New research tracing the evolutionary history of animals that subsist on ants and termites has revealed that creatures with such unique appetites have evolved at least a dozen times, offering researchers a glimpse into the influence social insects have had on the adaptation of mammals. The field of myrmecophagy, which deals with animals that consume ants and termites, has now been revealed to be a significant driver of evolutionary adaptations across a wide array of mammalian species. These adaptations, which include hallmarks such as elongated tongues and fewer teeth in ant-eating mammals, emerged in response to the unique challenges associated...