Noteworthy contributions to the knowledge on pigmentation anomalies in Tayras (Eira barbara) from tropical dry forest remnants in the Colombian Orinoco piedmont
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Tayras are relatively common and widely spread mammals in the Neotropics, however, their natural history is partially known. For example, even though their pelage coloration varies between dark-brown and black, and there are reports of pigmentation anomalies, causes and effects on their populations remain unknown. Consequently, documenting these cases is required along with relevant ecological information to improve the understanding of this phenomena. In this note we present the records of hypopigmented tayras obtained during a biodiversity monitoring in 15 conservation areas included within a community-based Dry Forest conservation strategy in the municipality of Tame (Arauca), and we discuss the distribution of this anomalies according to their age, seasonality, activity period and sex. For the monitoring we deployed 33 camera traps over a period of 27 months from 2021 to 2024. We recorded 36 tayra independent records, from which there was a highest number of adults showing xanthism, higher occurrence during the day and the dry season. We considered a record of a couple of hypopigmented individuals as a valuable contribution about interactions among tayras with pigmentation anomalies. Finally, we emphasize the importance of the natural history information generated by monitoring, beyond the species inventories and ecological data.
Source: Mammalogy Notes
Institution: Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223272291