One of the 3 tamanduas on WAnimals
Mammals · Pilosa · Myrmecophagidae
Southern Tamandua
Tamandua tetradactyla
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The southern tamandua is the medium-sized anteater of South America, with a prehensile tail bare along its final section and enormous front claws. It climbs with ease and looks for ant and termite nests both on the ground and in the trees. Its colour pattern varies greatly by region: in the south it usually carries a dark waistcoat-shaped marking on a pale ground, while in Amazonia there are entirely blond individuals. It is solitary and alternates between daytime and night-time activity.
Weight
3.5 kg – 8.4 kg
Size
53 cm – 88 cm
Life expectancy
9 years
