This is an utterly bizarre moment when a bad-tempered anteater takes on a herd of cows grazing in a field in Uraguay.

Phone footage of the encounter shows the solo tamanduna, or lesser anteater, on its hind legs squaring up to one the the herd as it gets too close.

As the curious cow comes on, the anteater spreads its powerful forearms wide as a warning before both sides back off in a tense standoff.

Experts say the cow was lucky because the anteater’s fore paws are equipped with powerful claws used to rip open rock-hard ant and termite hills.

As they rise up their back legs to look bigger, they spread their arms ready to clamp onto anything that comes too close with their claws.

And if potential enemies get near enough they are sprayed with a foul-smelling scent produced in the beast’s anal glands.

Local media says the bizarre encounter was filmed in Caraguata, Tacuarembo Department.

According to naturalist and M’ Bopicua Biopark director Juan Villalba, the video was recorded by veterinarian Sergio Rivas.

Social media users were baffled by the David and Goliath stand off.

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One X user ‘Stella beasly’ said: “Seriously cute! In tense moments, the big guys warn the outsider who retreats but with great dignity.”

And ‘Alma La Desalmada’ commented: “Wonderful nature, only they deserve to be on Earth, they are everything that is good.”

According to local media, the species in the video is southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla), also known as the collared anteater.

Despite being listed as common all over South America conservationists say it is disappearing fast.

Hunters are said to kill them whenever they find them because they can injure their dogs.

And some remote communities are said to still use a powerful tendon in their tales for rope making.