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Species Profile Amazonian Tapir (Taprius terestris)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of . Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

Club Tapir. www.tapirback. com/

photo © Katherine Davis

Anatomy lifestyles, tapirs are difficult to see in the Amazonian tapirs (also known as lowland wild. Although they appear to be seden- or Brazilian tapirs) are one of the largest tary, tapirs are able to cover great dis- found in . Weigh- tances in the . Adaptable to different ing in at anywhere between 350 and 600 , tapirs may be found in pounds, adult tapirs have rather corpulent and hillside areas, , and in cloud bodies. Unusual in appearance, tapirs and rainforests. Preferring moist have thick necks, stumpy tails and large areas, they are often found near water- ears. Short trunks, used for lifting food ways where they can feed, rest and bathe. into their mouths, are also characteristic of the tapir. They are a tan to dark brown Diet color, and have a ridge with a fringe of hair Tapirs are browsing , feeding running along the backs of their necks. on herbaceous vegetation and , with Baby tapirs are born with spotted and a particular affinity for bananas. As they striped coats for ; this will swim well and can walk on bottoms, darken as the tapir ages. The three to four they will also feed on aquatic plants. toes on each foot are spread out to help them navigate on soft, muddy ground. Ta- Threats pirs have sharp senses of smell and hear- Being such a large means also ing that are useful in evading predators. being a great source of protein for people. Tapirs are widely hunted by indigenous people in the forest. Although they are The Amazonian tapir is found in South rather large, tapirs are quite defenseless, America, from northern to and it is believed that pumas, and northern and southern on alligators may prey on small tapirs. Low the eastern side of the Mountains. reproductive rates and habitat loss due to Tapirs are generally most active at night, have also diminished popu- although they are often active during the lations. Amazonian tapirs are considered a day. Known for their reclusive, solitary highly vulnerable .

www.-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Amazon (Inia geoffrensis)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

photo © Frank Wouters

Anatomy Habitat The Amazon River dolphin averages about The Amazon River dolphin can be found in 6.5 feet in length. They come in all shades the Amazon River system and the Orinoco of pink, from a dull gray-pink, to rosy pink, River system, which flow throughout Bra- to a bright pink like that of the flamingo. zil, , , , Colombia, This variation is due to water clarity; the and . darker the water, the pinker the dolphin will be. The sun's rays cause the Diet to lose their pink pigmentation. Murky Amazon River dolphins eat more than 50 water helps to protect the dolphin's bright types of fish as well as crustaceans found hue. These are also know to flush on the river bottom and the occasional to a bright pink when excited. There are turtle. several anatomical differences between the Amazon River dolphin and other types Threats of dolphins. For one, Amazon River dol- Human activity is the main threat to the phins are able to turn their necks from Amazon River dolphin. Although these side to side, while most species of dol- dolphins have long been respected and phins cannot. This trait, coupled with the unharmed because of the local belief that ability to paddle forward with one they have magical powers, these beliefs and backward with the other, helps them are changing. Some humans see them as maneuver when the river floods. These competition and kill them so they will not dolphins will actually swim up over the have to share the river's fish. The dolphins flooded land and their flexibility helps often become tangled in the nets of fisher- them to navigate around trees. Other men and die. Additionally, the building of characteristics that set them apart are hydroelectric dams in South American -like teeth that allow them to chew , pollution, the loss of habitat and their prey and bristle-like hairs at the ends decrease in food sources all threaten this of their snouts that help them search for unique species of dolphin. food on the muddy river bottoms.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Andean (Vultur gryphus)

Sources Smithsonian National Zoological Park. national- .si.edu/Animals/Birds/ Facts/FactSheets/fact- andeancondor.cfm

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. www.clemetzoo.com/rttw/ condor/allabt.htm

