Tamandua tetradactyla

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	PILOSA	MYRMECOPHAGIDAE

Scientific Name:

Tamandua tetradactyla

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Collared Anteater, Lesser Anteater, Northern Tamandua, Southern Tamandua, Tamandua
French	–	Fourmilier À Collier, Tamandou À Quatre Doigts, Tamandou Tétradactyle
Spanish	–	Brazo Fuerte, Hormiguero De Collar, Oso Melero, Tamanduá, Tamandúa De Collar

Taxonomic Notes:

There are four subspecies of T. tetradactyla (Gardner 2007).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2011

Assessor/s:

Miranda, F. & Meritt, D.A.Jr.

Reviewer/s:

Fallabrino, A. & Superina, M.

Contributor/s:

Fallabrino, A., Tirira, D., Arteaga, M. & Rogel, T.

Justification:
T. tetradactyla is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, its occurrence in a number of protected areas, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

2006	–	Least Concern (IUCN 2006)
2006	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	T. tetradactyla is found to the east of the Andes from Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad Island, and the Guianas (French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname), south to northern Uruguay and northern Argentina. It ranges from sea level to 2,000 m asl (Emmons and Feer 1990).
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; French Guiana; Guyana; Paraguay; Peru; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Uruguay; Venezuela
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	T. tetradactyla is a relatively common species.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	T. tetradactyla is adaptable to a variety of habitats, including gallery forests adjacent to savannas, and lowland and montane moist tropical rain forest (Eisenberg 1989). Typically, this solitary species has pale tan or golden fur with a black vest, but uniformly tan to black coloration also occurs (Wetzel 1985). It mainly feeds on ants and termites, but also attacks bees nests to eat honey (Emmons and Feer 1990). The female gives birth to a single young once per year (Silveira 1968).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

T. tetradactyla is adaptable to a variety of habitats, including gallery forests adjacent to savannas, and lowland and montane moist tropical rain forest (Eisenberg 1989). Typically, this solitary species has pale tan or golden fur with a black vest, but uniformly tan to black coloration also occurs (Wetzel 1985). It mainly feeds on ants and termites, but also attacks bees nests to eat honey (Emmons and Feer 1990). The female gives birth to a single young once per year (Silveira 1968).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this small anteater, although in some portions of its range it is hunted for meat, by domestic dogs, or sold as a pet species (Aguiar and Fonseca 2008; Noss et al. 2008; D.A. Meritt Jr. pers. comm. 2010). Habitat loss and degradation, wildfires, and road traffic represent a threat in some areas. In Uruguay, T. tetradactyla is affected by habitat loss due to the increase in eucalyptus plantations (A. Fallabrino pers. comm. 2010).

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this small anteater, although in some portions of its range it is hunted for meat, by domestic dogs, or sold as a pet species (Aguiar and Fonseca 2008; Noss et al. 2008; D.A. Meritt Jr. pers. comm. 2010). Habitat loss and degradation, wildfires, and road traffic represent a threat in some areas. In Uruguay, T. tetradactyla is affected by habitat loss due to the increase in eucalyptus plantations (A. Fallabrino pers. comm. 2010).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	T. tetradactyla is present in a number of protected areas. Further systematic studies on T. tetradactyla are needed to investigate population densities and dynamics in different parts of its range.

Conservation Actions:

T. tetradactyla is present in a number of protected areas. Further systematic studies on T. tetradactyla are needed to investigate population densities and dynamics in different parts of its range.

Citation:	Miranda, F. & Meritt, D.A.Jr. 2011. Tamandua tetradactyla. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 May 2013.
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