# Northern Tamandua (*Tamandua mexicana*) The Northern Tamandua is a cute, tree-climbing animal that loves to eat ants and termites. With its long snout and strong claws, it can dig into nests to find tasty treats! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Northern Anteater ![Northern Tamandua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/DirkvdM_tamandua.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DirkvdM_tamandua.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Tamandua has a distinctive 'vest' pattern of black fur across its shoulders and back, contrasting sharply with its pale yellow or tan body. It possesses a long, pointed snout and small, rounded ears. Its largely hairless, prehensile tail helps it stand out from ground-dwelling anteaters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Myrmecophagidae - **Genus:** Tamandua ## Interesting facts - Its black 'vest' pattern can look like a hole in a tree, helping it hide! - Northern Tamanduas don't have any teeth, using their strong stomach to grind food! - These animals can spray a stinky, musky liquid that smells worse than a skunk! - They protect their long claws by walking on the sides of their front feet! ## Special abilities - **Prehensile Gripper:** Northern Tamandua has a powerful, naked prehensile tail that helps them grip branches while climbing and feeding. - **Armor Piercer:** Northern Tamandua can use its long, sharp claws to tear open tough insect nests and defend itself from predators. - **Smell Detective:** Northern Tamandua has an excellent sense of smell that helps them sniff out hidden ants and termites in trees and logs. - **Sticky Trap Tongue:** Northern Tamandua has a long, sticky tongue that helps them quickly lap up thousands of ants and termites. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 35-55 cm - **Weight:** 3.5-8.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 9-10 years - **Speed:** 10 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 130-190 days ## Diet & Feeding This amazing insectivore loves to feast on ants and termites found in forests. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Termites, Beetle Larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — Major predator of tamanduas. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — Also preys on tamanduas. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Large raptor that can prey on arboreal tamanduas. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Tamanduas are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. Never try to touch or feed them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Tamandua? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Tamandua? 35-55 cm ### How much does Northern Tamandua weigh? 3.5-8.5 kg ### How long does Northern Tamandua live? 9-10 years ### How fast can Northern Tamandua move? 10 km/h ### What does Northern Tamandua eat? This amazing insectivore loves to feast on ants and termites found in forests. ### Where is Northern Tamandua usually found? Forests ### How does Northern Tamandua hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern Tamandua: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-tamandua)