Tayra

Taxonomy Characteristics Range

Diet Habits Reproduction

Status Links 

Taxonomy
     Phylum: Chordata
         Class: Mammalia
             Order: Carnivora
                 Family: Mustelidae
                     Genus: Tayra
                         Species: barbara
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Physical Characteristics

     The Tayra has a slender body with a length of 22-26 inches plus a 14-18 inch tail.  This species weighs about 10 pounds. Tayras are great climbers and this can been in that they  have strong claws on both their front and hind feet. Coat coloration is variable dependant on species location, but in general Tayras are brown to black. In panama the coloration tends to be black. But in others parts of their range the throat may be yellow. 

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Geographic Range

     This species is found in the forests of southern Mexico through Central and South America to Paraguay and Argentina plus Trinidad.      back to top

Diet

     The Tayra is omnivorous eating a diet consisting mainly of small mammals, birds, honey, and fruit.
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 Social Habits

  The tayra is a forest dweller. It nests in hollow logs or trees, a burrow made by another animal, or in the tall grass. I t can run, climb, and swim well. They have been seen in a group of four animals springing swiftly through the trees with incredible agility. Being active both at night and in the morning.

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Reproduction

     Little is known of  this species' reproduction.  The litter size is believed to be between two and four young per litter. It has been cited that there are six gestation periods which lasted 63-65 days. In captivity, the lifespan of this species can be up to 18 years.

 Status

   In captivity the tayra loves to play and can be tamed. It reportedly has been used long ago by Indians to control rodents. Not really important in the fur trade, this species is currently not endangered, but has been greatly reduced in Mexico due to destruction of tropical forests and spread of farming. Remaining populations are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.