A new study published in the journal Evolution has revealed that mammals have independently evolved to eat ants and termites exclusively 12 times over the past 66 million years. Researchers analyzed dietary data for nearly every living mammal species, tracing their diets back to the last mass extinction event.
The study found that over 200 mammal species feed on ants and termites, but only around 20 true myrmecophages have evolved specialized traits such as long sticky tongues and stomachs adapted for eating large quantities of insects. These mammals, including pangolins, giant anteaters, and aardvarks, have unique adaptations that allow them to consume thousands of ants or termites every day.
The researchers identified 12 independent origins of exclusively feeding on ants and termites across different mammal lineages, with some families within the main mammal groups lacking myrmecophages altogether. However, the study suggests that some lineages may be more predisposed to eating this diet due to certain physiological features or dentition.
The findings highlight the convergent evolution of mammals to eat ants and termites over time, particularly after the K-Pg mass extinction event when ecosystems were reshaped by the rapid expansion of ant and termite colonies. The study’s authors believe that myrmecophagous mammals may have an advantage in a changing climate, as social insects such as fire ants continue to thrive.
The research team compiled dietary data from nearly 100 years of Natural History records, conservation reports, and taxonomic descriptions to reconstruct the diets of these mammals, uncovering the evolutionary history of this unique diet. The study’s results provide new insights into the evolution of myrmecophagy and its impact on mammalian ecology and evolution.
Source: https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/science/new-study-reveals-that-mammals-have-evolved-into-ant-eaters-12-times.html