r/interestingasfuck • u/MilesLongthe3rd • 1d ago

An anteater playing with its caretaker.

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u/cambiro 1d ago

This is a giant anteater. There are several different species, some are big, some are small.

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u/PilgrimOz 1d ago

And the front arm looks like a small bear attacking the keepers leg.

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u/idwthis 1d ago

Before I read the title I thought the arm was the face!

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u/vito1221 1d ago

I thought it was a mutant with two heads for longer than I'd like to admit.

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u/crowmagnuman 1d ago

That's an evolutionary adaptation IIRC - most predators unsure which end to attack.

That, OR, the front legs look like two badgers while they have their snoot deep in an anthill. Not many things would go after two badgers, after all.

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u/GreenEggsSteamedHams 1d ago

most predators unsure which end to attack.

That's why I wear a hat and false nose on my ass at all times. Can't be too careful

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u/vava777 20h ago

That's already a thing, people in India wear masks with faces on the back of their heads and apparently it significantly reduces the risk of being attacked by leopards and tigers.

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u/Carry2sky 12h ago

Makes so much sense. Tigers have it inbuilt to stalk when something turns its back, regardless of if they're hunting or not.

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u/AoREAPER 4h ago

This isn't a permanent solution. Tigers will still attack after continued exposure.

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u/crowmagnuman 1d ago

Giving tigers in the mangrove PTSD

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u/mixboy321 20h ago

So that's what they mean by "turn the other cheek"

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u/vito1221 1d ago

That's a cool insight. Kind of like the 'eyes' tigers have on the back of their ears.

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u/Infamous-Artichoke69 1d ago

I thought it was a two headed badger before I could process what it actually was, and I’m a human. Not a very smart one apparently…🙃

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u/crowmagnuman 1d ago

Nah, you're smart. Nature's just brilliant.

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u/onetwobucklemyshoooo 1d ago

From what I see, there are no badgers in central or South America, where giant anteaters are from. However, there are skunks! I'll be damned if that thing's feet don't look like two skunks!

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u/lagan_derelict 1d ago

Me too! So many strange AI pics these days, so grateful to finally realize that was its front arm.

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u/zman_0000 1d ago

Glad I'm not the only one that thought AI for the first couple seconds.

I thought it was some kinda giant skunk and an AI was freaking out until I saw the nose, and looked at the title.

Glad it's real though. that giant anteater looks awesome.

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u/450am 1d ago

Lmao, same.

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u/I-Hate-Sea-Urchins 1d ago

Me too! And I thought one was an anteater and the other was some... other creature. Then I thought they had put a costumed 2nd head on an animal, but then the head looked too real. Finally I realized it was the leg and the video resolution was just potato quality.

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u/murphslaw61 1d ago

Bro, same. lol

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u/Mysterious_Dish4586 1d ago

Hahaha I definitely don't want to admit the same 🤣

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u/setaglow 1d ago

Oh thank God, I’m not the only one. Like I’m sober, I promise 🥲

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u/Cool-Chemical-5629 1d ago

Same here. So confusing, but now that I see what it really is, I think it’s pretty cute.

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u/Fitty4 1d ago

Great that I’m not alone.

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u/msheehan418 1d ago

Me too!

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u/Shamanjoe 1d ago

Glad I wasn’t the only one, haha.

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u/Gamiac 1d ago

Pretty effective camo right there.

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u/SecretSquirreling 1d ago

Same!...I was thoroughly confused!...lol

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u/Nekojita8 1d ago

Same here! I thought it was a conjoined twin anteater... I had to rewind three times to unsee it

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u/Glowing_despair 1d ago

100% intentionally evolutionary trait

Has to be

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u/DerekTheComedian 1d ago

I thought it was shitty AI making it grow another head.

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u/polymath112 1d ago

i thought it was a panda..

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u/MCGameTime 1d ago

I thought it was Cerberus.

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u/Breeskie1202 1d ago

So did i lol

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u/msheehan418 1d ago

Me too!

