Plate 038 · feeding at a tree termite nest IdentificationFive marks on the plate
- 1Black vest over the back and sides, on a golden coat.
- 2Long tubular snout with a tiny mouth and long tongue.
- 3Huge claws on the hands, to rip open nests.
- 4Prehensile tail with a bare tip and dark blotches.
- 5Medium ears upright and rounded.
Easily confused with Giant AnteaterMyrmecophaga tridactylaMuch larger, with a very bushy tail and a diagonal black stripe. It lives on the ground and does not climb. 038 / 100 · MAMMALS · MYRMECOPHAGIDAELEAST CONCERN Southern Tamandua
Tamandua tetradactyla
Oso melero · Collared anteater
A tree-climbing anteater with a black vest and a gripping tail. In Tucumán it is scarce and found mostly in the south and east, in lowland forest and scrub, for example near the Escaba dam. It breaks into termite nests with its claws and laps up the insects with a long, sticky tongue.
- Length
- c. 100 – 140 cm with tail
- Weight
- 3.5 – 8 kg
- Altitude
- 400 – c. 1,000 m
- Young
- 1, rides on the back
- Ant and termite eater
- Prehensile tail
- Climber
- Scarce in Tucumán
Altitude rangeLowlands only
In Tucumán The few records from Tucumán are from foothill forest and scrub, below about 1,000 m. It does not climb into the cold montane forest.
FoodSocial insects
- Antstree and ground nests · staple
- Termitestree termite nests
- Bees and honeyhence its name
It finds nests by smell. It eats a little from each one and moves on, so it does not wipe out the colony.
BehaviourBetween ground and branches
- Climber. Uses its tail as an extra arm to hold on to branches.
- Claw defence. When threatened it stands on its hind legs and spreads its long-clawed arms.
- Baby on board. The female has a single young at a time and carries it on her back.
Where to look in Tucumán- Dique Escaba
- Reserva Santa Ana