Collared Anteater, Southern Tamandua

The southern tamandua, also known as the collared anteater or lesser anteater, is a captivating creature native to South America. This solitary animal inhabits a range of environments, including forests and savannas, stretching from Venezuela to Argentina and Uruguay and can live at altitudes up to 1,600 meters.

There are four recognized subspecies of the southern tamandua, each residing in distinct regions across South America. These medium-sized anteaters exhibit variations in color and markings based on their geographical location. They possess unique features, such as a long snout, a prehensile tail, and robust foreclaws, which they use for foraging and self-defense.

Regarding reproduction, female southern tamanduas mate in the fall and have a gestation period lasting between 130 to 190 days. Typically, they give birth to one offspring per year. The young tamandua spends its first few months riding on its mother's back. These animals are primarily nocturnal and nest in hollow tree trunks or burrows. When threatened, they communicate by hissing and emitting a strong odor.

Their diet mainly consists of ants and termites, although they occasionally consume fruit. They use their powerful claws to break into insect nests and their long tongues to extract their prey.

Despite their remarkable adaptations, southern tamanduas face threats from hunting and habitat loss. They are hunted for their tendons, and their habitats are increasingly being destroyed. Consequently, they are considered uncommon and are listed in CITES Appendix II in southeastern Brazil, underscoring the need for their conservation.