Tamandua

Tamanduas bridge the gap between giant anteaters and tiny silky anteaters. They weigh 4 to 7 kilograms and sport bold vest-like patterns of black fur on yellow coats. A muscular tail, bare on the underside, acts as a fifth limb that anchors them to branches while they climb. Front paws carry sharp claws kept folded inward like fists when walking to protect tree bark.

Tamanduas feed on ants and termites found in tree cavities and rotting logs. They tear open nests with powerful forearms and lap up insects with tongues coated in sticky saliva. With no teeth, they rely on keratinized stomach walls to grind prey. A single tamandua can visit dozens of nests per night, using scent marks to avoid over-harvesting any one colony. Their sense of smell is so strong that they locate hidden tunnels under thick bark.

Mostly solitary, tamanduas are active from dusk till dawn. During the day they sleep in hollow trees or dens abandoned by armadillos. Females give birth to a single pup each year, timing births with the rainy season when ants are plentiful. Pups ride on their mother’s back for several months, curling tails together for balance. When threatened by ocelots or harpy eagles, tamanduas stand upright on their hind legs, brace themselves with their tail, and swing their claws like swords—a surprisingly effective defense.

Deforestation and forest fires reduce the hollow trees tamanduas need for resting and nesting. Road construction forces them to cross ground more often, where vehicle collisions occur. Conservation organizations protect gallery forests along rivers, promote agroforestry systems that maintain tree cover, and rescue tamanduas displaced by logging. Education campaigns discourage keeping them as exotic pets, ensuring these quiet insect specialists continue patrolling both forest floors and mid-level canopies.