A southern tamandua pup at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has recently been named in honor of popular Padres player Fernando Tatis, Jr.
The name for the newborn tamandua seemed particularly appropriate as its father is named Fernando. According to keepers, the male pup enjoys exploring and climbing.
Southern tamanduas, are a species of anteaters indigenous to Central and South America. They have been nicknamed lesser anteaters due to their smaller size relative to their cousin the giant anteater.
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Tamanduas have huge front claws that they use to climb trees, dig for food and to defend themselves. Another identifying feature is their prehensile tail, which they use to support and balance themselves as they climb. Like skunks, tamanduas have at the base of their tail a gland that can be used to release an odorous liquid that sends predators fleeing.
A typical adult tamandua can eat as many as 9,000 ants or termites per day using their 16-inch-long sticky tongue. Their thick coarse fur helps protect the tamanduas from ants getting to their skin in a counter attack.
According to the zoo it will be up to Cora, the baby tamandua’s mother, when to bring young Tatis Jr. out for public viewing on a Behind-the-Scenes Safari at the Wildlife Connections habitat.
