An omnivorous mustelid mammal (Eira barbara) of Central and South America, having a broad head, a long slender body, and short dense fur.
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A South American carnivore, Eira barbara, allied to the grison, with a long thick tail.
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Alternative Forms
Alternative Form of tayra -
taira
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
tayra
Plural:
tayras
Origin of tayra
Portuguese or Spanish taira
From
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Tayra Sentence Examples
In South America there is considerable superficial resemblance between the little bush dog (Speothos venaticus) of Guiana and Brazil and the large weasel-like animal of the same countries - the tayra (Galera barbara).
The tayra is, when adult, black beneath and on the legs, and not uncommonly has a considerable quantity of greyish hair on the head.
In these particulars, as well as in size and shortness of leg, the dog resembles the weasel; and since there are good reasons for believing that the latter is protected alike by ferocity and stink-glands, it is quite possible that the dog, of unusual coloration and form for the Canidae, is protected from the attacks of pumas, jaguars and ocelots by his likeness to the tayra.