Translingual

Tamandua mexicana

Proper noun

Tamandua f

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Myrmecophagidae – certain semi-arboreal anteaters.

Hyponyms

• (genus): Tamandua tetradactyla, Tamandua mexicana (species)

English

Tamandua mexicana

Tamandua tetradactyla

Noun

tamandua ‎(plural tamanduas)

1. An anteater of the genus Tamandua.
   • 1999, John C. Kricher, A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics, 2nd Edition, page 307,

     Tamanduas eat many kinds of ants as well as termites and bees. They tend to shy away from army ants and ponerine ants, both of which give nasty stings. When threatened, a tamandua may sit up on its hind legs and brandish its sharp curved claws.

   • 2000, John F. Eisenberg, Mammals of the Neotropics, Volume 3: Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, page 93,

     The tamandua is easily separated from the giant anteater by its smaller size, its coloration, and the shape of its tail. Most tamanduas in southern South America are golden brown with a black vest covering the dorsum and venter, crossing the shoulders in a black band, but on some individuals the vest may be greatly reduced or even absent.

   • 2007, George A. Feldhamer, Lee C. Drickamer, Stephen H. Vessey, Joseph F. Merritt, Carey Krajewski, 3rd Edition, Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology, page 307,

     They have coarse tan or brown pelage, and in the northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) and in southern specimens of the southern tamandua (T. tetradactyla) black fur forms a “vest” (figure 15.8B). Tamanduas have a prehensile tail that aids in climbing.

Usage notes

• There seems to be confusion in common terminology concerning the two tamandua species: the northern and the southern tamandua. Depending on source, the terms lesser anteater and collared anteater are used to refer to either or both species. Languages other than English are not necessarily any more logical. The two species look very similar and their habitats partly overlap.

Derived terms

• northern tamandua (Tamandua mexicana)
• southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Translations