|Greater grison range|
Gawictis awwamandi Beww 1837
The greater grison (Gawictis vittata), is a species of mustewid native to Soudern Mexico, Centraw America, and Souf America.
The greater grison is a swender animaw wif short wegs, a wong neck, and a short, bushy taiw. They are simiwar in appearance to de cwosewy rewated wesser grison, from which dey can be most readiwy distinguished by deir greater size, wif a head-body wengf ranging from 45 to 60 centimetres (18 to 24 in). Aduwts weigh between 1.5 and 3.8 kiwograms (3.3 and 8.4 wb) in de wiwd, but may become warger when reared in captivity.
The back, fwanks, top of de head, and de taiw, are grizzwed grey in cowor, whiwe de rest of de body is much darker, and usuawwy sowid bwack. A narrow whitish stripe separates de darker and wighter fur on de head and shouwder, but not furder back, where de two cowors may, in some individuaws, bwur into one anoder. The taiw is 14 to 20 centimetres (5.5 to 7.9 in) wong, and covered wif bushy hair simiwar in cowor to dat on de animaw's back. The head is fwattened and broad, wif short, rounded ears, and dark brown to bwack eyes. The wegs are muscuwar, wif five webbed toes, each ending in a sharp, curved cwaw.
Distribution and habitat
Greater grisons are native to Centraw and Souf America, ranging from soudern Mexico in de norf, to centraw Braziw, Peru, and Bowivia in de souf. They inhabit a wide range of forest and cerrado habitats, and are usuawwy seen near rivers and streams. They are typicawwy found at ewevations bewow 500 metres (1,600 ft), but dey may be found as high as 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in some parts of de Bowivian Andes. In some regions, dey may awso be found in cuwtivated areas, such as pwantations and rice paddies. Four wiving, and one fossiw subspecies are recognised:
- Gawictis vittata vittata - nordern Souf America
- Gawictis vittata andina - Peru and Bowivia
- Gawictis vittata brasiwiensis - Braziw
- Gawictis vittata canaster - Centraw America and soudern Mexico
- † Gawictis vittata fossiwis - Pweistocene Braziw
Greater grisons are primariwy terrestriaw, awdough dey can cwimb trees and swim weww. They are mostwy diurnaw, and onwy occasionawwy active at night. They wive awone or in pairs, wif home ranges of at weast 4.2 sqware kiwometres (1.6 sq mi), and a very wow popuwation density, such dat dey are rarewy encountered in de wiwd. They spend de night sweeping in cavities in howwow wogs or beneaf tree roots, or ewse in de abandoned burrows of oder animaws.
Littwe is known of deir diet, awdough it consists wargewy of smaww vertebrates, such as fish, amphibians, birds, and oder mammaws. Whiwe hunting, dey move in a zigzag pattern, making short bounds and occasionawwy stopping to wook around wif deir heads raised and sniff de air. When moving more cautiouswy, dey press deir bodies cwose to de ground in a movement dat has been described as 'snake-wike'. They have been reported to respond to dreats wif a series of grunts dat rise in intensity and freqwency untiw dey become rapid barks, and finawwy a singwe woud scream wif deir teef bared.
Like many oder mustewids, greater grisons possess anaw scent gwands dat secrete a yewwowish or greenish musk. Awdough not especiawwy noxious in comparison wif dat of oder species, dis can be sprayed at attackers, as weww as being used to mark de grison's territory.
Litters of up to four young are born from March to September, after a gestation period of 39 days. Newborn young weigh wess dan 50 grams (1.8 oz), and are initiawwy bwind, awdough wif a short coat of hair awready bearing de aduwt pattern, uh-hah-hah-hah. Their eyes open after two weeks, and dey begin to eat sowid food at dree weeks, reaching de aduwt size in just four monds. They have wived for at weast ten years in captivity.
- Cuarón, A.D.; Reid, F. & Hewgen, K. (2008). "Gawictis vittata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2008. Internationaw Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- Yensen, E.; Tarifa, T. (2003). "Gawictis vittata". Mammawian Species: Number 727: pp. 1–8. doi:10.1644/727.
- Wiwson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M., eds. (2005). Mammaw Species of de Worwd: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- Wiwson, D.E.; Mittermeier, R.A., eds. (2009). Handbook of de Mammaws of de Worwd, Vowume 1: Carnivora. Barcewona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 636–637. ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1.
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