Examples of animals that look like anteaters include aardvark, elephants, tapir, armadillo, and pangolin.
Anteaters are strange and unique creatures found in the rainforests and savannas of Central and South America. They have a long, sticky tongue that they use to forage for food in rotting logs and underbrush.
Anteaters are also known for their distinctively shaped snouts, which they use to break open termite houses. There are several animals that share some similarities with anteaters, including the aardvark, pangolin, and armadillo. Let’s take a closer look at these animals.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Anteaters
1. Aardvark
| Scientific Name | Orycteropus afer |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa |
The aardvark is a burrowing animal that is found in Africa. It has a long snout and tongue, which it uses to feed on ants and termites. It is nocturnal and solitary and often considered to be silly-looking due to its long ears and plodding gait.
2. African Bush Elephant
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta africana |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Sub-Saharan Africa |
The African bush elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal. It is also the largest extant member of the order Proboscidea. The African bush elephant can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana. Like anteaters, they have a trunk that they use for various purposes such as grabbing food and water. African bush elephants are also herbivores that eat a variety of plants.
Related Article: 15 Animals that Look Like Elephants
3. African Forest Elephant
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta cyclotis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Gabon and the Republic of Congo |
The African forest elephant is the smallest of the three subspecies of African elephants. They are found in the forests of Central and West Africa. Forest elephants are smaller than their savanna-dwelling cousins, with shorter tusks and smaller ears. Their skin is also darker, due to the higher levels of humidity in their habitat.
4. Asian Elephant
| Scientific Name | Elephas maximus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia |
The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal. It is native to countries in Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The Asian elephant has a number of physical features that distinguish it from other elephants. These include its smaller size, rounded ears, and wrinkled skin.
5. Baird’s Tapir
| Scientific Name | Tapirus bairdii |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | forests and wetlands from Mexico to Colombia |
The Baird’s tapir is a large, herbivorous mammal that is native to Central and South America. The Baird’s tapir is similar to the anteater in that it has a long snout, which it uses to break open termite houses. Both animals are also proficient swimmers.
6. Big Hairy Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Chaetophractus villosus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay |
The big hairy armadillo is a species of armadillo found in South America. It is the largest armadillo in the world, measuring up to 2 feet long and weighing up to 30 pounds. Like other anteaters, the big hairy armadillo has a long snout that it uses to break open termite houses. It also has a tough, leathery hide that protects it from predators.
7. Chinese Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis pentadactyla |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Eastern Nepal, Bhutan, Northern India, North-East Bangladesh and through Southern China |
The Chinese pangolin is a nocturnal creature that is found in the forests of southern China. Like the anteater, it has a long snout and tongue, which it uses to feed on ants and termites. It also has keratin scales covering its body, which offer protection from predators.
8. Giant Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Priodontes maximus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | northern Venezuela to Paraguay and northern Argentina |
The giant armadillo is the largest member of the family, reaching lengths of up to five feet. These animals are found in South America and are known for their hard, shell-like bodies. Giant armadillos use their long claws to dig for food, which includes insects, grubs, and other small animals.
9. Giant Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis gigantea |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the humid forests of West and Central Africa |
The giant pangolin is the largest species of pangolin, weighing up to 65 pounds. It is found in parts of Africa and Asia. The giant pangolin has a long, tubular snout that it uses to break open termite houses and eat the insects inside.
10. Ground Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Smutsia temminckii |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | northern South Africa through most of East Africa and into southern Sudan and southern Chad |
The Ground Pangolin is a nocturnal animal that is found in Africa. It is one of the largest pangolins, reaching up to 2 feet in length. The Ground Pangolin has a long snout that it uses to break open termite houses. It also has sharp claws that it uses to dig for food.
11. Indian Elephant
| Scientific Name | Elephas maximus indicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | mainland Asia |
The Indian elephant is the largest living land animal. It is a herbivore that feeds on plants, leaves, and fruits. Indian elephants are gray in color and have wrinkled skin. They have two finger-like projections on the end of their trunks, which they use for picking up food and for drinking water.
12. Indian Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis crassicaudata |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka |
The Indian pangolin is a species of pangolin found in India and Sri Lanka. Pangolins are Mammals characterized by their long tongues, which they use to feed on ants and termites. Pangolins are also known for their scaly skin, which protects them from predators.
Similarities between anteaters and Indian pangolins include their long tongues, which they use to feed on ants and termites.
