Description

The tamandua is up to 3 feet long and weighs up to 17 pounds. Its thick, coarse fur is light yellow, tan, brown, or gray in color, and some individuals have a dark "vest" around the neck and abdomen.

A prehensile tail up to 2 feet long allows the tamandua to maneuver through trees with ease. In fact, the tamandua actually spends more time in the trees than on the ground. Enormous front claws also help it climb. There are four toes on each front foot, with an extra-long claw on each third toe. These claws are used when digging for food, and for defense. There are five clawed toes on each hind foot.

Like other anteaters, the tamandua has a long, sticky tongue (up to 16 inches). The tongue is covered with tiny backward pointing spines which prevent prey from escaping. Tamanduas have no teeth, so all food is taken whole. However, the mouth isn't much larger than the tongue, so it is virtually impossible for a tamandua to ingest anything too large for its digestive system to handle.

The tamandua bears a gland which can spray a foul-smelling secretion that many