Description

 Tapered head with a long, tubular mouth with an opening only as wide as the diameter of a pencil, from which the tongue is protruded; tan body with black vest-like markings from shoulder to rump; four clawed digits on the forefeet and five on the hind feet; underside and end of prehensile tail are hairless. They may communicate when aggravated by hissing and releasing an unpleasant scent from the anal gland.

Habitat

Wet and dry forests, including tropical rainforest, and savanna.

Defense
uses its powerful forearms in self-defense. If it is threatened in a tree it grasps a branch with its hind feet and tail, leaving its arms and long, curved claws free for combat. If attacked on the ground, this anteater backs up against a rock or a tree and grabs the opponent with its forearms.

Range
South America from Venezuela and Trinidad to northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay


Fun Facts!

- The Tamandua has great hearing but poor vision.
- Tamanduas are sometimes used by Amazonian Indians to rid their houses of ants and termites!
-Tamanduas do not have teeth
- They are primarily arboreal 
-They can live about 19 years