Anteater vs. Tapir — What's the Difference?

Anteater is a common name for the four extant mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua (meaning "worm tongue") commonly known for eating ants and termites. The individual species have other names in English and other languages.

The tapir ( TAY-pər) is a large, herbivorous mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short, prehensile nose trunk. Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions of South and Central America, with one species inhabiting Southeast Asia.

Any of several Central and South American mammals of the suborder Vermilingua that lack teeth and feed on ants and termites, especially the giant anteater.

Any of several large, chiefly nocturnal, odd-toed ungulates of the genus Tapirus of tropical America and Southeast Asia, having a stocky body, short legs, and a fleshy, trunklike proboscis.

Any of several other animals, including the echidna, aardvark, and pangolin, that feed on ants.

Any one of the species of large odd-toed ungulates of the taxonomic family Tapiridae with a long prehensile upper lip, of which all four surviving species are in genus Tapirus.

Any of several animals of South and Central America, in suborder Vermilingua, which are noted for eating ants and termites which they catch with their long sticky tongues.

Any one of several species of large odd-toed ungulates belonging to Tapirus, Elasmognathus, and allied genera. They have a long prehensile upper lip, short ears, short and stout legs, a short, thick tail, and short, close hair. They have three toes on the hind feet, and four toes on the fore feet, but the outermost toe is of little use.

Any of some other not closely related species that feed with ants, including pangolin (scaly anteater), echidna (spiny anteater), aardvark and numbat (banded anteater).

Large inoffensive chiefly nocturnal ungulate of tropical America and southeast Asia having a heavy body and fleshy snout

Toothless mammal of southern Africa and Asia having a body covered with horny scales and a long snout for feeding on ants and termites

Any of several tropical American mammals of the family Myrmecophagidae which lack teeth and feed on ants and termites

Nocturnal burrowing mammal of the grasslands of Africa that feeds on termites; sole extant representative of the order Tubulidentata

Small Australian marsupial having long snout and strong claws for feeding on termites; nearly extinct

New Guinea echidnas

Burrowing spine-covered monotreme of Australia having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites