Lesser Anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla)
Costa Rica 2014. Not the best shots, but the best I could get and the only sighting we had. We saw this in Corcovado National Park and it was moving through trees away from the path - which we were not allowed to leave. I had always thought that these were ground dwellers, digging into anthills - shows what I know!
Costa Rica has three species of anteater — lesser, giant and silky, this is the most common. Otherwise known as the collared anteater or Mexican Tamadua it is a distant relative of sloths. Anteaters inhabit lowland and middle-elevation habitats of the country.
It is a tree-dwelling creature that nimbly navigates branches using its prehensile tail. Their bodies are covered with gold or tan and black fur similar to a panda and they can weigh up to 18 pounds. Enormous front claws help the lesser anteater scale trees; they have an extra long claw on the third toe used for digging and defense. They use their prehensile tails for balance in the treetops and as an anchor when they go into a defensive position. They are primarily nocturnal and spend around 40% of its time in trees.
A specially adapted mouth and tongue enable lesser anteaters to consume up to 10,000 ants in a single day. Their long, sticky tongues have tiny barbs designed to grasp termites and ants from nests and underground homes. While ants, termites and larva make up the bulk of their diet, anteaters have been known to feast on fruit and eggs as well. Guided by a powerful sense of smell, anteaters can detect termite mounds and ant nests with ease. Avoiding insects with painful stings or bites, the lesser anteater deftly snatches up unsuspecting prey with its tongue, which can measure up to 16 inches! Their mouths are tooth-free, so the animals rely on powerful stomach enzymes to digest food.
A couple more in the set below right.
All my other sets of species can be found in an organised form here - www.flickr.com/photos/85387952@N00/collections/
Lesser Anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla)
Costa Rica 2014. Not the best shots, but the best I could get and the only sighting we had. We saw this in Corcovado National Park and it was moving through trees away from the path - which we were not allowed to leave. I had always thought that these were ground dwellers, digging into anthills - shows what I know!
Costa Rica has three species of anteater — lesser, giant and silky, this is the most common. Otherwise known as the collared anteater or Mexican Tamadua it is a distant relative of sloths. Anteaters inhabit lowland and middle-elevation habitats of the country.
It is a tree-dwelling creature that nimbly navigates branches using its prehensile tail. Their bodies are covered with gold or tan and black fur similar to a panda and they can weigh up to 18 pounds. Enormous front claws help the lesser anteater scale trees; they have an extra long claw on the third toe used for digging and defense. They use their prehensile tails for balance in the treetops and as an anchor when they go into a defensive position. They are primarily nocturnal and spend around 40% of its time in trees.
A specially adapted mouth and tongue enable lesser anteaters to consume up to 10,000 ants in a single day. Their long, sticky tongues have tiny barbs designed to grasp termites and ants from nests and underground homes. While ants, termites and larva make up the bulk of their diet, anteaters have been known to feast on fruit and eggs as well. Guided by a powerful sense of smell, anteaters can detect termite mounds and ant nests with ease. Avoiding insects with painful stings or bites, the lesser anteater deftly snatches up unsuspecting prey with its tongue, which can measure up to 16 inches! Their mouths are tooth-free, so the animals rely on powerful stomach enzymes to digest food.
A couple more in the set below right.
All my other sets of species can be found in an organised form here - www.flickr.com/photos/85387952@N00/collections/