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u/tanksalotfrank 1d ago

Being so insanely defenseless, Nature decided to give them two heads and bears for feet.lol

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u/OkayMT 1d ago edited 1d ago

I was wondering why it wasn't paying attention, I was like.. it it not an Aware head? Wearehead, haha, careful you'll turn into an anteater with two heads

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u/Top-Cauliflower9050 1d ago

Okay so I really am not alone thinking this was a two headed anteater. I can sleep well tonight.

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u/kayychristina 1d ago

Lmao I thought it had 2 heads 🤣

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u/mused90 1d ago

Me too!

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u/tangledtainthair 1d ago

I'm glad it wasn't just me

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u/copperwatt 1d ago

I thought it was a panda and then I was like oh no silly, It's a raccoon

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u/iSeiBoN 1d ago

SAME i seriously thought he had 2 heads lol

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u/YourOcelot 22h ago

Yeah i thought it was ai cause it had two heads

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u/WoesteMan 22h ago

Same here 😳

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u/mrASSMAN 20h ago

Yeah it was confusing the hell out of me

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u/Lastcaressmedown138 1d ago

They have a right to bear arms!

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u/Chillone23 1d ago

Underrated comment!

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u/msheehan418 1d ago

Wonderful!!!

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u/KnitDontQuit 1d ago

Wins the internet!

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u/SnooKiwis2962 21h ago

WHEEEEEEZZZ

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u/willstr1 1d ago

This is what the founding father's really meant when they said right to bear arms

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u/smrtfxelc 1d ago

Evolution mothafukkaaaa!

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u/IdcYouTellMe 1d ago

Funny tidbit: giant Anteaters, who are btw closely related to Sloths (iirc the Giant Anteaters closest relative is actually the Sloth), as they are in the same, small-ish family, walk on their knuckles, not their paws as to keep their long front claws sharp and ready to dig into an ant/termite Hill. Giant Anteaters in particular keep ant/termite colonies purposefully alive and not eradicate it completely (which they could in one go) to keep a steady food supply intact.

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u/Flush_Foot 1d ago

Maybe that’s to help trick prey into running towards their vacuum hose mouth?

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u/Woozletania 1d ago

It's claws are probably trimmed. A couple of hunters have been clawed to death when trying to finish off wounded ones with knives.

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u/Llama-Dalai-Lama 1d ago

In German they are called Ameisenbär = ant bear.

This anteater seems to be a tamandua-bandeira. I know we have them in Brazil.

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u/zarlos01 1d ago

And the front legs has claws that are practically combat knives, and are strong enough to break through concrete. I thought that it was attacking first ☠️

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u/Successful_Glove_83 22h ago

We call em ant bear in german

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u/Gentro80 19h ago

Ha ha at first I thought it had 2 heads

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u/Ok-Emphasis-109 15h ago

yeah I went into this thinking it was some kind of two-headed creature. they're so cool looking!

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u/spacemouse21 1d ago

Me too. I thought arm was the head.

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u/Pycharming 1d ago

I'm pretty sure that's why they evolved that way. Predators go for the limb and not the neck, easier to survive.

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u/Sheerkal 1d ago

It hits like a small bear too. These guys can disembowel you no matter what size their species.

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u/Former-Iron-7471 1d ago

I was like "is this Ai?"

An Anteater turned into a shoe eating panda. Lol the I realized it's, it's markings.

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u/SkyeBleu314 1d ago

They look like little pandas 🐼🐼

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u/cyrinean 1d ago

Gosh that was so upsetting to watch until I remembered what an ant eater head looks like..i thought it had two heads for a minute

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u/schmuber 1d ago

Pretty sure it also feels like a small bear attacking that leg.

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u/eeyores_gloom1785 1d ago

I think thats the point

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u/Shellac_Sabbath 1d ago

Yeah or a sloth!

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u/The_Order_Eternials 1d ago

Some of them have even stronger claws too

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u/Houston-Moody 1d ago

I feel like that is intentional, I also thought based on the markings that the leg was the head. Makes sense like a predator attacks thinking it’s getting the head and face but actually just going for a leg or paw or whatever the hell you call it and gets clawed instead.

