[grahy-suh
n, griz-uhn] 
| a weasellike carnivore, Galictis vittata, ranging from southern Mexico to Peru, having a grayish-white upper body, a distinctive white stripe across the forehead and ears, and a dark brown face, chest, and legs. |
| gri·son (grī'sən, grĭz'ən) n. Either of two small carnivorous mammals (Galictis vittata or G. cuja) of Central and South America, having grizzled fur, a slender body, and short legs. [French, from Old French, gray fur, from gris, gray; see grisaille.] |
grison
(Spanish: "ferret"), either of two weasellike carnivores of the genus Galictis (sometimes Grison), family Mustelidae, found in most regions of Central and South America; sometimes tamed when young. These animals have small, broad ears, short legs, and slender bodies 40-50 cm (16-22 inches) long, weighing 1-3 kg (2-6.5 pounds); the tail accounts for an additional 15-20 cm (6-8 inches). Their backs are grayish or brown and their limbs, lower parts, and faces are black; a white stripe runs across the forehead and along the sides of the neck. Gregarious and generally diurnal, they climb, swim, and burrow adeptly and feed on small animals and fruit. Their litters contain two to four young
Learn more about grison with a free trial on Britannica.com.