tayra
- noun
- /ˈteɪrə/
- US
- In the rainforests of South America, the tayra skillfully climbs trees to hunt for birds and small mammals.
Examples
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A tayra can be spotted darting through the branches, using its long tail for balance.
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The tayra is known for its playful nature and agility in the canopy of the tropical forests.
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And in the jungles of the llanos, predators abound: capuchin monkeys, tayras, and forest falcons are among the most formidable hunters of hoatzin chicks.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
A long-tailed mammal like a weasel that lives in trees in Central and South America
A long-tailed mammal like a weasel that lives in trees in Central and South America
A group of mammals like weasels that live in Central and South America
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word tayra comes from a native name used in Central and South America for this lively, long-tailed, tree-living member of the weasel family, so English simply borrowed the animal's local name.
