Tamandua mexicana is found in tropical and subtropical dry and moist forest, including mixed deciduous and evergreen habitats. It can also be found in mangroves and grassland with some trees. It can survive in secondary forests and in disturbed habitats. The most common coloration is tan with a black vest on back and sides (Wetzel 1985) but uniformly tan individuals without vest also occur. Tamandua mexicana can move, feed and rest on the ground and trees (Lubin and Montgomery 1981, Montgomery 1985). This anteater feeds mainly on ants and termites, but it has also been observed consuming palm fruit (Attalea butyracea) (Brown 2011).
The females give birth to one young at any time of the year (Reid 1997).

Tamandua mexicana ranges from southern Mexico in the north of its range, through Central America as far south as northwestern Peru and northwestern Venezuela. It ranges from sea level to 2,000 m Asl, although most sightings have been recorded in areas below 1,000 m Asl (Cuarón 2005; Cuervo-Díaz et al. 1986; Eisenberg 1989; Morales-Jiménez et al. 2004; Tirira 2007, 2008; Nuñez-Perez et al. 2011). It has been introduced in Guanaja island and possibly other islands of Islas de la Bahía department, Honduras (M. Turcios-Casco pers. comm. 2022).

The population of T. mexicana in Guatemala is listed on Appendix III of CITES. It is listed as Vulnerable in Mexico. The species has been recorded from several protected areas, among them Soberanía National Park (Panamá), Machalilla National Park, and the Ecological Reserves Arenillas, Cotacachi-Cayapas, Mache-Chindul and Manglares Churute (all in Ecuador; Tirira 2007).