Tayra
Meet the agile and intelligent forager of Central and South America's forests.
What Is a Tayra?
The tayra (Eira barbara) is a tropical mustelid and the only species in its genus. Native to a wide range of forested habitats throughout Central and South America, this small carnivore is known for its adaptability, speed, and inquisitive nature. Tayras play a vital role in forest ecosystems as both predators and seed dispersers.
Identifying Features and Tayra Size
Tayras are slender and long-bodied, with short legs, rounded ears, and bushy tails. Their fur is typically black or dark brown with a pale yellow or orange patch on the throat and chest, which varies in shape and size.
Adults usually measure 56–71 cm (22–28 in) in body length, with a tail ranging from 37 to 46 cm (15–18 in), and weigh between 2.7 and 7 kg (6–15 lb), with males generally larger than females.
Compared to other species in the Martes complex, the tayra is built for speed and agility on the ground and in trees. Their strong limbs enable them to run quickly and climb skillfully.
Habitat and Behaviour
The tayras habitat encompasses a diverse range of tropical and subtropical ecosystems, including lowland rainforests, montane forests, dry forests, and even forest edges adjacent to human development. They can be found from Mexico to northern Argentina and are comfortable at elevations up to 2,400 meters.
Primarily diurnal (active during daytime) and solitary, tayras are curious and wide-ranging, covering several kilometres in a single day. They use their keen senses to hunt, forage, and navigate complex terrain. They may vocalize with barks or snorts when alarmed and often use scent marking to define their territory.
Tayras are opportunistic carnivores with an omnivorous diet that can include small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, fruit, honey, and eggs. During fruiting seasons, they rely heavily on plant-based foods and have even been observed caching unripe fruit to eat once ripened. This foraging behaviour highlights their intelligence and adaptability.
Conservation and Recovery
IUCN status: Least Concern (LC)
Although tayras remain widespread and are classified as Least Concern, their populations face localized threats. Habitat loss due to agriculture, road construction, and deforestation is a persistent issue. In some areas, people target tayras for raiding crops and poultry, and continued habitat protection is key to their long-term survival.
Fast Facts About the Tayra
Tayras are the only species in the genus Eira.
The tayra habitat includes a wide range of forests across Central and South America.
The tayra can run fast, climb trees, and descend head-first like squirrels.
Tayras often cache food for later, including unripe fruit.
The tayra diet and wide range help maintain ecological balance.