Weighing less than a mango and highly shy, the petite silky anteater is one of the smallest mammals on the planet.
But at least one of the species – which looked not dissimilar to Edward Scissorhands – was happy to put on a display for the cameras in the remote jungles of Suriname.
Walking on just two legs with its arms outstretched, the tiny animal almost seemed to smile as it went snout and about in its natural habitat.
The images were captured by tour guide Leon Pansa in the rainforest near Powakka, a small village in the South American country.
Leon, a 32-year-old Suriname native, said he took the shots during a tour through the jungle, where he was showing tourists and visitors how to survive and navigate off the grid.
He said he felt a lot of ‘excitement and gratitude’ when he took the shots of the tiny animal, which is only around 36 to 45cm in length.
‘The animal is a silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater,’ he explained.
‘It can be found across Central and South America. They are nocturnal and fully arboreal animals, with highly adapted hind feet for climbing.
Claw-some: Weighing less than a mango and highly shy, the petite silky anteater is one of the smallest mammals on the planet
Depp in the jungle: At least one of the species looked not dissimilar to Edward Scissorhands – the fictional character portrayed by Jonny Depp in the cult 1990 film
Caught red-handed: Tour guide Leon Pansa snapped the creature in the jungles of Suriname
‘Although they do live in our region, they are quite rare to spot. This was actually the first time I had ever seen one in the wild.
‘In these images, the anteater is carefully moving through the trees, likely foraging for insects or navigating between branches.
‘Their slow, deliberate movement is typical behaviour, as they rely on stealth and camouflage rather than speed. However, seeing this so clearly and at eye level is very uncommon.
‘I was able to capture these shots thanks to a combination of experience, timing, and a bit of luck.
‘I spotted the animal during the tour, and because it was moving slowly and the lighting conditions were just right, I could take detailed photos using my camera.’
Leon added that his encounter was ‘incredibly special’.
‘In that moment I felt a real sense of excitement and gratitude – this is not only something rare, but also a reminder that this is truly my work and passion.’
