Tamandua

Tamandua is a genus of anteaters with two species: the southern tamandua and the northern tamandua. They live in forests and grasslands, are semiarboreal, and possess partially prehensile tails. They mainly eat ants and termites, but they occasionally eat bees, beetles, and insect larvae. Common predators include harpy eagles, hawk eagles, and the spectacled owl. When threatened, a tamandua may hiss and release a foul odor. As a last resort, they will back up against a tree trunk, rear up on their hind legs, using their tail as a tripod, and slash at attackers with their long, sharp claws. Habitat. Tamandua tetradactyla inhabits various wet and dry forests, including tropical rainforest, savanna, and thorn scrub. It seems to be most common in habitats near streams and rivers, especially those thick with vines and epiphytes (presumably because its prey is common in these areas).

Family: Myrmecophagidae

Class: Mammalia

Genus: Tamandua; Rafinesque 1815

Order: Pilosa

Phylum: Chordata

Kingdom: Animalia