four-toed anteaters are completely different from their parents.
Pygmy anteaters begin to breed in the spring. Males also take whatever part they can in raising their offspring. As they grow older, baby anteaters slowly begin to get used to their main diet. To do this, parents regurgitate the contents of their stomach.
The lifespan of anteaters is about 2 decades, with some individuals living up to a quarter of a century.
Natural enemies
Anteaters, both large and small, have plenty of natural enemies.
Large anteaters can defend themselves with their main weapon - long claws up to 10 cm, which are so sharp that they can easily penetrate the body of any predator. In case of danger, the animal stands on its hind legs, and with the help of its front legs it tries to protect itself from the predator. Quite often, predators leave, trying not to mess with large anteaters, as they can inflict serious wounds on their enemies.
Pygmy anteaters, despite their small size, can also defend themselves no less selflessly. They use the same tactics as larger anteaters, rising on their hind legs and sticking out their front legs, ready to defend.
In the arsenal of the four-toed anteater, along with its sharp claws, there is another weapon with which it scares away its natural enemies. Its anal glands secrete a special secretion that smells foul. This unpleasant smell forces enemies to keep some distance.
Important point! The number of anteaters largely depends not on natural enemies, but on the life activity of humans, who not only exterminate these animals physically, but also invade their living space.
№8
They adapted to their environment by lowering their body temperature. On average, the body temperature of anteaters is around 32.7 degrees Celsius. This is much lower than that of other placental mammals.
This low body temperature allows the animal to conserve energy while it is resting, since the body only warms up when it becomes active.
This is very important as their diet does not allow them to store large amounts of energy.
№9
The gestation period for females lasts 190 days. Usually the female gives birth to only one baby, which she will feed with milk for approximately 6 months. During the first year, the mother carries her baby on her back to protect him from predators. After the baby gets off his mother's back, he will remain with his mother for about a year until she becomes pregnant and gives birth to the next baby.
Habitat
Anteaters are heat-loving animals, so they prefer to settle in areas with a mild climate. Animals inhabit North and South America. Large populations have been recorded in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The animals mainly live in forests and grassy plains, where insects are found, which form the basis of their diet.
Large species are practically not afraid of people and do not run at the sight of a person. But they are also very reluctant to make contact.
№10
They lead a solitary lifestyle and are found in pairs in the wild only during the mating season. Also, anteaters can meet not alone when the mother is accompanied by her child. Otherwise, they are solitary and very territorial animals. And if the territories of females can sometimes overlap without any consequences, then males do not tolerate other males on their territory.
№12
Do you think only cats sleep most of their lives? No, anteaters are still dormouse. They sleep about 15 hours a day and spend the remaining 9 hours searching for food. However, it is worth noting that their sleep cannot be called sound. The animal wakes up from any rustle. Such sensitive sleep is necessary for the mammal in order to wake up when danger arises and protect itself from predators.
We also recommend reading: Interesting facts about chimpanzees
Anteater protection
Despite the fact that the total number of anteaters is constantly decreasing, only the giant anteater is listed in the Red Book. Since the main culprit of this fact is man, it is time for man to think about what threat he poses to wildlife. We cannot allow such amazing living beings to disappear from the face of our Planet.
Anteaters are such unique and amazing inhabitants of the Earth that their appearance makes you think about how diverse the world of wildlife is. In addition, anteaters do not like to conflict with those who live next to them, including humans. Recently, it has become fashionable to keep such unusual animals at home. Unfortunately, not all of them realize the degree of responsibility, since animals are removed from their natural habitat. A person’s task should be to protect wildlife from any encroachment.
Anteater (Myrmecophagidae) | Encyclopedia of the Animal World
