The northern tamandua lives in forests and scrub of Central America and northwestern South America. It spends much time in trees but also feeds and rests on the
od pyska do nasady ogonaReference values · details in the profiles
Tamandua mexicana
od pyska do nasady ogonaMeasurement: side
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The northern tamandua lives in forests and scrub of Central America and northwestern South America. It spends much time in trees but also feeds and rests on the ground. Its prehensile tail helps it climb. When walking it positions its forelimbs to protect the curved claws.
It eats mainly ants and termites, including tree-nesting species. It locates nests by smell, tears their coverings and gathers insects with a sticky tongue. Not all insect species are equally favoured: chemical defences of some ants and termites affect prey selection.
It usually lives alone, and activity may occur by day or night. When threatened it hisses and uses an intense gland scent. Sounds of wood being torn apart may reveal a feeding individual even when it remains unseen in dense vegetation.
nos → nasada ogona; ogon wyłączony. ADW: długość głowy i tułowia; ogon 40,2–67,2 cm wyłączony. Punkt to środek zakresu, a nie średnia populacji. Wysokość obrysu wynika z proporcji ilustracji; przód jest przybliżoną projekcją.