It’s World Tamandua Day (11/29) and these lesser anteaters are worth celebrating! Here at the Minnesota Zoo, zookeepers have pooled together and assembled their “Top 10″ tamandua facts. Enjoy…

1. Tamanduas are also known as a Lesser anteater.

2. Tamanduas come equipt with a 16” tongue.

3. Raiding anywhere from 50 to 80 different nests, tamanduas are able to consume upto 9,000 insects…PER DAY!

4. That being said, tamanduas are sustainable eaters – meaning they do not eat all the prey items in one area. They eat some and move on to the next hive/nest so the insect colonies are able to repopulate…for when the tamanduas return.

5. The small eyes and poor eye sight of tamanduas are compensated by great hearing and a strong sense of smell.

6. Native to Central and South America, tamanduas can be found in a variety of tropical habitats, from rainforests to arid savannas.

7. Sometimes called “stinkers of the forest,” tamanduas give off a strong smell to mark their territory and scare away other animals.

8. When defending themselves, tamanduas rear up and use their tail like a third foot for balance, slashing out at their enemies/predators with their long, sharp claws.

9. The main predators for the tamandua are jaguars and smaller cats, such as the margay. Harpy eagles, large hawks and owls are also considered “tamandua predators.”

10. The mouth of a tamandua can only open as wide as a pencil and they don’t have teeth to chew their food; instead, their stomach grinds the food after they swallow it.

To recap, tamanduas are awesome and you can learn about them everyday at the Minnesota Zoo.