A xenarthran mammal of Central and South America that lacks teeth and uses a long snout and sticky tongue to lap up ants and termites.
The giant anteater's tongue can extend about 60 cm and, unlike that of other mammals, attaches directly to the sternum instead of the throat. It flicks in and out up to 150–160 times per minute, snapping up ants and termites with backward-pointing papillae and sticky saliva.