Vulture Culture. www. -territory.com/an- dean.html

photo © Keven Law

Anatomy ery two among boulders or in caves The is the national or holes. These places are typically harder of Colombia and one of the largest of for other predators to reach and offer their prey in the world, weighing as much as 20 and chicks more safety. to 25 pounds. Adults can reach heights of four feet, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Diet Males are typically larger than females. Andean are scavengers and eat Andean condors are mostly black with a mainly , or dead or decaying flesh. fluffy white collar around their neck and Their excellent eyesight allows them to white patches along their wings. These seek out dead or dying animals while hov- birds have bald grayish-red heads, and the ering high in the sky. They use their sharp, males have a fleshy lump at the front of curved and claws to remove meat their heads called a . Their beaks from carcasses or weak animals. To clean are large and hooked, and they have large their bald heads after a meal, they scrape feet with sharp claws, allowing them to them along the ground to remove any food easily tear apart their meals. scraps. Baby animals and eggs are also oc- casionally part of the condor's diet. Habitat At one time, the Andean condor could Threats be found along the entire western coast The Andean condor was placed on the of South America from Venezuela to the List in 1973 and is in southern tip of . Today, these danger of becoming extinct due primarily majestic birds inhabit only northern to over-. Many farmers shoot these Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and birds because they mistakenly believe . They spend their time in high moun- the condors kill their . Pesticide tains, lowland deserts, open , poisoning through the food chain has also along coastlines and in alpine regions. Un- hurt populations. Thanks to the repopu- like many other birds, the condor doesn't lation efforts of many , the Andean build nests, but lays its eggs only once ev- condor is beginning to make a comeback.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Banana (Musa acuminata)

northern Australia, and were brought to Sources South America by the Portuguese in the Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- early 16th century. Today, banana plants pedia of Rainforests. Con- grow in the humid, tropical regions of Cen- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. tral and South America, Africa and South- east Asia, where there are high tempera- California Rare tures and rainfall. Modern agricultural Growers. www.crfg.org/ technologies also enable people to culti- pubs/ff/banana.html vate banana plants in non-tropical regions such as California in the . International Banana Association. Significance to Humans Grown in every humid, tropical region photo © Gemma Longman on Earth, bananas are the fourth larg- est fruit crop in the entire world and the most popular fruit in the United States. In Central and South America, bananas are vital to the economy. Most bananas sold in the United States originated there. Banana leaves are used worldwide as cooking materials, plates, umbrellas, seat pads for benches, fishing lines, clothing fabric and soles for inexpensive shoes. For much of Botany its history, the banana industry was noto- Contrary to popular belief, banana plants rious for environmentally destructive and are not trees but giant herbs, which reach socially irresponsible farming practices. their full height of between 10 and 20 feet As companies attempted to keep produc- after only a . Every banana blossom tion high and costs low, they tended to develops into a fruit, which is ripe enough cultivate only single crops in their planta- for consumption after about three or four tions. The lack of biodiversity made the months. After producing fruit, the plants' plants susceptible to disease, which farm stems die off and are replaced by new managers controlled using frequent ap- growth. The number of bananas produced plications of pesticides that would leak by each plant varies. However, 10 or more into drinking water, pollute irrigation bananas growing together forms a “hand.” canals and endanger the health of workers, Banana stems have on average 150 “fin- their families and communities. In 1991, gers” and weigh nearly 100 pounds. The the Rainforest Alliance, along with local trunks of banana plants are not woody but nonprofit organizations, scientists and composed of sheets of overlapping leaves farmers, established the first standards for wrapped tightly around one another, a de- responsible banana production. Rainfor- sign feature that enables them to conserve est Alliance Certified™ farms are guaran- water. Because banana plants are approxi- teed to meet a rigorous set of standards mately 93 percent water, even moderate that protect wildlands and wildlife, soil winds can knock them down and destroy and water, reduce agrochemical use, and entire plantations. Powerful storms devas- improve the quality of life for farm work- tated banana crops throughout ers and their families. The environment when Hurricane Mitch swept through the and the communities surrounding Rainfor- country on October 26, 1998. est Alliance Certified banana plantations benefit from both on-farm improvements Habitat and off-farm recognition, setting the pace Bananas are indigenous to the tropical for the rest of the banana sector. portions of India, and

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Blue Morpho Butterfly (Morpho peleides)

Habitat Sources Blue morphos live in the tropical forests Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- of Latin America from to Colombia. pedia of Rainforests. Con- Adults spend most of their time on the necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. forest floor and in the lower shrubs and trees of the understory with their wings Earth's Birthday Project, folded. However, when looking for mates, Rainforest Exploration. the blue morpho will fly through all layers www.earthsbirthday.org/ of the forest. Humans most commonly see explore/teachers/ morphos in clearings and along streams infobluemorpho.htm where their bright blue wings are most visible. Pilots flying over rainforests have Saint Louis Zoo. www.stl even encountered large groups of blue zoo.org/animals/aboutthe morphos above the treetops, warming animals/invertebrates/ themselves in the sun. The blue morpho's /butterfliesand entire lifespan lasts only 115 days, which moths/bluemorpho.htm means most of their time is spent eating and reproducing.

