7. Anteaters Use Their Long Snouts Like Straws
One of the most common misconceptions is that anteaters use their long snouts like straws to suck up ants and termites. This idea is so prevalent that it often appears in children’s books and cartoons. However, anteaters do not use suction to capture their prey. Instead, they rely on their long, sticky tongues, which can extend up to two feet in length. Their tongues are covered in thousands of tiny hooks and sticky saliva, which help trap insects. The tongue moves in and out of their mouth at an astonishing rate of up to 150 times per minute. While their snouts house this incredible tongue and provide the necessary support system for feeding, they do not function as vacuum cleaners. The snout also contains highly developed olfactory receptors that help them locate prey, but the actual feeding process relies entirely on their specialized tongue mechanism.
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