Tamandua
Tamandua tetradactyla
Where is it found?
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Rainforests, thorn scrub and savannah.
Diet and foraging method
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They use their strong forelimbs to break open the preys nest, and use their elongated snout and tongue to lick up the insects.
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Key adaptations
They have four sharp claws on each of their forelimbs that they use for defence and predation. Tamandua also have a prehensile tail used when climbing trees. When threatened, Tamandua rear up using their tail as an extra leg making a tripod structure, and deliver slashing blows using its forelimbs and claws.
Social organisation
Solitary
Did you know that...?
To avoid puncturing their palms with their sharp claws on their forelimbs, they have adapted to walk on their palms, distorting their walk and making them unable to gallop.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Southern Tamandua" by http://www.birdphotos.com - http://www.birdphotos.com. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_Tamandua.jpg#/media/File:Southern_Tamandua.jpg
"TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans" by J G Keulemans - Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871 (web). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg#/media/File:TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg
"Tamandua (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tamandua_(Myrmecophaga_tridactyla).png#/media/File:Tamandua_(Myrmecophaga_tridactyla).png
"Southern Tamandua" by http://www.birdphotos.com - http://www.birdphotos.com. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Southern_Tamandua.jpg#/media/File:Southern_Tamandua.jpg
"TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans" by J G Keulemans - Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1871 (web). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg#/media/File:TamanduaTetradactylaKeulemans.jpg
"Tamandua (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tamandua_(Myrmecophaga_tridactyla).png#/media/File:Tamandua_(Myrmecophaga_tridactyla).png