About Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758)
The southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) is a medium-sized anteater, with considerable size variation tied to environmental conditions. Its head and body length ranges from 34 to 88 cm (13 to 35 in), and it has a prehensile tail 37 to 67 cm (15 to 26 in) long. Adult southern tamanduas weigh 1.5 to 8.4 kg (3.3 to 18.5 lb), and males and females show no significant size difference. Like its close relative the northern tamandua, the southern tamandua has four clawed digits on its forefeet and five on its hind feet, and walks on the outer surfaces of its forefeet to avoid puncturing its palms with its sharp claws. The underside and tip of the tail are hairless, an adaptation that helps the species climb and hold onto branches. It has a long, downcurved snout with an opening only as wide as the diameter of a stick, through which its tongue is extended. While some skull shape differences between southern and northern tamanduas exist, the easiest way to distinguish southern tamanduas is by their slightly longer average ear length: about 5 cm (2.0 in), compared to 4 cm (1.6 in) for northern tamanduas. Individual and geographic variation in southern tamanduas has made taxonomic classification of the species difficult. Individuals from the southeastern portion of the species' range are strongly vested, with black markings extending from the shoulder to the rump; the black patch widens near the shoulders and encircles the forelimbs, while the rest of the body is blonde, tan, or brown. Individuals from northern Brazil and Venezuela west of the Andes are solid blonde, brown, or black, or only lightly vested. Almost all individuals from Trinidad are solid blonde. Southern tamanduas are found in Trinidad, and across South America from Venezuela to northern Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay, at elevations up to 1,600 m (5,200 ft). They inhabit both wet and dry environments, including tropical rainforest, savanna, and thorn scrub. They are most common in habitats near streams and rivers, particularly those with dense vines and epiphytes, where their prey is believed to be abundant. The oldest fossil tamanduas date to the Pleistocene of South America, though genetic evidence indicates the southern tamandua diverged from its closest relative, the giant anteater, in the late Miocene, 12.9 million years ago. Female southern tamanduas are polyestrous, and mating generally occurs in the fall. The estrous cycle lasts approximately 42 days, and gestation ranges from 130 to 190 days. Females give birth to one offspring per year. Newborn southern tamanduas do not resemble adult individuals, and their coat color ranges from white to black. Young anteaters ride on the mother's back for several months to up to a year, and the mother sometimes leaves her offspring on a safe branch while she forages.
