myrmecophagy
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.35|Adaptations for myrmecophagy in mammals, such as long tongues and strong digging forelimbs, have [[evolved convergently at least 12 times.]] Myrmecophagy (from Ancient Greek μύρμηξ múrmēx, 'ant', and φαγεῖν phageîn, 'to eat') is a feeding behavior in animals, defined by the consumption of termites or ants—particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets are largely, or completely, composed of these insect types. Notable myrmecophages include the three genera of anteaters, aardvarks, numbats, echidnas, some armadillos, and pangolins, as well as some members of t
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4 sectionsContents
- Vertebrates
- Invertebrates
- References
- Sources
thumb|upright=1.35|Adaptations for myrmecophagy in mammals, such as long tongues and strong digging forelimbs, have [[evolved convergently at least 12 times.]] Myrmecophagy (from Ancient Greek μύρμηξ múrmēx, 'ant', and φαγεῖν phageîn, 'to eat') is a feeding behavior in animals, defined by the consumption of termites or ants—particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets are largely, or completely, composed of these insect types. Notable myrmecophages include the three genera of anteaters, aardvarks, numbats, echidnas, some armadillos, and pangolins, as well as some members of the order Carnivora such as the sloth bear of the Indian subcontinent and the aardwolf of Southern Africa.
The related habit of termite-eating is termitophagy; the two dietary habits often overlap, as these eusocial insects live in similarly large, densely populated ant colonies or termite mounds, requiring specialised adaptations from any species that wishes to access them. Physical traits of several myrmecophagous animals include long, sharp, often curved front claws for digging into nests or mounds.