Diet The blue morpho's diet changes through- out each stage of its lifecycle. As a cater- pillar, it chews leaves of many varieties, Anatomy but prefers to dine on plants in the pea As its common name implies, the blue . When it becomes a butterfly it can morpho butterfly's wings are bright blue, no longer chew, but drinks its food instead. edged with black. The blue morpho is Adults use a long, protruding mouthpart among the largest butterflies in the world, called a proboscis as a drinking straw to with wings spanning from 5 to 8 inches. sip the juice of rotting fruit, the fluids of Their vivid, iridescent blue coloring is a decomposing animals, tree sap, fungi and result of the microscopic scales on the wet mud. Blue morphos taste fruit with backs of their wings, which reflect light. sensors on their legs, and they "taste- The underside of the morpho's wings, on smell" the air with their antennae, which the other hand, is a dull brown color with serve as a combined tongue and nose. many eyespots, providing camouflage against predators such as birds and in- Threats sects when its wings are closed. When the Blue morphos are severely threatened blue morpho flies, the contrasting bright by deforestation of tropical forests and blue and dull brown colors flash, making it habitat fragmentation. Humans provide a look like the morpho is appearing and dis- direct threat to this spectacular creature appearing. The males' wings are broader because their beauty attracts artists and than those of the females and brighter in collectors from all over the globe who color. Blue morphos, like other butterflies, wish to capture and display them. Aside also have two clubbed antennae, two fore from humans, birds like the jacamar and wings and two hind wings, six legs and flycatcher are the adult butterfly's natural three body segments—the head, thorax predators. and abdomen.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Bromeliad Society International. www.bsi.org/

photo © Paul Burland

Botany Habitat There are more than 2,700 species of Bromeliads are native to the Neotropics. bromeliads. One of the most well-known One species now thrives in western Africa, bromeliads is the pineapple. Bromeliads and is thought to have been introduced typically have bright red, orange, purple accidentally. or blue flowers, and can grow in a number of different ways: they can be terrestrial, Did You Know? growing on the ground; saxicolous, grow- Many bromeliads have stiff, overlapping ing on rocks; or epiphytic, growing on leaves which hold rainfall like buckets. other plants and trees. Epiphytic brome- Leaves and debris fall into these reser- liads have the ability to absorb nutrients voirs and help algae and other single- and moisture from the atmosphere, so celled organisms to grow, which in turn they are sometimes called "air plants." feed mosquitoes, larvae and other Hundreds of these plants can grow on organisms. The bromeliad is like a small branches of tropical trees, sometimes ecosystem in itself—animals such as tree causing the branches to break under their , snails, flatworms, tiny crabs and weight. salamanders might spend their entire lives inside them.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruviana)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Ecology Info. www.ecology. info/cock-of-the-rock.htm

Houston Zoo. www.houstonzoo.org/

photo © Panegyrics of Granovetter

Anatomy not digest the seeds of their fruity meals. A beautiful orange crest adorns the head Instead, the seeds pass through their di- of the cock-of-the-rock and brilliant or- gestive tracts and are eventually scattered ange, black and white cover its along the ground, making these birds back and wings. As with most birds, the extremely important seed dispersers. In female coloring is subtler. Their strong addition to fruit, cocks-of-the-rock eat claws and legs allow them to grip onto insects and small . steep cliffs and rocks. Threats Habitat Many predators are attracted to the cock- Found in the Andes from Venezuela to of-the-rock's beautiful . These Bolivia, the cock-of-the-rock lives only in include birds of prey such as and mountainous regions and builds its nests , puma and jaguars and even boa on the rocky surfaces of cliffs, large boul- constrictors. The loss of habitat, predomi- ders and caves. nantly from forestland being converted to farmland, is a major threat to the survival Diet of this brilliant . The cock-of-the-rock's diet consists mainly of fruit. Often, these colorful birds do

