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. Together with the sloths, they are within the order Pilosa.nteaters are specialized to feed on small insects. With each anteater species having its own insect preferences: small species are specialized on arboreal insects living on small branches, while large species can penetrate the hard covering of the nests of terrestrial insects.