By Sarah Soderman
Geographic Range
Galictis vittata (grison) is found in Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia.
Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical 
(native ).
Habitat
(4920 ft)
The grison occupies a large range of habitats. It can be found in grasslands, evergreen forests, rain forests, and savannas. It is often found near water. They live under tree roots, in crevices of rocks, and they have also been know to occupy burrows dug by armadillos. They live anywhere from the lowlands to approximately 1500 m in elevation.
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest .
Physical Description
(2.2 to 6.6 lbs)
(26.38 in)
The grison has a long muscular body with short legs and a short tail. The upper part of the body is grizzled grey in color. The underbody, including the legs and feet, are black. The face of is tricolor, with a grizzled grey forehead and a black face and neck. A white stripe runs from the forehead over the ears and to the shoulders, and separates the grey forehead from the black face. The fur is long and soft. The ears are very small, and the eyes are small and black. The feet are broad and have very long claws. The grison's eyeshine is a bright blue-green color. The length of the body, including the tail, is approximately 67 cm.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Grisons are polygynous. The female gives birth to her young in October. The grison typically gives birth to two young but may give birth to up to four young.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
The grison may be solitary or be found in pairs or small groups. They hunt both day and night but they are typically most active early in the morning and late afternoon. The grison kills its prey by a swift bite to the back of the neck.
The home range of a female grison is approximately 4.2 square kilometers.
The grison can be vocal. When alarmed, it produces a snorting sound, and in defense it produces a growl.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
The grison is carnivorous, feeding on small mammals such as chinchillas, viscachas, agoutis, mice. The grison has also been known to feed on reptiles, birds and some fruits.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
The grison has been known to cause damage to domestic animals.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
The grison is tamed easily. The grison is helpful in controlling rodent infestations. They are also used by man to hunt chinchillas.
Conservation Status
The grison has a large range but is rare throughout this range.
Contributors
Sarah Soderman (author), University of Michigan.
Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
