In the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland located in South America, the jaguar reigns supreme at the top of the food chain. These big cats’ favorite prey includes caimans (crocodile relatives) and capybaras (the world’s largest rodents), so a jaguar should be able to take down an anteater, right? Footage of a giant anteater defending itself against a jaguar suggests it’s more of a fight than you might think.
Videos by Outdoors
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Journalist Suian Oliveira recently shared footage of a jaguar and a giant anteater facing off, and it’s quite interesting to see how the anteater defends itself against this apex predator. The anteater lunges at the jag, evades the jag’s swipes, and uses its sharp front claws (usually reserved for digging) to warn the cat that it won’t go down without a fight.
Watch an anteater fight off a jaguar below (or see it here).
Header stock image by Leandro Rezende/Getty Images
