Myrmecophagy

The snout and the scientific name of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) reflect its feeding habits.

Myrmecophagy is a feeding behavior defined by the consumption of termites or ants, particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets are largely or exclusively composed of said insect types. Literally, myrmecophagy means "ant-eating" (Ancient Greek: murmēx, "ants" and phagein, "to eat") rather than "termite eating" (for which the strict term is termitophagy). The two habits often overlap, as both of these eusocial insect types often live in large, densely populated nests requiring similar adaptations in the animal species that exploit them.[1]

  1. ^ Crompton, John (1954). Ways of the Ant. Collins. ISBN 9780941130844.