|
 |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
Tamandua, collared anteater - TAMANDUA TETRADACTYLA
Possibly Endangered
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Tamandua": "Tamandua" is a Tupi word for "ant catcher."
Location: South America.
Habitat: Terrestrial and arboreal. Savannas, the edge of woodlands, and even cultivated land.
Description: The tamandua's nose is elongated (although much less so than the giant anteater's) and its eyes and mouth are small. The coat is bristly and brownish yellow in color, with black, red, and brown markings. The tail is partly prehensile and covered with hair for a third of its length. The end of the tail is completely hairless and covered with scales. The legs are strongly built and
the front feet have four toes (hence its species name "tetradactyla" meaning "four toes." The third toe is the largest and strongest, with a very long claw. The hind feet have five toes. The tamandua is about two feet long, with another two feet added on for its tail. It weighs between 10 and 15 lbs.
Behavior: The tamandua feeds on ants and termites which it catches with its long, sticky tongue. Unlike the giant anteater, however, it can climb nimbly up trees in search of its prey. A distinctive feature is the unpleasant smell it emits when in danger. It also assumes a strange posture to scare away its enemies: standing upright on its hind legs with its front legs spread wide in front of it.
Reproduction: In spring the female gives birth to a single offspring, and for a long period carries it clinging to her back or flanks.
Go to the Xenarthra Page to get a general discussion of this order of animals.
Go to the Giant Anteater to study the other true anteater included in America Zoo.
From Address Labels to Zoo Toys... All Creatures Great and Small You'll Find It at the America Zoo Gift Shop Realistic Stuffed Animals & Animal Figurines Wildlife Decor for Your Home Animal Books, Magazines, and Educational Materials A Wide Variety of Wildlife Gifts & Apparel and Much, Much More  ↓ For Your Favorite Little Animal Lover ↓
Home Animal Research Library About AmericaZoo
|
