Galictis
Grison ( Galictis Cuja )
The Grisons ( Galictis ) are a living in Central and South America predator species from the marten family ( Mustelidae ), where they are counted to the subfamily Must Elinae. There are two types:
- Greater grison ( Galictis vittata ) and
- Grison ( Galictis Cuja )
The Patagonian weasel ( Lyncodon patagonicus) is also known as Zwerggrison, but forms a separate genus.
Features
Grisons stand out for their high-contrast staining. The face, the chest, the abdomen and the legs are black in color, the back and sides, including the short tail are gray in the Greater grison and the grison yellowish- gray. In between a white stripe draws in both species from the forehead to the shoulders. Like most Marder they are characterized by an elongated body with short legs, but that seems a bit stockier grison. Großgrisons reach a body length 48-55 cm and a weight of 1.4 to 3.3 kilograms, and Kleingrisons reach 28 to 51 cm body length and 1.0 to 2.5 kilograms. The tail is about 15 inches long in both species.
Distribution and habitat
Grisons live in Central and South America. While the Greater grison of Mexico has spread to southeastern Brazil, live Kleingrisons only in central and southern South America ( from southern Peru to Argentina). Both types are not picky in terms of their habitat, they both inhabit rainforests as well as other types of forest and open terrain as grasslands. In particular Kleingrisons can also be found in mountainous regions.
Way of life
Grisons can be active both during the day and at night, but usually you can find them in the twilight. For the rest they contract under tree roots, in rock crevices, hollow logs or abandoned burrows of other animals back (for example Viscachas ). They may also place themselves at Build. Your movements are agile, they keep on both on the ground and on trees, they are good climbers and also swim. Their way of life is roughly equivalent to that of the polecat. Although they usually go alone to hunt, they are found frequently in pairs or in small family groups.
Grisons are omnivorous, but mainly feed on small mammals. Their prey include mice, agouti, chinchillas and Viscachas. In addition, they also take birds and their eggs, reptiles, invertebrates and fruits to him.
The gestation period lasts about 40 days and the litter size is two to four pups.
Grisons and people
In South America, Grisons are some places tamed and trained for hunting rodents, according to European ferrets. Both species are relatively widespread and not among the endangered species.