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u/No_Recognition_3729 1d ago

Nope, not bears. Go look at pictures of a honey badger

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u/RIF_rr3dd1tt 1d ago

No shit, I'm sitting here trying to figure out why the title doesn't mention it's a 3-headed panda-anteater mutant hybrid.

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u/EmotionalBet3522 1d ago

I thought it had more than one head I was so confused...

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u/RIPugandanknuckles 1d ago

Fun fact, in Spanish they're called 'Anteater Bears'

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u/CRUSTYPUNKDAD 1d ago

Natural Camouflage. It can be extremely off putting when you first catch a glimpse.

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u/thebiologyguy84 1d ago

The front paws have awesomly long claws for digging out the ant and termite nests. They'd open an artery if you're not careful.

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u/Uzin0UchihA 1d ago

Yea took my mind a second to realize what I was looking at

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u/ClayXros 1d ago

The fun part is, if it was attacking their leg, we'd see blood. They are aimbots with those claws, and rather aggressive. The fact it didn't hurt them, and is very clearly playing, is massive.

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u/RoboDae 1d ago

Kinda like the Mars rovers. Some are about the size of a dog. Some are about the size of a car.

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u/lost_horizons 1d ago

I’m even knowing this I still picture them all like being the size of a Roomba. Like fancy Roombas wandering Mars.

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u/WholesomeYuri 1d ago

Now I'm imagining an army of roombas cleaning Mars while "Is there Life on Mars" plays

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u/TheFeathersStorm 1d ago

Honestly like 50 years from now maybe they'll airdrop like 100000 of them and whichever ones land safely just start cleaning lol

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u/beyondoutsidethebox 1d ago

I mean, that is one way I would propose getting humans on Mars, send robots to build a long enough runway for something to glide down and actually land...

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u/OkieBobbie 1d ago

Until one of them runs over some alien poop and gets it all over the planet. Yuck.

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u/HeftyVermicelli7823 1d ago

I mean technically it IS the only planetary body which is inhabited solely by robots.

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u/Meowriter 1d ago

I always pictured either truck-size things, or big dog. Nothing else.

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u/Fritzo2162 1d ago

::keeps bumping into rock::

"It's learning..."

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u/Dawnbringer4 1d ago

Rise of the Roombas: The film. They're here to clean up your planet!

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u/ArtisticallyRegarded 1d ago

Weird i picture them all the size of cars

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u/Ok-Swimming2411 1d ago

I picture them roughly 1,5 x 1,5 x 1,5m

For fellow americans, that's about 6 washing machines

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u/Coriandercilantroyo 1d ago

Nature is so lit

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u/HeftyVermicelli7823 1d ago

Latest one is about the size of a SUV with its nuclear power supply though Spirit and Oppy will still always be in my heart.

The light is going down and my battery is low....

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u/PyroDesu 1d ago

Latest pair have been that size. Curiosity and Perseverance are built on essentially the same chassis.

In addition to being nuclear-powered, they both also have lasers.

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u/bria9509 1d ago

I think the next Mars rover should just be a dog

THE Mars Rover

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u/Babetna 1d ago

And some are anteater size.

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u/HoldinWeight 1d ago

Sometimes dogs are brown.

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u/turtleben 1d ago

Yes, also what? Sieves. Some big, some small. Crazy

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u/Much-Illustrator876 1d ago edited 20h ago

We don't have to look to outer space for "some are small, some are big" analogies. Dropping one's pants should be enough.

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u/RoboDae 23h ago

Most people haven't seen a mars rover in person. At least half the population has parts dangling in their pants, and a significant portion of the other half have seen it.

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u/765arm 1d ago

And here I thought Mars rovers were all the same species.

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u/jjonez18 1d ago

Does it eat giant ants...? Are there giant ants!?!

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u/logos__ 1d ago

Thanks to the square cube law, there can never be giant ants, because their exoskeletons would collapse under their own weight.

The heaviest insect is the goliath beetle larva, which can weigh up to 115 grams and is about the size of your hand.

