Habitat: Tayra inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, secondary rain forests, gallery forests, gardens, plantations, cloud forests, and dry scrub forests using both floor and tree habitats

Threats: The destruction of tropical forests and spread of agriculture is a threat to Tayra.

Information: The tayra is a weasel about the size of a medium sized dog, weighing 3-6kg with a long, bushy tail and long neck ending in a robust head. Around 65 cm in length with a tail 35 to 45 cm. Tayras have large hind feet. Colour varies with geographic range, but in general the tayra has a dark brown body with a slightly paler head. Usually it has a white, diamond shaped patch on its throat. Tayras have long claws and pronounced canines.

Food: The tayra is omnivorous. Preferring small mammals but it also eats significant amounts of fruit, invertebrates and reptiles, in that order. It has also been shown that the tayra occasionally eats honeycomb when it is available.

Social Behaviour: The Tayra is a diurnal species that usually travels alone or in pairs. Sometimes, however, they are seen in small groups of 3-4 individuals. Tayras are both terrestrial and arboreal; terrestrial locomotion is usually composed of erratic, bouncing movements with the back arched and the tail along the ground. Arboreal movements along horizontal branches are more fluid, and the tail is used as a balancing rod. A tayra may leap for considerable distances, run up rocky clifs, and bound from branch to branch in the trees. When alarmed, the tayra gives a short, barking call and seeks protection in the nearest tree. Although usually silent, the tayra has been known to give yowls, snarls, or clicks when in groups.

Range: This species occurs from southern Veracruz, Mexico across South America to northern Argentina.

Breeding: Little is known about the tayra’s reproduction. It is thought, however, that gestation lasts for about 63-70 days with a litter size of 2-3 babies per season who nurse for 2-3 months.

Projects: None

Map: Red = Locations Found 834