anteater

[ ant-ee-ter ]

noun

1. any of several mammals of the family Myrmecophagidae, having a long, tapered snout, extensile tongue, and powerful front claws and feeding chiefly on ants and termites. Compare giant anteater, silky anteater, tamandua.
2. the aardvark.
3. a pangolin.
4. an echidna.
5. banded anteater.

anteater

/ ˈæntˌiːtə /

noun

1. any toothless edentate mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae of Central and South America, esp Myrmecophaga tridactyla (or jubata ) ( giant anteater ), having a long tubular snout used for eating termites See also tamandua
2. scaly anteater
   another name for pangolin
3. spiny anteater
   another name for echidna
4. banded anteater
   another name for numbat

Word History and Origins

Origin of anteater¹

First recorded in 1755–65; ant + eat ( def )

Example Sentences

Extant animals like giant armadillos and giant anteaters, related to Darwin’s ancient giant sloths, have experienced similar pressures.

From Salon

A tamandua, or collared anteater, with prizefighter arms and curved claws that break open termite mounds, tried to ignore a car full of onlookers.

From New York Times

Despite often being compared to pigs and South American anteater, aardvarks are not related to them.

From Science Daily

Threatened pangolins, known as armored anteaters, scramble along branches.

From Seattle Times

Pangolins—also called scaly anteaters—are the only mammals with reptilelike scales, which grow from modified hair follicles.

From Science Magazine