Free-ranging Southern anteater mating behavior: Contribution to Tamandua natural history

Abstract

Observing behavior in wild Southern Anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) allows Xenarthran researchers to gain perspective on natural history of this neotropical scansorial species. We describe the use of the prehensile tail to facilitate copulation for a pair in southeastern Brazil, a novel observation for this species. This detailed account of mating behavior in lesser anteaters is one of very few in the literature and contributes to basic knowledge of this group.