tamandua

noun

: either of two arboreal anteaters (Tamandua mexicana and T. tetradactyla) of Central and South America having a nearly hairless tail

Examples of tamandua in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like anteaters, a tamandua's diet mainly consists of ants, eating up to 9,000 in one day. Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 31 May 2024 After observing the young tamandua's promising start, the baby animal's caretakers were shocked and devastated to discover the pup unresponsive on Monday. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2023 The new report, by researchers from the CDC and in Tennessee, describes what happened when a South American collared anteater — also known as a tamandua — was moved in May 2021 from a zoo in Virginia to one in Washington County, Tenn. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 19 Apr. 2022 Meet MJ, the little Southern tamandua born to mom DJ and dad EJ. Discover Magazine, 17 Apr. 2015

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese tamanduá, from Tupi tamanuá, tamanduá

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamandua was in 1834

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tamandua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamandua. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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