Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Tamandu

Ta-man′du

,
Noun.
[Sp., from the native name: cf. F.
tamandua
.]
(Zool.)
A small ant-eater (
Tamandua tetradactyla
) native of the tropical parts of South America.
☞ It has five toes on the fore feet, an elongated snout, small ears, and short woolly hair. Its tail is stout and hairy at the base, tapering, and covered with minute scales, and is somewhat prehensile at the end. Called also
tamandua
,
little ant-bear
,
fourmilier
, and
cagouare
. The collared, or striped, tamandu (
Tamandua bivittata
) is considered a distinct species by some writers, but by others is regarded as only a variety.