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Coffee (Coffea spp.)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

United States Department of : "Coffea Arabica." www.fs.fed.us/ global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/ Coffea%20arabica.pdf

Botany year. In every country in the world, people Though it can grow up to 30 feet tall, the are drinking coffee. The two economically coffee plant is considered to be a bush important species of coffee are C. Arabica or shrub. It may grow with a single stem, and C. Robusta. Coffee was traditionally but often it develops multiple stems by grown in the shade of trees. However, in branching at the base. The coffee plant is the 1970s, coffee farmers began planting an evergreen, with light gray bark and five- dwarf shrubs that produced higher yields inch leaves that are dark green and glossy. and required no shade, resulting in the Coffee flowers are small, white and fra- clearing of shade trees. But the dwarf grant, helping to attract pollinating insects. shrubs require fertilizers, pesticides and When the flowers fall off the plant, berries constant care. In addition, many species begin to develop in their place, ripening of migratory birds suffer as their winter from a dark green to a bright crimson. Two tropical habitat is converted from forests small green coffee beans, surrounded by to full-sun coffee farms. and pulp, are found inside the berry. It takes six to eight years of growth for a Did You Know? plant to be in full fruit production. Coffee Legend has it that the energizing effects plants can live to be 100 years old. of coffee were first discovered by a goat. Thousands of years ago in what is now Habitat Ethiopia, an Abyssinian herder noticed Coffee is a shade-loving plant that thrives that after his goats ate the bright red ber- in areas of high altitude, where there is a ries of the coffee plant, theybecame quite wet and dry season. Originating in Ethio- energetic. He showed his discovery to pia and Sudan, today more than two-thirds some monks at a nearby monastery, who is grown in Latin America. then brewed the berries into a beverage to keep them awake during evening prayers. Significance to Humans Thus, the first cups of coffee were born. Coffee is the second most valuable com- From Ethiopia, coffee spread across Ara- modity today in international commerce bia, and eventually found its way into cups after oil; $2 billion worth is traded every around the world.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Collared (Pecari tajacu)

defensively, clack their intimidating teeth Sources and then charge. Even large predators University of Michigan such as coyotes may get scared off! Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. Habitat umich.edu/ Collared are found in the south- ern United States (Arizona, Texas and New The Living Desert – Zoo & Mexico) and throughout Gardens. www.livingdesert. to northern Argentina. They live in tropi- org/desert_animals_new_ cal rainforests except in the United States, sub_animal.html?id=18 where they live in desert habitats. Col- lared peccaries have very close social rela- Smithsonian National tionships and live in hierarchical herds Zoological Park. national of five to 15 members. They cannot with- zoo.si.edu/animals/ stand extremely cold temperatures, so northamerica/facts/ they huddle should to shoulder in caves or fact-peccary.cfm similar enclosures to keep warm. Females give birth to one to three young, avoid- Gilbert, Bil. August 1999. ing the herd for one day afterwards lest "Do Not Take the Javelina another herd member eats their young. Lightly." Smithsonian v30 Attracted by food handouts, some herds i5 p52. have moved to urban areas. photo © Andrew Anatomy Diet Culverston Collared peccaries, also called javelinas, Collared peccaries use their sensitive look a lot like pigs, but are actually part noses to root out food from underground, of a different family of mammals. Their including tubers, bulbs, nuts and fruits. coarse coat is a "salt and pepper" color Their complex stomachs enable them to with a hint of yellow on the cheeks. The eat poorly-chewed food that is rich in cel- white "collar" running around their lulose. Although they are mainly herbivo- shoulds and neck gives them their name. rous, some people believe they also con- Collared peccaries have a large, ovaloid sume insects, and other animals. In head and a flat snot. They have sharp the desert, collared peccaries eat mostly straight tusks that fit tightly together. agave and prickly pear cacti, which have Their legs seem slender under their propo- high water content. tionally large body. Collared pecaries can grow up to 3.3 feet (one meter) long and Threats weigh 66 pounds (30 kg). A very social For centuries, collared peccaries were an species, collared peccaries make a lot of important meat source to people in Cen- noise—barking, grunting, purring, woof- tral and South America. In the southwest- ing and coughing—because they have ern U.S., they are hunted for sport. Wild strong hearing but poor vision and thus felines are their main natural predators. rely on vocalizations to communicate with However, those activities have a minor each other. These smelly creatures are impact on collared peccary populations sometimes called "musk hogs" because of compared to habitat loss to farms, pas- the odor they emit from glands located on tures and human developments. Frus- their rump and near their eyes. They use trated farmers organize collared peccary this scent to recognize other herd mem- extermination programs to protect their bers and to mark their territories. When crops. In the past, commercial sale of their threatened, they run away and scatter. On hid and meat in global markets reduced rare occasions they will stand together their populations significantly.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Great ( rubra)

