Found from Venezuela and Brazil down to northern Argentina, it lives in forests, savannas, and grasslands, where it spends much of its time hunting for ants and termites. At first glance, the Southern tamandua looks like an animal stitched together from spare parts—it has a small, elongated head with no teeth, a long sticky tongue that can stretch over 40 cm (16 in), a stout body covered in short fur (often marked with a distinctive black “vest” pattern), and a long, prehensile tail used for climbing. With its powerful claws and unusual body plan, it is perfectly designed for its specialized insect-eating lifestyle.
Its arboreal skills make the Southern tamandua distinct from its giant anteater cousin. While giant anteaters are strictly ground-dwellers, Southern tamanduas are excellent climbers. Their strong forelimbs and tail allow them to clamber up trees, where they tear into termite nests and ant colonies hidden in trunks and branches. They are often described as “half-terrestrial, half-arboreal” anteaters, switching between foraging on the ground and in the treetops. Though excellent for ripping apart insect mounds, their claws make them clumsy walkers on flat ground, so they often shuffle about on the sides of their feet to avoid stabbing themselves.
Southern tamanduas can eat up to 9,000 ants and termites daily, using their long, sticky tongue to probe deep into nests. Because they lack teeth, they rely entirely on their tongue and stomach to grind up food. Their fur is surprisingly strong and tough, protecting them from ant bites and stings while they raid colonies. They also have a powerful musk gland, which produces a strong smell that can rival a skunk’s, making predators think twice before bothering them. And unlike many mammals, tamanduas don’t have great eyesight, but their sense of smell is so sharp that it helps them locate insect nests hidden deep within trees or underground.
Distribution
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia 
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago
Uruguay
VenezuelaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
