When it comes to wildlife, some animals look so similar that they can be confused. One example of this is the anteater versus aardvark. Although they have some similarities, these two species are not closely related and have many differences as well. In this article, we will take a closer look at these two creatures and learn how to tell them apart.Source :animalbehaviorcorner.com
Aardvarks and anteaters are mammals that eat ants and termites. They both have long tongues that can probe inside anthills and ant mounds to capture these insects. They also have claws that help them dig up these insects from underneath the ground. They are also able to stand on their hind legs, using their tails to balance and survey their surroundings, or to face threats if they feel threatened.
Underground Wonders: The Fascinating World of Anteater vs. Aardvark
One major difference between aardvarks and anteaters is that aardvarks have teeth, while anteaters do not. Aardvarks’ teeth are used to chew up twigs, roots, and leaves, but they are not very effective against ants or termites, so these animals mostly use their claws and sense of smell to hunt these insects.
Aardvarks have a unique, elongated snout that can extend up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) to probe inside anthills and ant colonies. This allows them to extract ants by the hundreds from these hills and ant mounds. This behavior is a good example of convergent evolution, in which two unrelated species develop similar characteristics over time to adapt to their environments and survive.