While anteaters and aardvarks share some physical characteristics and even feed on the same things, they are not the same animal. They live on separate continents, have different habits and behaviors, and grow different kinds of teeth. Source :Check out
They do have something in common, though: They both have long faces and mouths. Their mouths help them capture their favorite foods of ants and termites. They also both use their tongues to dig into ant and termite mounds and eat them. This is an example of convergent evolution, where two unrelated species develop similar characteristics as they adapt to their diets.
Insectivore Chronicles: The Aardvark vs. Anteater Battle
Aardvarks are stocky mammals covered in coarse, yellowish-brown fur. Their elongated snouts allow them to access anthills and termite mounds in the African savannas and grasslands. Their specialized tongues enable them to lap up the tiny insects that are their favorite food.
The anteater, on the other hand, has a long, sticky tongue that helps them access deep crevices and indulge in their favorite food of ants and termites. Their elongated front limbs with strong claws provide them with the mobility they need to get to their favorite foods, especially in dense vegetation.
Both animals are also good diggers and able to burrow underground to sleep during the hot African daytime. Aardvarks are nocturnal, while anteaters can be solitary or gregarious and may be active during the day or at night. They both produce one cub at a time, but they belong to different families and genera.