Southern Tamandua
(aka Lesser Anteater)
Tamandua tetradactyla

Southern tamanduas have a long, curved snout and long arms that end in sharp claws. Well designed to take advantage of the abundance of insects living in the rainforest, their thick, coarse fur helps keep angry ants from biting their skin.

What They Eat
Also known as lesser anteaters, tamanduas eat ants and other social insects like termites, grubs, bees, and their honey. After locating their prey by scent, they use their long curved claws to tear open insect nests, then use their long, sticky tongue to lick up prey.

Where They Live
Tamanduas can be found in a variety of tropical habitats, from rain forests to arid savannas. They are commonly found near rivers and streams. Clumsy on the ground, these animals spend most of their time in trees, using their long tails to grab branches while climbing.

What They Do
Sometimes called “the stinkers of the forest,” tamanduas give off a strong smell to mark their territory and scare away other animals. When defending themselves, they rear up and use their tail like a “third foot” for balance, slashing out at their enemies with long, sharp claws.

How They’re Doing
Southern tamanduas are common in the wild and not currently in danger.

Southern Tamandua

Tamanduas don’t have teeth. Instead, they have gizzards. A gizzard is a special stomach muscle that helps grind food.

To avoid puncturing its palms with those sharp claws, the tamandua walks on the outsides of its hands.

Baby tamanduas are carried on their mother’s back and are sometimes placed in a safe branch while she looks for food.

People in South America have been known to use tamanduas to get rid of ants and termites in their homes.

Southern Tamandua

Helpful hints for viewing the animals

At the Minnesota Zoo, watch the southern tamandua climb trees along the Tropics Trail, where it shares an exhibit with our Cotton-top tamarin.