Published: 24th of November, 2025 by Patrick Carpen
Last updated: November 24, 2025 at 17:54 pm“Guyana is home to four types of anteaters. These species make up all the extant anteater species found in Central and South America.
The four species found in Guyana are:
• Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla): The largest of the species, this anteater is primarily terrestrial and can reach up to 2 meters in length from snout to tail. It is one of the iconic “giants” of Guyanese wildlife.
• Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla): Also known as the lesser anteater, this species is smaller than the giant anteater and spends its time both in trees and on the ground.
• Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana): Similar in size and habit to the Southern Tamandua, this species also forages both on the ground and in trees.
• Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus): Sometimes called the pygmy or dwarf anteater, it is the smallest species (about the size of a squirrel) and is exclusively arboreal, living high in the canopy of the rainforest. “
