Categories
Animal Size

Giant anteater size: How big do they get?

How big does a Giant anteater get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:

A grown Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) reaches an average size of 1.12 meter (3′ 9″).

When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 26 years, they grow from 1.5 kg (3.31 lbs) to 28.72 kg (63.31 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Giant anteaters have 1 babies about 1 times per year. The Giant anteater (genus: Myrmecophaga) is a member of the family Myrmecophagidae.

As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.

The average adult size of a Giant anteater is (3' 9

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), also known as the ant bear, is an insectivorous mammal native to Central and South America. It is one of four living species of anteaters, the only extant member of the genus Myrmecophaga, and is classified with sloths in the order Pilosa. This species is mostly terrestrial, in contrast to other living anteaters and sloths, which are arboreal or semiarboreal. The giant anteater is the biggest of its family, 182 to 217 cm (5.97 to 7.12 ft) in length, with weights of 33 to 50 kg (73 to 110 lb) for males and 27 to 47 kg (60 to 104 lb) for females. It is recognizable by its elongated snout, bushy tail, long fore claws, and distinctively colored pelage.The giant anteater is found in multiple habitats, including grassland and rainforest. It forages in open areas and rests in more forested habitats. It feeds primarily on ants and termites, using its fore claws to dig them up and its long, sticky tongue to collect them. Though giant anteaters live in overlapping home ranges, they are mostly solitary except during mother-offspring relationships, aggressive interactions between males, and when mating. Mother anteaters carry their offspring on their backs until weaning them.The giant anteater is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. Threats to its survival include habitat destruction, fire, and poaching for fur and bushmeat, although some anteaters inhabit protected areas. With its distinctive appearance and habits, the anteater has been featured in pre-Columbian myths and folktales, as well as modern popular culture.

Animals of the same family as a Giant anteater

We found other animals of the Myrmecophagidae family:

Animals with the same size as a Giant anteater

Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Giant anteater:

Animals with the same litter size as a Giant anteater

Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (1) as a Giant anteater:

Animals with the same life expectancy as a Giant anteater

Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Giant anteater:

Animals with the same weight as a Giant anteater

As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Myrmecophaga tridactyla: