individuals) and a long, black bushy tail. It occurs
throughout the Neotropics and, because it is diurnal
as well as nocturnal, is observed frequently. Tayras
lack prehensile tails but are good tree climbers. They
are omnivorous, feeding on rodents, nestling birds,
and lizards, as well as eggs, fruits, and honey. They
occupy many different habitats, including rain forests,
savannas, and coastal areas. They raise young in a den
usually located in a hollow tree trunk.
The Greater Grison (Galictis vittata), another
mustelid, resembles a sleek badger. Smaller than the
Tayra, the Greater Grison is a short- legged, slinky-
looking animal with a grizzled gray back, black legs
and throat, and a prominent white stripe behind the
eyes. Its gray tail is short and thick. This grison ranges
throughout lowland areas of the Neotropics. Like the
Tayra, it is not confined to forests but can be spotted
in savannas and other open areas, and it is commonly
encountered near human habitations where chickens
and other tempting morsels are present. Strictly
carnivorous, it feeds on rodents and other small
vertebrates. A second, similar species, the Lesser
Grison (G. cuja), is found at higher elevations. Another
Neotropical mustelid is the Giant Otter (Pteronura
brasiliensis; plate 16- 51), described in chapter 12.
If you think you see or smell a skunk in the tropics,
chances are you are right. The Eastern Spotted Skunk
(Spilogale putorius) occurs as far south as Costa
Rica, the Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura) gets
into Nicaragua, and the hog- nosed skunk (genus
Conepatus), of which there are several species, ranges
as far south as Patagonia and up into the Andes. Skunks
were once considered mustelids but are now usually
placed in the family Mephitidae.Neotropical Felines
Most people who travel to the American tropics for the
thrills of seeing wildlife, when asked which animal they
would most like to see, would probably name El Tigre,
the Jaguar (plate 16- 52). The Lion may reign supreme
on the African savanna, the Tiger in India, but in the
Neotropical rain forest, Panthera onca is the top cat.
Though this cat ranges from northern Mexico through
Patagonia, it is now rare over much of its range and is
listed by IUCN as near threatened. Only in the interior
Amazon, remote montane forests, the Pantanal region
of Brazil, and other areas out of the immediate reach of
hunters’ gunfire, does the “Leopard of the New World”Plate 16- 49. The Olingo, like the Kinkajou, is related to the
raccoons. Photo by Sean Williams.Plate 16- 50. The Tayra is member of the weasel family,
Mustelidae. Photo by Gina Nichol.Plate 16- 51. The largest of the Neotropical mustelids is the
Giant Otter. Photo by John Kricher.chapter 16 from monkeys to tarantulas: endless eccentricities 341