Anteaters are mammals with specialized diets and only a few natural predators. On the surface, it doesn’t appear they would have much to fight about. But is that true? Who do anteaters compete with in the wild, if anyone? What do they compete for, and how do they fight? Keep reading as we answer these and other questions you may have about anteaters.
What You'll Learn Today
Who Do Anteaters Compete With?
Before we answer this question, let’s first talk, in general, about what animals compete for in the wild. The simplest answer to this question is that they compete for resources.
For example, animals with similar dietary needs living in the same region may compete over the same food sources. If there is a limited amount of water or shelter in an area, animals may compete for these resources as well.
So, what do anteaters compete for? And who do they compete with?
Thanks to their specialized diet of ants and termites, anteaters don’t often have to compete with other creatures. That said, during times when food is scarce or in regions where there are too many animals and not enough resources, they may find themselves having to fight for food.
Anteaters sometimes have to compete with other insect-eating animals for food. Most often, though, their competition pits them against more formidable foes like jaguars and humans.
Jaguars eat many different kinds of prey animals, and anteaters may resort to eating small prey animals like snakes and lizards when food is scarce. They may find themselves fighting with jaguars for these food sources.
Anteaters also eat other insects, particularly crickets and grasshoppers. Humans also eat these insects in many of the regions where anteaters live, so they may have to compete with people for these food sources whether food is scarce or not.
Why Do Anteaters Fight?
In general, anteaters are pretty shy and prefer to be left alone. They don’t like to fight and will only fight back if they are feeling threatened in some way.
An anteater would have to be pretty hungry to decide to fight over food or other resources, but they will do so if they are desperate. They may also fight if their territory is invaded, as this could be seen as a threat.
Anteaters can fight fearlessly if the situation calls for it despite their preference for avoiding conflict. If an animal or human threatens their safety or, in some cases, their food source, they will do what it takes to scare away or injure the invader.
How Do Anteaters Fight?
An anteater’s fighting style may vary depending on the situation. The most common way they fight is by rearing up on their back legs, using their tail as a third limb to help them balance, and slashing at their opponent with their sharp claws.
In some situations, they may also charge forward, attempting to frighten their opponent while slashing their claws through the air. They may even end up on the ground, wrestling with their opponent, matching strength for strength.
Bear in mind that these fighting styles typically only apply to giant anteaters, the largest anteater species. Tamanduas, which are smaller, may also fight by rearing up on their back legs and tail and spreading their arms wide in an intimidating pose; however, tamanduas are much smaller than giant anteaters and don’t have much of a chance against larger foes.
Silky anteaters are the smallest anteaters of all. These animals tend to avoid conflict altogether, spending most of their time in trees to avoid predators.
Check out this video of a giant anteater taking on a jaguar, and notice the way it repeatedly rears on its back legs and charges at the predator:
Are Anteaters Predators?
Technically speaking, anteaters are considered predators because they hunt and eat other living organisms. They primarily consume ants and termites, so they are sometimes termed specialist insectivores or specialist predators.
Sometimes anteaters will hunt other insects and even larger prey animals as well. They have been known to eat grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, scorpions, and even snakes, lizards, and turtles on occasion.
Though they do not hunt large prey and are not considered apex predators, anteaters can still be classified as predators. That said, they may themselves be hunted by other predators living in the same regions.
Giant anteaters are large and dangerous enough that they have few natural predators, but they are sometimes hunted by jaguars and pumas. The smaller anteaters, tamanduas and silkies, may face additional threats from ocelots, anacondas, wild dogs, and even humans.
Conclusion
Anteaters don’t often have to compete for food and resources, but they may find themselves pitted against jaguars and humans during times when food is scarce. They are pretty docile animals most of the time, but they can be fearless fighters if they feel threatened or are desperate enough to fight for food.