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ALIEN
OR ANIMAL - BY ZANE
Anteater is the name of
the group of animal sometimes known as the ant bear. There are three
different kinds of anteaters, the giant anteater, the tamandua, and
the silky anteater. The giant anteater is the largest of the three.
This particular anteater has a very hard time walking, since its claws
do not retract. The claws are curved inward to keep them from being
dulled, and this causes the anteater to have an awkward walk.
A female anteater gives birth to one baby each year. The newborn rides
on the mother’s back for up to a year. The anteater is nocturnal
and courtship between males and females has not been well studied. The
giant anteater is a very weird animal. It is an animal about the size
of a German Shepard dog. It is one of the odder looking animals to roam
the forests and savannas of Central and South America. Anteater bodies
grow up to three to four feet long. One of the weirdest things about
this animal is its tail. The tail also grows up to three or four feet
long, which is as long as the body. The hair on its bushy tail is coarse,
and even straw like. It is usually darker in color than the rest of
the anteater’s body. Most familiar is the anteaters head, which
is long and tube-like, ending in a small black mouth/nose. It has small
eyes, and small rounded ears.
This animal is classified as a threatened species. Only if you’re
lucky might you see one of these animals roaming around the forest floors
in the rainforests of South America. They can be found in rural or densely
populated areas. The anteater is most active at night, is found on the
ground, and it rarely climbs trees. Therefore, it is an uncommon sight.
Being a scavenger, though, they approach human garbage piles and you
are more likely to see them there.
The main threat to the giant anteater are humans. Human population is
now encroaching on its habitats with the destruction of habitat and
hunting, the anteaters numbers aredwindling. The anteater is hunted
for a source of food, for their skins, and even for game. Fire is also
a concern for the giant anteater. They are usually found burned to death
after severe grass or forest fires, because their bushy hair is highly
flammable.
The natural enemies of the giant anteater include jaguars and pumas.
The anteater helps control the population of insect pests. It has an
important place in the ecosystem. Many people consider the anteater
too dangerous to protect. When defending itself, giant anteaters will
stand up and slash out with their strong front limbs, and long claws.
Wild giant anteaters spend
most of their nights looking for food, foraging on the ground. The anteater’s
prey is usually ants and termites. However, the giant anteater does
not only eat ants. In zoos, their food menu usually includes items such
as gruel mixes, mashed fruits and vegetables like avocados and bananas,
hard boiled eggs, ground beef, dog kibble, and the occasional hand full
of insects. The anteater can be a pest, and scrounge through garbage.
A wild giant anteater consumes an amazing number of insects, often times
up to 30 000 in just a day. They can consume this number of ants because
of their long tongue.
By destroying the rainforest we endanger these interesting creatures.
Once they are extinct they aren’t coming back. Alien in appearance,
animal in nature-the anteater is a unique and interesting creature.
We must do what we can to protect all anteaters.
Bibliography
www.maiaw.com/anteater/
http://nature.ca/nature_e.cfm
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