Moments from the Field

When you walk through the forest in Amazonia one of the things that is strikes many people is the realization that anything can happen. Though rainforests are packed with wildlife, many species have spent millions of years evolving to be camouflaged, silent, and virtual invisible to the senses - which of course helps them to remain undetected by predators. Yet in the jungle, you never know when one of these hidden creatures will reveal itself.

Not long ago several volunteers and an expedition leader were on one of our trails and stopped to listen for a while. They were standing quietly when they heard rustling. The noise grew louder until a giant anteater crossed the trail only twenty feet in front of them. They watched in amazement as the giant trotted off into the jungle.

Giant anteaters are often killed by locals who feel that they are dangerous. Folklore casts them as an aggressive giant that can stand on its hind legs to slash and kill a man, or dogs (which is not untrue, they will defend themselves if provoked). But these are gentle animals.

We have found the population of giant anteaters within our reserve to be healthy and this year we are going to be taking an in depth look at their numbers, habits, and secrets.  The below photo is not from Tamandua Expeditions, it was found on the internet, but shows the size and beauty of one of the most unusual creatures we work with! Can you believe how big that is?

What is a Tamandua?

People all the time ask me what the name “tamandua” means; few know that it is actually one of the most interesting animals in the world. They belong to the order Xenarthra which is made up of a unique group of animals which occur only in the Americas. They are the anteaters, sloths, and armadillos. The group is known for their unique lifestyles and bizarre physical structure, and all bear large claws on their fore-limbs. Other unique adaptations include the armadillo’s turtle-like shell, the sloth’s slowness, and the anteater’s long tongued toothless mouth.

The three species of anteater found in the Amazon are the giant anteater, tamandua, and silky anteater. Tamanduas are small and arboreal. They have a prehensile tail and sharp-clawed front limbs that aid in climbing and opening ant nests. Evolution has given them a tongue that can reach over ten inches in length and a toothless mouth. Perfect adaptations for an animal that loves slurping ants and termites right out of their holes. Affectionate and smart, tamanduas are sometimes kept as pets. And although I have never cared for a tamandua I have had the opportunity to nurse an orphaned tamandua grande (giant anteater) to health. They are one of my favorite animals, and the inspiration for the Tamandua Rainforest Expeditions name. They are one of our favorite animals to spot while out in the field!