tamandua

tamandua
    n 1: small toothless anteater with prehensile tail and four-
         clawed forelimbs; of tropical South America and Central
         America [syn: {tamandua}, {tamandu}, {lesser anteater},
         {Tamandua tetradactyla}]
    

Tamandu \Ta*man"du\, n. [Sp., from the native name: cf. F.
   tamandua.] (Zool.)
   A small ant-eater ({Tamandua tetradactyla}) native of the
   tropical parts of South America.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: It has five toes on the fore feet, an elongated snout,
         small ears, and short woolly hair. Its tail is stout
         and hairy at the base, tapering, and covered with
         minute scales, and is somewhat prehensile at the end.
         Called also {tamandua}, {little ant-bear},
         {fourmilier}, and {cagouare}. The collared, or striped,
         tamandu ({Tamandua bivittata}) is considered a distinct
         species by some writers, but by others is regarded as
         only a variety.
         [1913 Webster]