Sources Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. www.fao.org/

Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

SalvaNATURA. April 1, 1999. "National Park: El Imposible National Park, ." www. salvanatura.org/index. php?option=com_content &task=view&id=51&Itemid =161

Anatomy The male curassow leads his family and photo © RK & Tina The great curassow is a 36-inch tall, whistles when there are signs of danger. hearty bird. All great have a Females lay two eggs at a time. Curassows peak of forward-curling feathers on their are monogamous and travel in pairs or in heads and long tails. The base of the bill small groups. The group can communicate is yellow, decorated with a round yellow by grunting. Like , they tend to bulge. The coloring of the females varies; run rather than fly. they can be black or chestnut-colored with black or white bars; their heads and Diet crests may be barred with black and white. The curassow finds its food by foraging on The males are a lustrous blue or black fallen fruits, berries and seeds. Addition- color and have white bellies. Although ally, they may scrape the ground in search they have low rates of reproduction, they of insects or small animals. are long-lived birds. Threats Habitat Deforestation of tropical forests is the While the range of the great curassow major threat to the survival of the great extends from southern Mexico to western curassow. Humans are a direct threat Ecuador, their habitat is usually limited to to the great curassow because the local parks. They build their nests of leaves and inhabitants hunt them for food. Besides twigs in forks and depressions in trees. humans, snakes are also their predators.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Heliconia (Heliconia spp.)

Botany Sources There are about 40 different species of Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- heliconia. The leaves of this plant are pedia of Rainforests. Con- paddle-shaped, and they are related to the necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. banana family. Heliconias are sometimes called "lobster claws" or " flowers" Biological Diversity Info. because of their -like "bracts," which biological-diversity.info/ can be orange, purple, red, yellow, pink, native_heliconia.htm green or a combination of these. A bract is a leaf structure at the base of a flower. The heliconia's flowers are tiny and found inside these bracts, which are so large and colorful that they almost hide the flowers altogether. This keeps the flower's sweet nectar tucked away so that only special- ized birds can get to it. Some species of heliconia have upright-facing flowers, and in some called hanging heliconia, the flow- ers dangle down from the main stem.

Habitat Heliconias are found throughout the Neo- tropics and are actually quite common in the rainforest. They are also often found as ornamental plants in gardens and land- scaped areas. People enjoy their colorful, gravity-defying ornamentation.

Did You Know? The heliconia, like the bromeliad, can be home to other living things. Water collects in the bracts of the straight stems, which provides a habitat for many species of tiny aquatic organisms. Many other animals depend on the heliconia as well. Hum- mingbirds and butterflies like to drink the sweet nectar from the heliconia's flowers.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

The Zoo. www. belizezoo.org/

Smithsonian National Zoo- logical Park. nationalzoo. si.edu/Animals/Small Mammals/Exhibits/Howler Monkeys/LoudestAnimal/ default.cfm

photo © Steve Jurvetson

Anatomy they are most active during the day (diur- Howler monkeys are among the largest nal), sleeping high in trees at night. primates in the Neotropics. They can grow to be 22 to 36 inches tall when stand- Diet ing, and their tails are about the same Howlers are strict vegetarians, eating only length as their bodies. Male howlers are flowers, fruits and leaves. In Belize, special black, while females are brown. They have community-managed protected areas have prehensile tails that they can use to grab been established to keep people from branches. They make loud vocalizations over-harvesting the fruit and flowers that to mark their territory, thus earning their the howlers need to survive. name. Their howls—which resemble a strong wind blowing through a tunnel— Threats have been heard more than two miles Howlers have both natural and human-in- away by researchers. While most indi- duced threats to their existence. The black viduals do not live for more than 15 years howler monkey, known as the "baboon" in in the wild, it is possible for howlers to Belize, is endangered throughout much surpass 20 years in age. of its range due to hunting and habitat de- struction. As forests are cleared, howlers, Habitat who need several acres of forest per troop Howler monkeys are found only in the to survive, are becoming increasingly rare. rainforests of the Americas. They live Throughout the region in which they are in the tall rainforest trees in groups of found, howlers are hunted both for food between four and 19 members. They travel and for sport. Some experts believe that from tree to tree in search of food—walk- howlers could become extinct within the ing from limb to limb, rather than jumping. next 35 years. While not particularly perky primates,

