Florida Sanctuary Anteater's Long Snout Is Leaving People Impressed

Gabrielle LaFrank
·2 min read

I remember lots of fun day trips with my family from when I was a child, and many of my favorites included animals, too. We couldn't have a pet at the time, so we frequently visited zoos, aquariums, and local parks where I could meet some furry, feathered, and scaly friends. Each outing was as fun as the last!

I'd like to think that I've seen many different animal species thanks to all of our zoo visits, but I can't recall ever seeing an anteater. Luckily, TikTok is there for me in my adulthood to help fill that void. I may not have met Bumi the anteater in person, but a November 6 video from the North Florida Wildlife Center gets so up close and personal that I feel like I have.

OMFG! This zookeeper's camera work is everything. I always knew that anteaters' snouts are long AF, but the angle of this video makes it look even longer than I expected. I can only imagine that the ants they eat feel the same way!

Related: TikTok Viewers Are Fascinated by San Antonio Aquarium's Resident Tamandua

While giant anteaters, the largest species of anteater, can grow up to 8 feet in length, the San Francisco Zoo explains that the animals' tongues alone measure up to 2 feet long. They're only half an inch wide, which helps them slurp ants, termites, and other insects into their mouths. With a diet of only insects, these creatures have no need for teeth, either.

I actually giggled out loud when I read @flannius' joke question: "How long does it take for smells to reach his brain?" If only the body's senses worked that way! Bumi will tell you that these exotic animals don't take longer than other animals to process smells, but they do struggle with their eyesight. There's a lot to learn about this Central and South American animal, and Florida's @nfwctally is a great account to follow if you're interested!

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