Head to head
Southern Tamandua vs Giant Anteater
Southern Tamandua
VS Giant Anteater
Both are toothless insectivores that use a long sticky tongue to feed on ants and termites, but their size and lifestyle differ sharply.
| Southern Tamandua | Giant Anteater | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Tamandua tetradactyla | Myrmecophaga tridactyla |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Body size | Medium-sized | Much larger, up to 2.4 metres |
| Lifestyle | Partly arboreal, climbs with a prehensile tail | Strictly terrestrial |
| Distinguishing feature | Black vest marking | Long bushy tail, elongated snout |
| Tongue length | Shorter than the giant anteater's | Up to 60 centimetres |
| Defence | Powerful front claws | Powerful claws, capable of killing jaguars |
| Diet | Ants, termites, bees, larvae | Ants and termites, up to 30,000 a day |
Southern Tamandua vs Giant Anteater: common questions
Which anteater is larger?
The giant anteater is, reaching up to 2.4 metres nose to tail, far bigger than the medium-sized southern tamandua.
Which anteater can climb trees?
The southern tamandua can, using a strong prehensile tail to move through branches as readily as it forages on the ground, unlike the strictly terrestrial giant anteater.
Which anteater is more threatened?
The giant anteater is, classified as Vulnerable due to hunting, habitat loss, and road mortality, compared to the Least Concern southern tamandua.