Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

MammalAnteaterAmericas

Overview

Tamanduas (genus Tamandua) are medium-sized anteaters of Central and South America, often called “lesser anteaters” to distinguish them from the much larger giant anteater. The southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), shown here, has a long snout, a tubular toothless mouth, powerful clawed forelimbs, and a strong prehensile tail. Many tamanduas wear a distinctive dark “vest” of fur over the shoulders and back.

Unlike the ground-dwelling giant anteater, tamanduas are at home in the trees as well as on the ground, climbing skilfully to find food.

Note: there are two tamandua species; details here use the southern tamandua as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Tamanduas live across a wide range of habitats in Central and South America — rainforest, dry forest, savanna, mangroves, and gallery forest — wherever ants and termites are plentiful. The southern tamandua is widespread east of the Andes, using both the trees and the ground and sheltering in hollow trees or burrows.

Diet

Tamanduas are insectivores specialising in ants and termites. They tear open nests with strong claws and lap up the insects with a very long, sticky tongue, often avoiding the most heavily defended or chemically protected species and moving on before a colony's soldiers overwhelm them. They also take some bees and honey. Having no teeth, they rely on a muscular stomach to grind their food.

Behavior

Tamanduas are mostly solitary and active by day or night depending on the area. The prehensile tail and curved claws make them able climbers, and they forage both in the canopy and on the ground. When threatened, a tamandua may rear up on its hind legs and tail and slash with its powerful front claws — a real deterrent to predators. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell for locating insect nests.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Tamanduas are generally widespread and help control ants and termites, but they can be affected by habitat loss, road deaths, and hunting in places, and are sometimes kept (inappropriately) as exotic pets. They are shy, specialised animals best left in the wild. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the tamandua