The savanna biome, characterized by alternating wet and dry periods, supports an immense population of ants. Ants are integral to the food web, acting as major predators of other invertebrates and a foundational food source for a wide range of animals. As one of the dominant invertebrate groups, their numerical abundance allows them to wield significant control over insect populations, such as termites and beetles. Their status as a constant, high-protein resource has led many savanna creatures to evolve specialized ways to exploit them.
Highly Specialized Mammalian Predators
The most dedicated predators of ants in the African savanna are mammals that have developed unique anatomical features for ant-eating. The Aardvark (Orycteropus afer), a nocturnal mammal, is well-known for its powerful, pig-like snout and large, shovel-like claws used for excavating concrete-hard mounds. Its long, sticky tongue can extend up to 12 inches to probe deep into colony tunnels. Specialized teeth, which are columns of dentine lacking enamel, grind the insects.
Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are another group of highly specialized mammals, protected by overlapping keratin scales that withstand the defensive bites and stings of their prey. The African Ground Pangolin (Smuts temminckii) uses an extraordinarily long tongue, which can exceed its body length, to quickly lap up ants and larvae from disturbed nests. Pangolins are obligate feeders, meaning ants and termites make up nearly their entire diet.
A less common specialist is the Aardwolf (Proteles cristata), a small, striped hyena relative. It feeds almost exclusively on termites but consumes ants when termites are unavailable. Unlike its bone-crushing relatives, the Aardwolf has small, peg-like teeth and a sticky tongue, designed for quickly consuming soft-bodied insects. Its weaker jaw muscles are perfectly suited for its non-violent, insectivorous diet.
Avian and Opportunistic Feeders
Many birds and other mammals include ants in their diet, though they are not exclusively dependent on them. Ground-foraging birds like the Ant-eating Chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora) and certain Ground Hornbills are regular consumers. They often target the high-energy eggs and larvae of ant colonies. These birds are frequently seen following ant trails or excavating the top layers of nests to access the nursery chambers.
Opportunistic mammals, such as the Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis), readily raid ant nests when other food sources are scarce. They use their robust claws and thick skin to shrug off defensive attacks. Baboon species forage for ants as a protein supplement to their omnivorous diets. Small rodents and meerkats similarly consume ants as part of a varied diet, often exploiting them during seasonal swarm movements.
These generalist predators rely on strength or simple behavioral tactics rather than the extreme anatomical specialization of the aardvark or pangolin. For instance, some birds attend army ant swarms, not to eat the ants, but to catch other insects flushed out by the moving ant column. This “ant-following” behavior allows the birds to secure prey with minimal effort.
Invertebrate Predators and Intraspecies Competition
The smallest and most numerous predators of ants are other invertebrates, which play a substantial role in regulating ant populations at the micro-level. Antlion larvae, often called “doodlebugs,” are masters of ambush, constructing conical pit traps in sandy soil to seize any ant that falls in. Various spider species, including those that mimic ants to infiltrate colonies, also prey on them, using venom to quickly subdue their social victims.
Predatory beetle species, such as some ground beetles, attack foraging ants on the surface, contributing to ant mortality outside of the colony. However, a massive amount of ant predation comes from the ants themselves through interspecific competition. Large, dominant ant species, like the Big-Headed Ant (Pheidole megacephala), actively raid the nests of smaller or less aggressive species, killing the adults and consuming the brood.
This intraspecies predation accounts for significant ant mortality in the savanna, often involving brutal territorial battles between rival colonies that can last for days. The outcome of these conflicts can have cascading effects on the ecosystem, as the victorious ant species then exerts its control over local insect populations. This constant, micro-level warfare is a major factor in the savanna’s intricate food web.