The Tayra is slender with a long neck and short legs. It has broad head with round short ears. The dense fur is short, soft and brown in color. The head is generally lighter in color than the rest of the body. Head and body length is 60-68 cm with the tail up to 46 cm in length. Total weight is 4-5 kg.

Tayra is a nimble climber. It nests in hollow trees and tunnels and is active both day and night. It feeds on guinea pigs, mice, squirrels, agoutis, poultry, insects and fruits.

They live alone or in pairs around mating season. Reproduction occurs at different times of the year with 2-4 young in each litter.

The Tayra occurs in forests and fields with abundant plant growth in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, (Sinaloa and Tamaulipas), Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Surinam. Trinidad, Venezuela.