Home › Mammalia › Myrmecophagidae › Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)
SPECIES PROFILE
Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)
Tamandua
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
South America east of the Andes
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Forest and savanna
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Pilosa
FAMILY
Myrmecophagidae
GENUS
Tamandua
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 60 cm + 55 cm tail; 3.5-8 kg
COLORATION
Blond with a black 'vest' over the shoulders and back
ADAPTATIONS
Prehensile tail and powerful claws for opening nests
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Forest and savanna
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
South America east of the Andes
REPRODUCTION
Single young carried on the back
DIET DETAILS
Ants and termites
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Roadkill, habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
A tree-climbing anteater that rears up and slashes with its claws when threatened.
2
It avoids ants that bite back, feeding for only a minute at each nest.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Pantanal
Emas National Park
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Scan tree trunks and the ground at dawn and dusk; look for a pale body with a dark 'vest'.
