# Tamanduas (*Tamandua*) Tamanduas are fascinating animals that look like a mix between an anteater and a sloth! They have long tongues to eat ants and termites and love to climb trees in the rainforest. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Lesser Anteater ![Tamanduas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg&width=800) Photo: J G Keulemans, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg) ## Appearance The Tamanduas have a distinctive coat that varies from golden-brown to tan, often with a bold black "vest" pattern over their shoulders and back. They possess a long, tapered snout and small eyes, with strong, curved claws on their front feet. Their prehensile tail is hairless on the underside. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Pilosa - **Family:** Myrmecophagidae - **Genus:** Tamandua ## Interesting facts - A tamandua's body temperature is one of the lowest among mammals! - Baby tamanduas often ride on their mother's back until they are too big! - Their powerful forelegs can even tear into tough termite mounds with ease! - They walk on the sides of their front feet to protect their long, sharp claws! ## Special abilities - **Tree Master:** Tamanduas can climb trees and hang from branches using their strong claws and prehensile tail, which helps them forage safely. - **Sticky Snatcher:** Tamanduas has a super long (up to 40cm!), sticky tongue that helps them reach deep inside nests to eat insects. - **Bug Sniffer:** Tamanduas can sniff out insect nests from far away using their excellent sense of smell, helping them find their next meal. - **Stinky Shield:** Tamanduas can release a strong, unpleasant smell when threatened, which helps them deter predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 70-160 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-8.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 9-16 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 130-190 days ## Diet & Feeding These furry foragers love to slurp up ants and termites with their long, sticky tongues! - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Termites, Bee larvae, Beetle larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Jaguar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jaguar) (*Panthera onca*) — Large cats are a major predator of tamanduas. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — Tamanduas are prey for pumas when on the ground. - **Eaten by:** Boa constrictor (*Boa constrictor*) — Snakes like boas can prey on smaller tamanduas. - **Eats:** Leaf-cutter Ant (*Atta cephalotes*) — Tamanduas regularly consume leaf-cutter ants. - **Eats:** Conehead Termite (*Nasutitermes corniger*) — These termites are a frequent meal for 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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Tamanduas are wild animals, so it's best to watch them from a distance and not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tamanduas? 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 Tamanduas? 70-160 cm ### How much does Tamanduas weigh? 1.5-8.5 kg ### How long does Tamanduas live? 9-16 years ### How fast can Tamanduas move? 15 km/h ### What does Tamanduas eat? These furry foragers love to slurp up ants and termites with their long, sticky tongues! ### Where is Tamanduas usually found? Forests ### How does Tamanduas 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: [Tamanduas: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tamanduas)