tamandua

[ 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. 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 Also calledlesser anteater

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

The great ant-eater (Myrmecophăga jubata) lives on the ground; the much smaller Tamandua and Cycloturus are arboreal.

From Project Gutenberg

Tamandua, t-man′dū-a, n. an arboreal ant-eater with prehensile tail.

From Project Gutenberg

The tamandua is seen climbing the loftiest monarchs of the forest in search of its insect prey.

From Project Gutenberg

I observe that Rudolphi distinctly refers to this edentate as the tamandua.

From Project Gutenberg

Tamandua has also retia, which are also found in the Spider-monkeys.

From Project Gutenberg