The tayra, Eira barbara, is an omnivorous member of the weasel family that is native to the Americas and is the only species in the genus Eira. It goes by many local names, among them tolomuco and perico ligero in Central America, motete in Honduras, irara in Brazil and high-woods dog in Trinidad, and the genus name comes from an indigenous name used in Bolivia and Peru while barbara means strange or foreign. Tayras are mostly diurnal, though they are sometimes active in the evening or at night. They hunt rodents and other small mammals, birds, lizards and invertebrates, and climb trees for fruit and honey. They are generally found only in tropical and subtropical forests but cross grasslands between forest patches and are also seen in cultivated areas and tree plantations.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 1 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Eira barbara article (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Eira barbara article (Wikipedia)Lead, where it livesQuote, Lead, where it lives
Tayras are also known as the tolomuco or perico ligero in Central America, motete in Honduras, irara in Brazil, san hol or viejo de monte in the Yucatan Peninsula, and high-woods dog (or historically chien bois) in Trinidad.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Eira barbara article (Wikipedia)Section: Range and habitat, where it livesQuote, Section: Range and habitat, where it lives
Tayras are found across most of South America, with the exceptions of Chile, Uruguay, Argentina (other than the far northern regions) and parts of the Brazilian east coast.
Sources
1. Eira barbara article (Wikipedia)
Section: Conservation
The species is listed as being of least concern.
Lead
The tayra (Eira barbara) is an omnivorous animal from the mustelid family, native to the Americas.
Section: Behaviour and diet
They are opportunistic omnivores, hunting rodents and other small mammals, as well as birds, lizards, other reptiles, and invertebrates, and climbing trees to get fruit and honey.
Section: Behaviour and diet, activity pattern
Tayras are diurnal animals, although occasionally active during the evening or at night.
Section: Range and habitat
They are generally found in only tropical and subtropical forests; still, they may traverse grasslands or other habitats at nighttime, as they move between forest patches, and they also are seen in cultivated areas, tree plantations and farmlands.
Lead, where it lives
Tayras are also known as the tolomuco or perico ligero in Central America, motete in Honduras, irara in Brazil, san hol or viejo de monte in the Yucatan Peninsula, and high-woods dog (or historically chien bois) in Trinidad.
Section: Range and habitat, where it lives
Tayras are found across most of South America, with the exceptions of Chile, Uruguay, Argentina (other than the far northern regions) and parts of the Brazilian east coast.
Conservation, population
== Conservation == Wild tayra populations are slowly shrinking, especially in Mexico, due to habitat destruction for agricultural purposes.
Threats, habitat destruction
== Conservation == Wild tayra populations are slowly shrinking, especially in Mexico, due to habitat destruction for agricultural purposes.
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