# Southern Tamandua (*tamandua tetradactyla*) The Southern Tamandua is a fascinating animal known for its long snout and strong claws. These clever creatures love to climb trees and are great at finding tasty ants and termites. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** They live in tropical forests, grasslands, and savannas across Central and South America. - **Also known as:** four-fingered anteater, tree anteater ![Southern Tamandua](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/T_tetradactyla_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sinara Conessa, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T_tetradactyla_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Tamandua has a distinctive appearance with a pale yellow or tan body marked by a broad black "vest" pattern across its shoulders and flanks. It features a long, pointed snout, small eyes, and powerful front claws. This creates a striking contrast that makes it easily recognizable. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Myrmecophagidae - **Genus:** Tamandua ## Interesting facts - Despite poor eyesight, they navigate and find food almost entirely by smell! - Tamanduas communicate with hisses, snorts, and can even let out a surprising roar! - These unique mammals have very few teeth, or sometimes none at all, for their insect diet! - They can stand on their hind legs to appear larger and intimidate potential predators! ## Special abilities - **Tree Acrobat:** Southern Tamandua can climb trees using its strong claws and prehensile tail, which helps them escape predators and find food. - **Mighty Digger:** Southern Tamandua has incredibly strong claws that allow them to tear open tough termite mounds and ant nests. - **Sticky Snatcher:** Southern Tamandua can collect insects with their long, sticky tongue because it helps them access hidden prey. - **Insect Detector:** Southern Tamandua has an excellent sense of smell that helps them locate hidden ant and termite nests. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 71-147 cm - **Weight:** 2-7 kg - **Lifespan:** 9-16 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 130-150 days ## Diet & Feeding Southern Tamanduas mainly eat ants and termites, using their long, sticky tongues to slurp them up. - **Primary Foods:** ants, termites, bees, wasps, beetle larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — A powerful predator of tamanduas in the rainforest. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — These big cats prey on tamanduas in various habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Harpy Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harpy-eagle) (*Harpia harpyja*) — Large raptors sometimes catch tamanduas from the trees. - **Eats:** Leaf-cutter Ant (*Atta cephalotes*) — Tamanduas frequently raid nests of various ant species. - **Eats:** Conehead Termite (*Nasutitermes corniger*) — Tamanduas break into their nests for a nutritious meal. ## 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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern 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 Southern Tamandua? 71-147 cm ### How much does Southern Tamandua weigh? 2-7 kg ### How long does Southern Tamandua live? 9-16 years ### How fast can Southern Tamandua move? 15 km/h ### What does Southern Tamandua eat? Southern Tamanduas mainly eat ants and termites, using their long, sticky tongues to slurp them up. ### Where is Southern Tamandua usually found? They live in tropical forests, grasslands, and savannas across Central and South America. ### How does Southern Tamandua hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Serra da Tiririca State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/serra-da-tiririca-state-park) — BR · Park ## 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: [Southern Tamandua: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-tamandua)