Northern Tamandua
Tamandua mexicana
Lifespan: 7-10 years
Reproduction: Capable of reproducing at 2 years of age. Has 1 baby at a time
Size: 3–6 kg
Diet: terrestrial and arboreal ants and termites
Common Names
English – Northern tamandua
Spanish- Tamandúa, Brazo fuerte, Oso de Colmena, Oso Hormiguero, Oso Melero, Oso Mielero
Portuguese – Tamanduá do Norte
How to Identify:
Similar Species: Tamandua mexicana Tamandua tetradactyla Tamandua mexicana has a large dark patch across the back, like a vest worn backward. Tamandua tetradactyla can be uniformly golden, brown or black, to partially or completely black vested Tamandua mexicana is slightly smaller than Tamandua tetradactyla Tamandua mexicana has 40–42 tail bones T. mexicana is found west of the Andes and Central America, and T. tetradactyla is found east of the Andes
IUCN Red List
Species are classified into one of nine Red List Categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient and Not Evaluated. Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered species are considered to be threatened with extinction.
Northern tamandua Facts
• Toothless
• Prehensile tail
• Visits 50–80 ant or termite nests a day and eats around 9000 insects per day
• The tongue can measure up to 40 cm.
• They sometimes eat the pulp of fruit
• They walk on the sides of their hands, with the toes inward and put their weight on thickened tissue of the pad.
• Babies stay with their mom for about 1 year
• Predators include jaguar and harpy eagle
• When attacked, they defend themselves by standing on their hind legs and attacking with their powerful claws
• Tamandua fossils are present in the Pleistocene in South America and Holocene in Central America. Check out our video on Sloths, anteaters and armadillos: the past, present and future of xenarthrans to learn more.
• Tamandua coprolites (fossilized poop!) have been found in Brazil
Habitat
- Agricultural croplands like coffee fields
- Evergreen forests
- Mangroves
- Savannah with some trees
- Tropical forests
Population Trend
Population Trend• Decreasing
Threats
Threats- Accidents on roads
- Domestic dogs
- Habitat loss and deforestation
- Hunting (food and trophy)
- Use as pet species
- Wildfires
Here are some ways YOU can help keep anteaters healthy and safe:
– It is best to observe them from a distance and in silence.
– Our pets could attack them. It is important to keep your dog on a leash when you go for a walk, or keep your pets at home in an enclosed and safe area. In addition, taking care of our pets also means spaying and neutering them so that they do not breed without control.
– Anteaters love to live in the woods, keeping them as pets is not good for them. Keep in mind that they don’t like selfies either.
– If you find an injured anteater, contact a wildlife hospital so they can help it.
– If more people ate more bugs, there would be less demand for pigs and cows. Edible insects are better for the environment than large livestock.
Test your new knowledge!
Test your new anteater expertise by visiting our anteater word search, puzzles, coloring sheets and name games!
Check out this video to see how much you have learned!
The Anteater, Sloth, Armadillo Specialist Group has a store that directly helps xenarthran conservation!
