tamandua

Also tam·an·du

[tuh-man-doo-uh, tuh-man-doo-ah]

noun

1. a tree-dwelling, tropical American anteater, Tamandua tetradactyla, having a prehensile tail, four-clawed forelimbs, and coarse, tan hair with black markings on the trunk.

tamandua

/ ˈtæmənˌduː, ˌtæmənˈdʊə /

noun

1. Also called: lesser anteater. a small arboreal edentate mammal, Tamandua tetradactyla, of Central and South America, having a prehensile tail and tubular mouth specialized for feeding on termites: family Myrmecophagidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of tamandua¹

1605–15; < Portuguese < Tupi: literally, ant-trapper

Word History and Origins

Origin of tamandua¹

C17: via Portuguese from Tupi: ant trapper, from taixi ant + mondê to catch

Example Sentences

A tamandua, or collared anteater, with prizefighter arms and curved claws that break open termite mounds, tried to ignore a car full of onlookers.

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The tamandua, also known as the lesser anteater, can be found in trees and on the ground.

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Featured species there will include a tortoise, an ocelot, a caiman, an anteater known as a tamandua, and, of course, a prehensile-tailed porcupine.

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They say the baby tamandua needs to develop and won’t make its public debut for another couple months.

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She hopes the new tamandua won’t have any problems and can continue nursing from its mother until it is moved to a specially formulated pelleted feed.

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