WEST BRIGHTON — A baby anteater is vying to be the most lovable creature wooing visitors at Staten Island Zoo.
MJ, a male southern tamandua — a type of anteater — was born on Jan. 12, the zoo announced on its Facebook page this week.
The long-tongued baby was born to mom DJ and father MJ, the zoo said.
His parents have been off display as they care for their newborn, the zoo said.
Tamandua's are found mainly in south and central America's rainforests. They're a solitary animal, mainly active at night, and have a long tails that can grow to up to 20 inches and help them live in trees, according to the University of Michigan.
They feed on a diet of ants and termites and use their long, sticky tongues to catch the insects.
Their snout only opens as wide as the diameter of a pencil, and their tongue can extend to up to 16 inches, according to the University of Michigan.
