Costa Rica Wildlife – 8 Quick Facts About the Tayra

Bet you never saw one of these guys. The Tayra, also known as Perico ligero, is part of the weasel family and thrives in Corcovado National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica.
So when you have a friendly welcome from this curious animal, you’ll know these quick facts about it:
1. They are omnivorous like to eat fruit, carrion, small mammals, reptiles and birds.
2. Their homes are usually in hollow trees, burrows in the ground, or nests of tall grass.
3. Tayras are expert climbers, and can leap from treetop to treetop when pursued. They also run fast and swim well.
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4. Tayras grow to be around 60 cm. Yet their tails are almost 45 cm long.
5. They are nocturnal animals.
6. Tayras are really loud when they talk. Their litters can have up to 2 active, playful young.
7. The Indigenous use them as pets to control vermin problems and call them: ‘Cabeza del Viejo’ (Old Man’s Head), due to their wrinkled facial skin.
8. Fortunately, they are on the Least Concern species list.

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