The anteater is a specialized mammal belonging to the family Myrmecophagidae. Found across Central and South America, it is instantly recognizable by its long, tubular snout and powerful digging claws. These creatures possess a specialized diet of ants and termites, which they capture using a long, sticky tongue. The question of what to call a group of these animals is common, but the answer is more linguistic than biological.
The Collective Nouns for Anteaters
The most commonly cited, yet largely unofficial, collective noun for a group of anteaters is a “parade.” Other terms sometimes used include a “colony” or a “pack,” although these are rarely heard outside of novelty lists. A less common suggestion is a “candle” of anteaters.
These terms are not biologically descriptive and are seldom used by scientists or naturalists. Unlike truly social animals, anteaters do not naturally gather in groups. The suggested collective nouns are essentially linguistic inventions, created to fill a gap for an animal that is almost always found alone.
Solitary Life: Why Groups Are Rare
Anteaters are overwhelmingly solitary animals, with interactions primarily limited to reproduction or maternal care. They are known to have overlapping home ranges, but they actively avoid contact with other adults. Their territorial nature means they mark their boundaries using secretions from their anal glands.
The core reason for their solitary existence lies in their feeding strategy, which involves consuming thousands of insects daily. They must constantly move across large areas to find enough scattered ant and termite colonies to sustain themselves. Group living would quickly deplete the insect resources in any given area, making it an unsustainable lifestyle.
A mother is the only exception to this solitary rule, as she will raise a single pup for up to two years. The young anteater rides on its mother’s back, blending seamlessly with her fur, until it is large enough to forage independently. Once weaned, the pup will leave its mother to begin its own solitary life.
Anteater Diversity: The Four Species
The term “anteater” refers to four distinct living species, each with unique size and habitat preferences. The largest is the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), which can measure nearly seven feet long. It is primarily terrestrial, foraging on the ground in grasslands and savannas.
Tamanduas and Silky Anteaters
The two species of Tamanduas, the Northern and Southern Tamandua, are medium-sized and often called lesser anteaters. They are semi-arboreal, spending time both on the ground and in the trees, using a prehensile tail for climbing. The smallest is the Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), an entirely arboreal species rarely weighing more than a pound, which lives high in the forest canopy.