A Baby Anteater Birth At The Nyíregyháza Zoo
July 11, 2022
A truly unique-looking baby animal, a giant anteater pup, has been born at Hungary’s Sosto Zoo.
Currently, the 2-week-old little one spends most of the time riding on his mother's back, so when she is active - eating or walking about - the tiny pup, is immediately visible.
Native to South America, the Anteater is one of the animals with the most unique appearance; the shape of its trunk, its huge broom-like tail and long skull make it one of a kind.
The weird appearance has practical functions, because every part of it is adapted to nutrition (consumption of insects).
His outstretched jaw has no teeth, but instead, with his long tongue that can stretch up to 60 cm, it grabs the termites extremely quickly, even hundreds in a few minutes. Its tongue is covered with small spikes and the animal can penetrate an ant hill about 60 centimeters deep.
She has 5 toes on her front legs and strong claws on the second and third fingers, they are used to defend and dig out ant balls or break up rock hard hives.
He protects these by bending them under his feet while walking and balancing on his "wrist".
The special diet has modified not only the chewing and digestive organs, but also the speed and movement of its metabolism. For example, the stomach does not produce saltic acid, the antic acid content in the body of the ants eaten helps to break down the food.
10-year-old Manka and Marvin, 9, arrived from Danish zoos, as part of a breeding program. Their nutrition - since 30 thousand ants and termites a day cannot be provided - consists of ground beef, flour worms and fruit pellets, alongside special ant food.
The little pup was born after 180 days of pregnancy, 20 minutes after coming to the world, he was riding on his mother's back. His birth was recorded by zoo staff.
Because this mammal has such a low body temperature - only 32.7 degrees Celsius - the mother covers her baby with its large tail while sleeping.
Although baby can spend up to 15 hours a day sleeping, luckier visitors can see him with his mother in the internal system of the Victoria House.