Tayra - Costa Rica's Weasel - Outdoors Articles

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Tayra - Costa Rica's Weasel

The tayra (Eira barbara), also known as the Tolomuco or Perico ligero in Central America, is an omnivorous animal from the weasel family Mustelidae. That is why tayras have an appearance similar to weasels and martens.

Tayra's home is in the tropical forests of Central America, South America and on the island of Trinidad. Their main food is fruit but they also like carrion, small mammals, reptiles and birds. They make hollow trees, burrows in the ground, or nests of tall grass their home. They travel both alone and in groups during the day and the night. These guys are expert climbers, and can leap from treetop to treetop when pursued. They can also run fast and swim well.

Most tayras have either dark brown or black fur with a lighter patch on its chest. A great way to distinguish the young from the old tayras is by the color of their fur which changes to a lighter brown or gray as it ages. They are pretty small in height growing only 60 cm. However, their tails are almost 45 cm long.

This chocolate-brown to black mustelid is a long and slender, able climber with strong claws, resembling a thin-haired, lanky, very large mink with a long tail covered in hair longer than the hair on the rest of the body.

Although Tyras are seen all the time, they are basically nocturnal. They forage on the ground or in trees, but do not forage in water like otters. They are curious foragers, and eat a wide variety of foods. They are sometimes seen living alone and sometimes with families. Their interactions can be annoying sometimes as they are really loud when they talk. Their litters can have up to 2 active, playful young.

Tyras are intelligent animals and they easily become pets. Indigenous people, who often refer to them as "cabeza del viejo", or old man's head, due to their wrinkled facial skin, have kept them as household pets to control plagues. Wild populations are slowly shrinking, especially in Mexico, due to habitat destruction for agricultural purposes. Though the species as a whole is listed as a Least Concern, the northernmost subspecies is listed as Vulnerable.

Wild tayra populations are slowly shrinking, especially in Mexico, due to habitat destruction for agricultural purposes. Though the species as a whole is listed as a Least Concern species, the northernmost subspecies, Eira Barbara Senex, is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

About the Author

Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, has been living in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. Traveling with her family to all parts of Costa Rica and Guatemala, she now loves organizing vacations for people and offers first hand experience. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!