The Tayra, Eira barbara, is a long and slender omnivorous animal that is native to the Americas. They are found in most of South America east of the Andes, with the exception of Uruguay, eastern Brazil, and northern Argentina. Physically they are similar to weasels and martens, and they have toes of unequal lengths with short and curved claws. Tayras are solitary animals that are active during the day. As opportunistic omnivores, they hunt rodents, small mammals, birds, lizards, and invertebrates; they also climb trees to get fruit and honey. With relatively poor eyesight, they locate their prey by its scent.
The Tayra has a body length in the range of 22”-27.6” (56-70 cm) and total weight of 6-15.4 lb (2.7-7 kg). Tayras have a shoulder height between 10.2”-12.2” (26-31 cm), body width of 5.5”-7.1” (14-18 cm), and tail length of 13.8”-18.1” (35-46 cm). The typical lifespan of the Tayra is between 18-22 years.
The Tayra, Eira barbara, is a long and slender omnivorous animal that is native to the Americas. They are found in most of South America east of the Andes, with the exception of Uruguay, eastern Brazil, and northern Argentina. Physically they are similar to weasels and martens, and they have toes of unequal lengths with short and curved claws. Tayras are solitary animals that are active during the day. As opportunistic omnivores, they hunt rodents, small mammals, birds, lizards, and invertebrates; they also climb trees to get fruit and honey. With relatively poor eyesight, they locate their prey by its scent.
The Tayra has a body length in the range of 22”-27.6” (56-70 cm) and total weight of 6-15.4 lb (2.7-7 kg). Tayras have a shoulder height between 10.2”-12.2” (26-31 cm), body width of 5.5”-7.1” (14-18 cm), and tail length of 13.8”-18.1” (35-46 cm). The typical lifespan of the Tayra is between 18-22 years.
