Anteaters are a collective term for mammals belonging to the family Myrmecophagidae within the order Pilosa. They typically measure around 1.3 meters in length, with small heads, extremely tiny eyes and ears, a tubular snout, and a long, slender tongue coated in thick mucus that can be extended and retracted at will. Their tails are densely covered in long, coarse fur. The animals exhibit a grayish coat, with broad, black longitudinal stripes running along both sides of their backs, bordered by white markings. Anteaters are found across South and North America, Africa, and Australia, inhabiting tropical and subtropical regions. They rely on their keen sense of smell to locate food, primarily feeding on social insects—especially ants and termites—in a highly communal manner.