AnimalID

Name

5042

Giant Anteater

LocationName:

South America

Origin:

Original ZT

PurchaseCost:

$600

RequiresResearch:

No

IsClimber:

No

IsJumper:

No

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

Description:

Giant anteaters are primarily found in the savannahs and grasslands of Central and South America. These animals are gray with distinctive black and white markings, and their narrow bodies are about the size of a large dog. Anteaters are covered in coarse hair, which helps to protect them from insect bites. Anteaters lack teeth and their jaws can only open half an inch. Their chief distinguishing characteristic is an extremely long, cylindrical snout, which the anteater thrusts directly into ant and termite colonies when searching for food.

Anteaters are efficient eaters, with long sticky tongues that can flick in and out of their mouths at a rate of up to 160 times a minute. They can consume up to 30,000 insects a day. Giant anteaters get most of the water they need from the insects they consume. This species prefers large ants, such as carpenter ants, which have neither heavy jaws nor chemical defenses. They will not eat fire ants. In captivity, anteaters are fed a variety of foods, including insects (waxworm larvae, mealworms, crickets, and termites), a high-protein gruel mixture, and snacks such as avocados, mangos, oranges, and yogurt.

Giant anteaters prefer open, grassy areas, with some trees. Although this species of anteater doesn't climb trees, they reportedly can climb out of enclosures with ease. Anteaters walk on the sides of their paws with the claws tucked inward in order to keep the claws sharp.

Anteaters are not social creatures. In the wild, they roam singly, except for mother-young pairs and during the breeding season. A female giant anteater gives birth to one baby each year. The mother carries her offspring on her back for up to a year, even though a baby anteater is capable of a slow gallop one month after birth.

Anteaters have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to locate their prey. They also have good hearing but terrible eyesight. They will sleep up to 15 hours a day. While sleeping, they cover themselves with their long, fanlike tails. Depending on the temperature and the humidity of the area, these animals may be active both day and night.

The principal predators of the anteater are members of the cat family, such as the puma and the jaguar, but humans pose the greatest danger to this threatened creature, by the systematic and ongoing destruction of its habitat.

Attractiveness Adult:

Attractiveness Young:

Initial Happiness:

Habitat Preference:

10

30

60

70

Captivity:

Crowd:

CrowdHappiness Change:

ClimbsCliffs:

5

20

-5

No

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers)

Which fence is suitable for this animal in terms of strength, if it can be climbed or jumped over?

How big should the exhibit be and what Terrain should be used?

What foliage should be used?

What rocks should be used?

What shelter does the animal need?

What toy does the animal like?

How deep should the exhibit be if using the "Pit Method"?

1 level

 

FenceName

Purchase Cost

Height

Strength

Life

Cost Effective

Low Chain-link Fence

$45

1

200

10

22.2

Low Stick Pole Fence

$55

1

225

11

20.0

Stick Pole Fence

$75

2

225

12

16.0

Stick Pole Window Fence

$75

2

225

12

16.0

Low Post and Rail Fence

$70

1

250

11

15.7

Chain-link Fence

$70

2

200

10

14.3

Post and Rail Fence

$90

2

250

12

13.3

Low Wooden Slat Fence

$85

1

240

11

12.9

Wood Slat Window Fence

$110

2

240

12

10.9

Wooden Slat Fence

$110

2

240

12

10.9

Low Concrete Fence

$125

1

300

12

9.6

Low Iron Bar Fence

$125

1

290

12

9.6

Low Rock Wall Fence

$125

1

280

12

9.6

Low Concrete Chain Fence

$125

1

275

12

9.6

Low Plexiglas Fence

$125

1

270

12

9.6

Rock Wall Fence

$150

2

280

14

9.3

Rock Window Fence

$150

2

280

14

9.3

Concrete Chain Fence

$150

2

275

14

9.3

Plexiglas Fence

$150

2

270

13

8.7

Iron Bar Fence

$180

2

290

14

7.8

Concrete Fence

$200

2

300

15

7.5

Reinforced Concrete Fence

$225

3

460

16

7.1

Reinforced Concrete and Glass Fence

$225

3

420

15

6.7

Concrete and Iron Bar Fence

$240

3

440

15

6.3

Electrified Chain-link Fence

$300

3

480

18

6.0

Electrified Iron Bar Fence

$350

3

400

18

5.1

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

Animal Density

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

15

1

 

3

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Rainforest floor

80

12

24

36

48

60

72

84

96

108

120

Dirt

10

2

3

5

6

8

9

11

12

14

15

Grass

8

1

2

4

5

6

7

8

10

11

12

Fresh water

2

0

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

3

Rocks

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Foliage

12

2

4

5

7

9

11

13

14

16

18

Elevation

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Exhibit Size

100

15

30

45

60

75

90

105

120

135

150

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effective

7005

7

Ulmo Tree

40

$480

8.3

7042

3

Llala Palm Tree

24

$700

3.4

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

 

 

none

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

Requires Research

8122

Large Burrow

25

15

$600

6

Yes

8121

Burrow

20

10

$400

4

 

8109

Large Concrete Shelter

19

9

$225

6

Yes

8112

Large Wood Shelter 

19

9

$325

6

Yes

8108

Concrete Shelter

16

6

$175

4

 

8111

Wood Shelter

16

6

$225

4

 

8120

Small Burrow

15

5

$200

2

 

8107

Small Concrete Shelter

13

3

$125

2

 

8110

Small Wood Shelter

13

3

$175

2

 

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

 

 none

 

 

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

ReproductionChance:

High

SickChance:

5

ReproductionInterval(months):

5

SickChange:

-12

HappyReproduceThreshold:

95

DeathChance:

10

Offspring:

1

TimeDeath(months):

12

BabyToAdult(months):

3

 

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

 

Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

none  

KeeperFoodType:

Hay

 

none

 

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?