By Jasreet Kaur23, Feb 2025 08:00 AMjagranjosh.com
Do you know?
Some animals have long tongues to help them eat. The giant anteater has the longest tongue for its size. It uses it to catch ants and termites. Tap to read in detail.
Tongue Length
The giant anteater has the longest tongue relative to its body size, measuring up to 2 feet (60 cm) long. It helps them reach deep inside anthills and termite mounds.
Structure And Function
Its tongue is thin and sticky, covered in tiny spines and saliva to trap ants and termites. This adaptation allows them to consume thousands of insects daily.
Speed of Movement
The anteater flicks its tongue up to 150 times per minute to collect thousands of insects. This rapid movement prevents ants from attacking them.
Digestive Adaptation
It has no teeth, so it swallows insects whole, and its muscular stomach helps digest food. The stomach acts like a grinder to break down food.
Habitat
The giant anteater lives in grasslands and forests in South and Central America. It prefers warm, open areas where food is abundant.
Defense Mechanism
It uses its strong claws to tear open termite mounds and protect itself from predators. The claws are sharp enough to seriously injure a jaguar.