Tamandua

(Jrt)

Tamandua
The Tamanduas (Tamandua) are a genus of two species from the family of ants Bears (Myrmecophagidae), and therefore they are sometimes referred to as Little anteaters (not to be confused with the Pygmy Anteater). The two species are the northern Tamandua (T. mexicana) and the Southern Tamandua (T. tetradactyla).

Dissemination

Tamanduas come in Central and South America. The distribution area of the Northern Tamanduas extends from southern Mexico to the northern South America (Venezuela and northern Peru), the Southern Tamanduas inhabit South America from Venezuela to Uruguay and Argentina.

Description
With a head fuselage length of 50 to 80 cm and a 40 to 70-cm-long tail Tamanduas are significantly smaller than their relatives, the Great Anteater. You can reach a weight of 2 to 7 kg. Like all anteaters, they are by the long, narrow snout. They are toothless, but have up to 40 cm long tongue, with their food. Their coat is short and rough and yellowish-brown stain. At the back they have a black coat westenförmige drawing that at the northern Tamandua is more pronounced than in the south. Your tail is naked, and as gripping tail trained, also differs significantly from the bushy tail of the Grand anteaters. The forefeet have four toes, all equipped with sharp claws. These claws are used both to the opening of insects buildings and to defend against Fressfeinden. The rear feet, five toes with significantly smaller claws.


Warming
Tamanduas inhabit a range of habitats, from rain forests to savannas. They are predominantly tree dwellers, however, often come to the ground to search for food, or to routes between trees to go. They go with the outer edges of their feet, the claws are not seen. You can also swim. Tamanduas can both day-and night, after a phase of activity around 8 hours followed by a prolonged resting phase, they spend it in tree cavities or abandoned animal building. Fressfeinden compared to defend themselves with their strong Vorderkrallen, while support themselves with their hind legs and their tails to branches or on the ground. Tamanduas are loners, her spot with a bad-smelling liquid mark in the anus glands produced.

Nutrition

The food of the Tamanduas consists entirely of insects, mostly ants and termites. However, they avoid certain insect species, which with its poison defend. With their claws to break insects, and with buildings on its long tongue to lick the animals. There are also observations, as Tamanduas hives aufbrachen and the bees and the honey eaten.

Reproduction

About the reproduction of Tamanduas is little known. After about 130 - to 150tägiger Gestation brings the female a single pup to the world. The young animal rides on the backs of the mother and is sometimes if the mother to search for food, on a secure Astgabel deposited. At the age of three months the young animal begins, on your own herumzuklettern and insects. The highest known age in a human Tamanduas custody amounted to nearly ten years.

Threat

Tamanduas are not among the endangered animals. Because of its large spreading area and their modesty in the living room, they still frequent.

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