Two genera and three species are in the family, consisting of the giant anteater, and the tamanduas.
12.
It was suggested to be an ancestor of the giant anteater, and is also related to the tamanduas.
13.
Two anteaters, the southern tamandua and the silky anteater are found in Trinidad ( but not in Tobago ).
14.
The individual and geographic variation observed in the southern tamandua has made the taxonomic description of these animals a difficult task.
15.
Both the giant anteater and the southern tamandua are well represented in the fossil record of the late Pleistocene and early Holocene.
16.
In addition to its diet, and unlike the giant anteater, the northern tamandua is also adapted to an arboreal lifestyle.
17.
Northern tamanduas subsist almost entirely on diets of ants and termites, although they have also been observed to eat small quantities of fruit.
18.
They smear the strong smelling secretions on rocks, trees, fallen logs, and other prominent landmarks to announce their presence to other tamanduas.
19.
The northern tamandua ranges from southeastern Mexico south throughout Central America, and in South America west of the Andes from northern Venezuela to northern Peru.
20.
However, Amazon World has had considerable success in breeding the tamandua and two-toed sloth, both species that do not breed readily in other collections.