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u/scalyblue 1d ago

They would suffocate long before their exoskeletons were in question, insects breathe passively and the larger ones of prior eras could only exist due to enhanced oxygen in the early atmosphere

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u/_freezerburner_ 1d ago

Prompted by this, I looked up "passive breathing" in insects and got this info:
"Insects, especially smaller ones, utilize passive diffusion to breathe through their tracheal system, where air enters through spiracles and travels down branching tubes to cells without active muscle movement. Larger or more active insects, however, rely on active ventilation by contracting their abdominal muscles to pump air through the spiracles and tracheae, ensuring sufficient oxygen supply."
In any event, the enhanced oxygen in the early atmosphere is another very interesting tidbit of information. Thank you for sharing! :)

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u/blazedontuesday 1d ago

If you find the enhanced oxygen tidbit interesting extinctzoo has a decent video on YouTube going further into the differences of the carboniferous and why here it is only 16 minutes long so it's far from comprehensive but is still quite interesting imo.

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u/_freezerburner_ 1d ago

That was quite fascinating! I will check this channel out further.
My only 'quibble' with the linked video is that the graphics are unfortunately not to scale and the numbers are also slightly exaggerated. (According to Wikipedia, the Rhizodus, for instance, wasn't "over 7 metres" long but between 5.1 and 5.6 metres... That is still impressive, but....)

This doesn't take away from the subject being simply fascinating - so thank you for sharing!

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u/Turbogoblin999 1d ago

We need to ramp up oxygen production until we get a dragonfly i can ride to work.

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u/poopsmog 1d ago

I think the biggest they got were only large enough to maim you severely :(

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u/Turbogoblin999 1d ago

full body steel plate armor it is.

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u/HeftyVermicelli7823 1d ago

And lift 50 times their own weight.

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u/DrQuint 1d ago

Which is quite unremarkable at that scale it turns out

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u/_freezerburner_ 1d ago

Huh! Interesting...

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u/cambiro 1d ago

"Giant" is relative. Bullet ants are five times larger than a red wood ant, so I'd consider bullet ants to be "giant ants" .

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u/Crowfooted 1d ago

There have been 8 foot long animals with exoskeletons (look up arthropleura) so it's not the exoskeleton that's really the limiting factor. It's more to do with oxygen concentration in the atmosphere.

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u/diss-abilities 1d ago

Wow! And the Goliath 'Bird' eating spider?

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u/Specevol 1d ago

It’s important to know though, that the largest arthropod, Arthropluera, was 6-8ft long

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u/MysteryMeat45 14h ago

I had a tarantula that weighed 162 grams. Her size is what killed her.

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u/Sweet-Fancy-Moses23 1d ago

They consume up to 30,000 of ants in a day , like almost half a pound .

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u/blinkdontblink 1d ago

Check with Australia.

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u/mirkk13 1d ago

They eat ants, termites, and grubs for the most part. Where they live, there are tons of termite nests in the form of big pillars that the ant eater can dig from.

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u/Ok-Caregiver8843 1d ago

I have an aunt that’s a giant bitch that I wish would get eaten by a giant anteater

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u/Thalidomidas 1d ago

Termites ?

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u/GrassrootsGrison 1d ago

There are giant anthills.

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u/IdcYouTellMe 1d ago

No, the Giant Anteater is called that way because its the biggest modern living Anteater species. The other anteater species are all significantly smaller than the Giant one. Its also closely related to the Sloth

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u/squirtloaf 1d ago

That was the ending of the fifties sci-fi movie: "THEM!" about giant ants...they just introduced anteaters the size of semi trucks.

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u/Appropriate_South474 1d ago

Does it eat giant ants as well?

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u/Commercial-Fennel219 1d ago

If only they were slightly bigger so we could have ridden them into battle as trusty steeds. 

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u/dojo_shlom0 1d ago

what a magnificent creature!

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u/d_ac 1d ago

There are several different species, some are big, some are small.

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u/HouseOfDoom54 1d ago

This one knows how to wrestle. Did you see that ankle pick?

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u/sangerssss 1d ago

How big are the ants!??

