Difference between Armadillo and Anteater
According to a recent assessment conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 28,000 animal and plant species face extinction. This is because of environmental variables such as natural catastrophes, habitat fragmentation, overexploitation, or habitat exploitation. Poor reproduction, genetic inbreeding, and a decline in population size are all examples of evolutionary processes that can lead to extinction. For instance, armadillos and anteaters are still at risk of extinction because of human activity. Although they share certain commonalities, they have distinctions.
What is Armadillo?
These placental mammals, whose name means "small armored on," includes 21 living species and nine extinct ones. All armadillo species are endemic to the Americas and are classified in the cingulate order of the Xenarthra superorder. There are 21 species with varying sizes, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. The Giant armadillo, which is approximately 5 feet in length, is the biggest of the armadillo species, while the pink fairy armadillo, which measures about 6 inches in length, is the smallest.
Nine genera and 21 species of armadillos exist, including the pink fairy, seven-banded, screaming hairy, northern naked-tailed, nine-banded, Brazilian three-banded, larger fairy, six- banded, and gigantic armadillo.
The armadillo is barrel-shaped, has short legs, and can move remarkably quickly. They feature long, pointed claws and a leathery armor shell comprised of plates that overlap at the head, tail, back, and legs. They are also characterized by long sticky tongues and pointy snouts. The three- banded armadillo is the only species that can roll into a hard, armored ball for protection against predators, unlike other armadillos, who defend themselves by hastily excavating a hole. Because of their limited vision, these animals rely on their keen sense of smell to hunt.
The lack of fat in their bodies means that they can only survive in warm climates, therefore, they tend to cluster around the equator. They are nevertheless highly fussy about the habitats, and frequently base it on the kind of soil with a predilection for loam or sandy soils for easy burrowing and digging. Except for the nine-banded armadillo, which may be found from the southern United States to Argentina, all armadillo species are found in South and Central America.
While armadillos mostly eat insects and larvae, they also consume plants, eggs, and even fruit, making them omnivores. They can collect termites, ants, and other insects because of their long, sticky tongue. They have a gestation duration of 2-5 months and commonly give birth to 1-12 pups in clutches.
Although certain species are not in danger of extinction, their number has dropped by more than 30% in the last 21 years, including the Andes hairy armadillo.
What is an Anteater?
This term, which literally translates to "warm tongue," refers to the four living mammal species that belong to the order Pilosa and the suborder Vermilingua. There are now three genera of anteaters: the giant anteater, the silky anteater, and the northern and southern tamandua.
The species are closely related to the sloths and armadillos. Anteaters are able to devour insects with ease thanks to their long, slender snouts and thin tongues. Their mouths are likewise tube- shaped, with lips but no teeth. Its curled foreclaws are another distinguishing feature, allowing them to both defend themselves and rip through termite and ant mounds. For defense against bug assaults, they have long, thick fur. With the exception of the giant anteater, all species have long, prehensile tails. Despite having limited eyesight, these animals make up for it with a keen sense of smell that helps them hunt, gather food, and defend themselves.
Anteaters specialize to consume insects, and their insect preferences range from arboreal to terrestrial. Their tongues are coated in filiform papillae, which are tiny hooks used to keep insects together.
Anteaters are found in Central America, Uruguay, southern Mexico, eastern Brazil, and South America. They inhabit rainforests, dry tropical forests, savannas, and grasslands.
Similarities: Armadillo and Anteater
Both are characterized by long sticky tongues and pointy snouts
Although both species have poor eyesight, they have a well-developed sense of smell
Differences: Armadillo and Anteater
The following table highlights the major differences between an Armadillo and an Anteater −
Characteristics |
Armadillo |
Anteater |
|---|---|---|
Classification |
The armadillo belongs to the superorder Xenarthra and the order Cingulata. |
The anteater belongs to the suborder Vermilingua of the order Pilosa. |
Types of Species |
There are several different types of armadillos, including the pink fairy, seven-banded, screaming hairy, northern naked-tailed, nine- banded, Brazilian three-banded, larger fairy, six-banded, and enormous armadillo. |
There are a few different kinds of anteaters, including the giant anteater, silky anteater, and the Northern and Southern Tamandua. |
Habitat |
Because they don't retain much fat, armadillos can only survive in warm climates, especially those near the equator. |
In addition to wet and dry tropical woods, savannas, and grasslands are home to anteaters. |
Diet |
Although armadillos are mostly insectivores, they can consume plant matter, eggs, and even some fruit. |
Insects make up a large portion of an anteater's diet. |
Distribution |
The Southern United States, Argentina, and South and Central America are all home to armadillos. |
The anteater's range includes much of South America and parts of Central America, Uruguay, and southern Mexico. |
Presence of armor shell |
Leathery plates wrap the armadillo's head, tail, back, and legs, creating a protective armored shell. |
The exoskeleton of an anteater is not armored. |
Conclusion
Armadillos are included in the phylum Chordata and the class Chordata. As they can't retain much fat, these creatures can only survive in warm climates. To compensate, they have a leathery armor shell with overlapping plates that protect their head, tail, back, and legs. Nonetheless, anteaters belong to the order Pilosa and the suborder Vermilingua. Their natural habitats include wet and dry tropical forests, savannas, and grasslands.
Despite their differences, both have features in common, such as long, sticky tongues and pointed snouts, as well as weak eyesight and an acute sense of smell.
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