A Central and South American mammal, closely related to a sloth, that has an elongated, tube-shaped snout, lips but no teeth, and a thin tongue that can be extended until it is longer than the head. It has long, curved claws with which it tears open ant nests and termite mounds to gain access to the insects on which it feeds. There are four species: silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) 35 cm long, southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) 1.2 m long, northern tamandua (T. mexicana) 1.2 m long, and giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) 1.8 m long.