Mammals · Pilosa · Myrmecophagidae

Southern Tamandua

Tamandua tetradactyla

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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

Lifespan

9 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaRainforestGrasslandInsectivore Nocturnal Variable activity Solitary Savanna Rainforest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

When it feels threatened it rears up on its hind legs and tail, spreads its arms and waits motionless with its claws ready, a very characteristic defensive posture.
It is selective about its prey: it deliberately avoids the most aggressive ants, such as army ants, and prefers species with a less painful bite.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rainforest, dry forest, cerrado and gallery forest of South America
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 5.3 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamandua_tetradactyla