Tayra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tayra |
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| A male Tayra, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eira
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| Species: |
barbara
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| Tayra range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Mustela barbara Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The tayra (Eira barbara) is a cool animal that eats both plants and meat. It belongs to the weasel family, just like ferrets and badgers! You can find tayras living in the Americas, from Mexico all the way down to Argentina. It's the only type of animal in its special group, called the Eira genus.
People in different places have different names for the tayra. In Central America, they might call it tolomuco or perico ligero. In Brazil, it's known as irara. If you're in the Yucatán Peninsula, you might hear it called san hol or viejo de monte. And in Trinidad, some people call it the high-woods dog. The name Eira comes from what local people in Bolivia and Peru called this animal. The word barbara means "strange" or "foreign," which might have seemed fitting to the scientists who first named it!
Contents
What is a Tayra?
A tayra is a medium-sized mammal. It's part of the weasel family, which means it's related to animals like otters, minks, and wolverines. Tayras are known for being very quick and agile. They have long, slender bodies, short legs, and a long tail. Their fur is usually dark brown or black, but they often have a lighter patch of fur on their chest.
Where Do Tayras Live?
Tayras live in many different parts of the Americas. Their home stretches from central Mexico, through Central America, and into South America, reaching as far south as Argentina. They prefer to live in forests, including tropical and subtropical forests. You can find them in both lowland areas and in mountains. They are very good at living in different kinds of environments.
What Do Tayras Eat?
Tayras are omnivores, which means they eat a mix of plants and animals. Their diet can include fruits, small mammals like rodents, birds, and even insects. They are very good hunters and can climb trees easily to find food. Fruits are a big part of their diet, and they love to eat ripe ones. Sometimes, they even store food for later, especially fruits.
Tayra Life and Behavior
Tayras are mostly active during the day, which is different from many other weasel family members who are active at night. They are very good climbers and spend a lot of time in trees. They use their long tails to help them balance as they move through the branches.
How Do Tayras Move?
Tayras are incredibly fast and agile. They can run quickly on the ground and are also excellent climbers. They can even jump from tree to tree! When they are on the ground, they often move in a bounding way, which means they leap with both front legs and then both back legs. This helps them move quickly through their forest homes.
Tayra Homes
Tayras don't build fancy homes. They often make their dens in hollow trees, under roots, or in abandoned burrows made by other animals. They are quite adaptable and can find shelter in many different places within their habitat.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Tayras usually have one to three babies at a time. The baby tayras are born blind and helpless, and they stay with their mother for several months. The mother takes care of them and teaches them how to find food and survive in the wild.
Baby Tayras
When baby tayras are born, they are very small. They start to open their eyes after about a month. They grow quickly and learn to climb and explore their surroundings. By the time they are a few months old, they are ready to start looking for food on their own.
Images for kids
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Distribution of Tayra.
