Return to Projects PageThe anteater is a mammal. The silky anteater is about 13 inches from head to tail and weighs about 1 pound. It's soft silky and gray-yellowish-orange with a darker stripe down it's back. Its about the size of a squirrel.
The silky anteater lives in a rain forest habitat. He lives on the
forest floor or in silk-cotton trees. He grips the tree with his tail
and uses his claws to protect himself.
The prey, or food, of the anteater can be found in it's habitat. The
anteater eats ants termites and insects. He uses his long snout and
tongue to catch them. The anteater can eat up to 1,000 insects a day.
An anteater has to be careful of its predators, or its enemies. They
can lay in a ditch and cover up with their tail or they can also use
their sharp claws to fight enemies. Some enemies the silky anteaters
have are the jaguars, pumas and harpy eagles.
I learned many interesting facts about my animal. They have no teeth,
but they do have a long sticky tongue they use to catch their food.
Their tongue can reach up to two feet. They have a very sharp sense
of smell which helps them find their food. The silky anteater would
rather eat ants than termites. Anteaters sleep during the day and
usually sleep in a different tree every day. Anteaters walk on their
knuckles to protect their sharp claws.
Resources: The New Book of Knowledge , 1992
Grolier Inc.
The New Grolier Student Encyclopedia
Funk & Wagnall , Field Publishing Inc.
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