Silky Anteater: World's Smallest Anteater

Image: Unsplash

The silky anteater is the world's smallest anteater, weighing just over 400 grams and measuring up to 14 inches long

Image: Unsplash

Also known as pygmy anteater, it lives in the treetops of tropical rainforests in Central and South America

Image: Unsplash

This is a solitary and nocturnal animal, with dense and soft fur. It may look cute and fluffy, but will put up a fight when threatened

Image: Unsplash

The silky anteater's feet are modified to climb and have long claws to grip tree trunks and branches

Image: Unsplash

As their name suggests, they primarily eat ants, and consume up to 5,000 of these insects a day

Image: Unsplash

Their long claws help them rip open ant nests. With sensitive pink-tipped nose, sticky, and long tongue they sniff out food and trap ants

Image: Unsplash

Silky anteaters have proportionately shorter faces and larger crania than other species

Image: Unsplash

Its tail is longer than its body and prehensile, which means it can hold onto things

Image: Unsplash

When it detects a predator, it curls into a ball to resemble seed pods to avoid being seen

Image: Unsplash

Check More Stories

Image: Unsplash

ndtv.com