Southern Tamandua

## Description

The Southern tamandua is a unique anteater, which is equally arboreal and terrestrial. This animal is nicknamed 'lesser anteater' due to being smaller that the related giant anteater. The odd appearance of this anteater is highly beneficial for the animal, especially for populations in Central and South American forests and scrublands. Thus, when feeding at an anthill, the curly hair protects the tamandua from angry ants, trying to reach its skin. The forefeet of Southern tamandua have 4 toes, where the third toe has an extremely long claw, due to which tamandua has to walk on the outside edges of its forelegs in order not to stab its feet with its own claws.

## Distribution

This anteater is endemic to South America, occurring from Venezuela and Trinidad to northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay. The preferred habitats of the Southern tamandua are both wet and dry forests such as tropical rainforest, savanna, and thorn scrub. This animal is most often found in areas near streams and rivers, dominated by vines and epiphytes.

## Behavior

Despite of being normally nocturnal, Southern tamanduas are known to occasionally be active by day. They are believed to nest during the daytime hours. Their nesting sites are usually hollow trunks of trees or burrows, left by other animals. The Southern tamandua is a solitary animal, foraging in trees. According to a study, conducted in Venezuela, the Southern tamanduas, living in different habitat, spend 13 - 64% of their time in trees. Moreover, the greater part of their active time is spent foraging. When on the ground, this animal is extremely clumsy, slow, and unable to gallop, unlike the related giant anteater. The main mean of self-defense is the strong front legs. In addition, they can hiss or give off an unpleasant odor in order to turn away the opponent. When threatened in trees, the Southern tamanduas typically grasp a tree branch with their hind legs and tails so that the forelegs are free. They fight, using their long, curved claws. When threatened on the ground, they lean on a rock or a tree and use the same technique of self-defense, fighting back with their front legs.

## Diet

The Southern tamandua is an insectivore, the diet of this species mainly consists of ant and termites, supplemented with honey and bees. Individuals in captivity may consume fruit and meat. Meanwhile, these animals generally avoid feeding on army ants and leaf-eating ants, which are equipped with strong chemical defenses.

## Reproduction

Currently, there is insufficient information on reproductive and courtship habits of this species due to lack of studies. However, newborn babies are cared for only by their mother, suggesting that Southern tamanduas are either polygynous or polygynandrous (promiscuous). They mate during the autumn. Females usually breed more than once during each season. Gestation period lasts for 130 - 150 days, yielding a single baby, rarely - twins. During the first months after birth, the young anteater can often be observed carried on the back of its mother. During this period, the female may leave the young on a safe tree branch as she forages. The baby lives with its mother until 1 year old, after which it becomes sexually mature and is ready to leave. Females of this species are capable of producing offspring at 2 - 3 years old.

## Population

### Threats

Currently, there are no notable threats to the population of this species. However, Southern tamanduas suffer from pet trade. In addition, they are predated by domestic dogs. On the other hand, wildfires, road traffic as well as degradation and loss of their natural habitat can pose a threat to specific populations.

### Number

According to IUCN, the Southern tamandua is relatively common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

## Fun Facts

During the daytime hours, tamanduas in rainforest are usually surrounded by clouds of flied and mosquitoes, which are so abundant that these animals have to wipe the insects from their eyes.

This species is also known as the "stinker of the forest" due to the strong, smelly scent it gives off. This foul-smelling scent is about four times stronger than that of a skunk.

The stomach of this voracious animal can hold as much as one pound (0.45 kilograms) of ants.

The body temperature of this animal is one of the lowest among all terrestrial mammals - 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius).

Tamanduas are highly beneficial for people in the Amazon, who use them to clear their homes from insects such as ants and termites that are primary prey species of these animals. Moreover, many local Zoo and Safari Parks offer their visitors to purchase a tamandua for the above mentioned reason.

When threatened in a tree, this animal stands on its hind limbs and uses its tail to balance, spreading its arms, opening the claws and getting ready to fight back a predator.

Despite the poor vision and hearing, the Southern tamandua has a highly-developed sense of smell, allowing the animal to find food.

This anteater lacks teeth. However, it possesses a very long, cylindrical tongue of 40 cm, which helps the tamandua when feeding.