The two-toed anteater is not as clumsy as its relative, the giant anteater. In view of its small size, about twelve inches in length, and its numerous enemies, which include poisonous snakes and man, the two-toed anteater has long since taken security precautions. It lives in the trees and comes down as little as possible, especially in the daytime. It feeds at night.
Even at that, its life is often endangered; but still it is safer most of the time than the animals that live on the ground. The dense foliage of the Amazon jungle affords a certain amount of protection for an animal that has neither skill nor agility. The two-toed anteater finds the ants and termites that it lives on among the branches of the trees. It opens the termites’ nests with the two-clawed toes of its front paws, and eats the fleeing insects, scooping them up with its long sticky tongue.
Any animal who lives in the treetops is in danger of falling. The two-toed anteater hooks its long prehensile tail around a branch; thus anchored, it can dine at ease. When the sun rises, the two-toed anteater faces the problem of finding a shelter where it will be well concealed during the day. Sometimes it hides in a hole in a tree. If no hole is available it will look for a branch protected by foliage. It sleeps hanging down from the branch, holding on by its feet and tail, merging with its surroundings. It then looks like a tawny-coloured fruit. Its appearance and immobility while asleep help protect it from predators.
Two Toad Anteater Pictures
