they may also eat a small quantity of fruit. They locate their food by scent, and prey on a wide range of species, including army ants, carpenter ants, and Nasutitermes. They avoid eating ants armed with strong chemical defenses, such as leafcutter ants. They also consume beetle larvae and their water requirement is obtained through their food. But as with the ants, beetles with a chemical defense are generally avoided. Tamanduas are also thought to eat honey and bees and in captivity, have been known to eat fruit and meat. Anteaters extract their prey by using their extremely strong fore limbs to rip open nests and their elongated snouts and rounded tongues (up to in length) to lick up the insects. Although it has the same diet as the giant anteater, both animals are able to live alongside one another, perhaps because the southern tamandua is able to reach nests in trees, while its larger relative cannot. Conservation The southern tamandua is listed as CITES Appendix II in southeastern Brazil. Although widespread, they are uncommon. They are killed by hunters, who claim the tamanduas kill dogs. They are also killed for the thick tendons in their tails, from which rope is made. Tamanduas are sometimes used by Amazonian Indians to rid their homes of ants and termites. Citations General sources Gorog, A. 1999. "Tamandua tetradactyla" from Animal Diversity Web. External links Anteaters Mammals of the Caribbean Mammals of Argentina Mammals of Bolivia Mammals of Brazil Mammals of Colombia Mammals of Ecuador Mammals of French Guiana Mammals of Guyana Mammals of Paraguay Mammals of Peru Mammals of Suriname Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago Mammals of Uruguay Mammals of Venezuela Fauna of the Amazon Southern tamandua Southern tamandua