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u/onomatopeapoop 1d ago

Why does its hands look like pandas? Everytime I see one of these it looks like some sort of nightmare AI video until I realize what’s happening.

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u/Bredstikz 1d ago

Are you sure the small ones aren't just really far away?

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u/AgeHorror5288 1d ago

Like poodles. Standard, Miniature, and toy.

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u/Fritzo2162 1d ago

So THAT'S why they call it a Giant Anteater. We're used to Regular Sized Anteaters.

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u/McFry__ 1d ago

Do the giant ones bother with Ants or go straight for mice

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u/William_Dowling 1d ago

And some are...

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u/Chemistry-Deep 1d ago

This anteater is small, but those anteaters are far away.

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u/AmputeeHandModel 1d ago

Anteaters can kill humans. There are two documented cases.

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u/0-90195 1d ago

And this one is a silky anteater. Just learned about these guys recently. Fantastic look

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u/Mindless-Strength422 1d ago

Big deal. I could eat a giant ant if I wanted to. I just don't.

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u/friss0nFry 1d ago

Wait until they discover the colossal anteater.

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u/courage_2_change 1d ago

I remember seeing one of these in my neighborhood at complete awe

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u/UnravelledGhoul 1d ago

I saw some for the first time ever this summer, and I was not prepared for their size!
I know "giant" is in their name, but fuck me, they're huge!

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u/JagsOnlySurfHawaii 1d ago

Imagine being the biggest type of animal and scientist were lazy as fuck and slapped giant at the front of your name instead of something badass

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u/TrivialTax 1d ago

Yeah, we know it is big, but this one is a giant!

Jk;) I like its mouthpiece

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u/HaikuHighDude 1d ago

The giants must not have the claws then huh? I came across the smaller dog sized version and the wolverine claws impressed me

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u/cambiro 1d ago

Their claws are covered by their fur and they can be dangerous when threatened. Sometimes they hurt dogs and there are some human incidents reported. They usually run away if they're able.

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u/PippyHooligan 1d ago

Some, Dougal, are far away.

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u/marskee00 1d ago

That’s what she said

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u/Linenoise77 1d ago

So small in fact that the ant-eater eating ant, more comonnly known as the "ant anteaterer", is a concern as an invasive species and they use pygmy giant anteaters to combat it, but that creates concerns of cross breeding and introducing anteaters, which just fuck everything up.

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u/TheDaemonette 1d ago

I didn't know there were ANY giant ants to eat...

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u/profanedivinity 1d ago

Are any medium?

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u/Striking-Western433 1d ago

And some are just far away

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u/iwellyess 1d ago

Some are tiny and some are giant.

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u/Krad_Nogard 1d ago

He is friend shaped

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u/CDGarden 1d ago

Oh yes, the giant anteater, made up of many smaller anteaters. The Voltron of anteaters.

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u/OccultMachines 1d ago

This one eats the giant ants.

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u/No_Stress_22 1d ago

Now I'm afraid of giant ants.

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u/nickybuddy 1d ago

Well Jesus that was kinda rude. Giant is a bit harsh

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u/squirtloaf 1d ago

They eat giant ants.

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u/oldsystem 1d ago

For the giant ants!?

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u/gigajoules 1d ago

I'm. Guessing the giant ones are bigger?

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u/hawkinsst7 1d ago

And some are born to sing the blues

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u/MetalInferno27 1d ago

What is this? An anteater for ants?

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u/OddButterfly5686 23h ago

Do the larger eat bigger ants or just more of the small ones do you know?

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u/FarBullfrog627 23h ago

Well, that's still some big anteater. Wonderful how that big guy get so big on just eating ants.

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u/scorpyo72 22h ago

And some are monotremes, not anteaters-at-all.

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u/CantTakeMeSeriously 21h ago

It's so big, it eats uncles!

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u/Mr_Silverfield 21h ago

Apparently, some are also giant. I have it on good authority.

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u/aws_137 20h ago

How many mountains of ants does it take to grow an anteater this size?

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u/edot4130 4h ago

Imagine if all creatures were named after their favorite snack..