13. Long-Beaked Echidna
| Scientific Name | Zaglossus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | island of New Guinea |
The long-beaked echidna is one of the two types of echidnas, the other being the short-beaked echidna. Both types of echidnas are found in Australia and New Guinea. The long-beaked echidna has a longer snout than its Short-beaked counterpart. It also has a longer tongue, which it uses to reach deep into termite mounds to eat the insects.
14. Long-Tailed Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis tetradactyla |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central Africa |
The long-tailed pangolin is found in Africa and Asia. It is a nocturnal animal that feeds on ants and termites. The long-tailed pangolin has a keratinous scale covering its body which protects it from predators.
15. Malayan Tapir
| Scientific Name | Tapirus indicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra |
The Malayan tapir is a shy, nocturnal creature that lives in the dense rainforests of Southeast Asia. Like the anteater, it has a long, flexible snout. It also has a thick body and short legs, which help support its weight as it moves through the underbrush. The Malayan tapir is an excellent swimmer and often wallows in mud to cool off.
16. Nine-Banded Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Dasypus novemcinctus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | all but the western Trans-Pecos portion of Texas |
The nine-banded armadillo is a mammal that is found in North, Central, and South America. It gets its name from the nine bands of thick, hard armor that encircle its body. The nine-banded armadillo is about the size of a house cat and has a short snout. Its diet consists mainly of insects, which it digs up with its long claws.
17. Pink Fairy Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Chlamyphorus truncatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | central Argentina |
The Pink Fairy Armadillo is the smallest species of armadillo. They are found in dry regions of Argentina and have a diet that consists mainly of ants and termites. Their smaller size allows them to maneuver easily in tight spaces, which helps them get to their food source.
18. Saiga Antelope
| Scientific Name | Saiga tatarica |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central Asia |
The saiga antelope is a critically endangered species of antelope that inhabits the steppes of Central Asia. The saiga has a long, narrow, and slightly curved snout, which it uses to help it graze on grasses and other plants.
19. Six-Banded Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Euphractus sexcinctus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname and Uruguay |
The six-banded armadillo is a small to medium-sized mammal found in Central and South America. They are one of the most common species of armadillo found in the world. They get their name from the six bands of hard, dark shells that encircle their bodies.
20. South American Coati
| Scientific Name | Nasua nasua |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | tropical and subtropical South America |
The South American coati, also known as the ring-tailed coati, is a member of the raccoon family. It is found in tropical and subtropical forests of South America. The South American coati has a long snout and a bushy tail, which it uses for balance as it climbs trees.
21. South American Tapir
| Scientific Name | Tapirus terrestris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North-Central Colombia and east of the Andes and including most of tropical South America |
The South American tapir, also called the Brazilian tapir, is a large mammal that lives in the Amazon rainforest. Like anteaters, they have long snouts that they use to break open termite houses. They are also proficient swimmers and can often be seen bathing in rivers and lakes.
22. Spiny Softshell Turtle
| Scientific Name | Apalone spinifera |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Wisconsin and Minnesota, and as far south as Mexico |
The spiny softshell turtle is a species of freshwater turtle that is native to North America. The spiny softshell turtle is similar to the anteater in that it has a long snout. The turtle’s snout is used to help the animal breathe underwater.
The spiny softshell turtle is also similar to the anteater in that it has sharp claws. The turtle’s claws are used for digging in the sand and mud.
23. Sunda Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis javanica |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The Sunda pangolin is a shy creature that is found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. It is nocturnal and solitary, only coming together to mate. Pangolins are unique in that they have scales rather than fur, and they use their long tongues to feed on ants and termites.
24. Tree Pangolin
| Scientific Name | Manis tricuspis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central Africa |
The tree pangolin is a mammal of the order Pholidota. The tree pangolin is the only member of the genus Smutsia. Pangolins are nocturnal animals that live in trees. They have long tongues that they use to feed on ants and termites. Pangolins are covered in scales made of keratin, which protects them from predators.
25. Weevil
| Scientific Name | Curculionoidea |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
Weevils are another type of insect that has a long, thin snout. Like ants, they use this appendage to reach into small spaces and gather food. Weevils are often pests, as they feed on crops and stored grains.
Conclusion
Though they may look silly, aardvarks and pangolins are both proficient in the art of eating termites. These animals have evolved to have physical features that allow them to easily access these insects, which provide an important source of nutrients for their diets.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.