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile (Panthera onca)

Sources Isle of Wight Zoo. www. isleofwightzoo.com/ jaguars.aspx

Big Cats Online. dspace. dial.pipex.com/agarman/ bco/jaguar.htm

photo © Naturalia A.C. Mexico

Anatomy more than 85 species, including armadil- Jaguars can measure six feet from nose los, peccaries, , tapir, , squir- to tail and stand three feet tall at the rels, birds and even snails. Not confined shoulder. The average male weighs about to hunting on land, they are adept at 120 pounds, but some weigh as much as snatching fish, turtles and young 300. At birth, most jaguars weigh only two from the water. They even hunt monkeys pounds. Jaguars are most famous for their and other tree-dwellers who occasionally spots, which are broken rosettes, rather wander to lower branches. Unfortunately, than true spots like a leopard. These allow jaguars compete with humans for most of the jaguar to hide amongst the grasses, their prey. In many regions they are shot bushes and trees that dominate its habitat. on sight because of fear, concern for live- Although less common than the yellow stock or competition for prey. and black jaguar, it is not unusual to find an all-black (melanistic) jaguar. Threats The jaguar faces no natural threat from Habitat rival cats or other predators—with the Jaguars are found in rainforests, seasonal- exception of humans. At the height of ly-flooded forests, grasslands, woodlands their decline in the 1960s and 70s, more and dry deciduous forest throughout than 15,000 jaguars were killed each their range. Jaguars spend much of their year for their beautiful . While trade in time on the ground, using their specially- jaguar fur has been reduced by consumer padded paws to move silently through the awareness campaigns, they continue to forest. Although not as agile as leopards, face pressure from hunters. In addition, jaguars can climb trees to hunt or to rest. habitat loss is forcing increasing interac- tions between people and jaguars. There Diet are believed to be 15,000 alive in the wild Jaguars are mostly nocturnal hunters. today. If jaguars are to exist in the future, They use their excellent vision to ambush scientists believe it will be through a com- prey and crush their with their bination of special protected areas and sharp teeth. Jaguars are known to prey on increased community awareness.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation. www.ceiba.org/ceiba.htm

Botany containing 200 seeds. When these fruit A giant in the rainforests, the kapok tree burst open, silky fibers spread the many can reach up to 200 feet in height, some- seeds all over the forest. times growing as much as 13 feet per year. Due to its extreme height, the kapok, or Habitat ceiba tree, towers over the other rainfor- The kapok tree is found throughout the est vegetation. The trunk can expand to Neotropics, from southern Mexico to the nine or 10 feet in diameter. In the nooks southern Amazon and even to parts of and grooves of this huge plant live a . Because the unopened fruit diverse number of species, including frogs, won't sink when submerged in water, many birds and bromeliads. The kapok tree is believe the fruit of the kapok tree floated deciduous, shedding all of its leaves dur- its way from Latin America to Africa. ing the dry season. As its seeds are easily blown into open areas, kapok trees are Significance to Humans some of the first to colonize open areas The majestic kapok tree has many uses in the forest. The white and pink flowers for humans. Its wood is lightweight and of the kapok tree emit a foul odor that at- porous; good for making carvings, coffins tracts bats. As the flying mammals move and dugout canoes. The silky fibers that from flower to flower feasting on the nec- disperse the seeds are too small for weav- tar, they transfer pollen on their fur, thus ing but make great stuffing for bedding facilitating pollination. The kapok tree and life preservers. Soaps can be made does a great job at spreading its seeds, from the oils in the seeds. Other parts of producing anywhere between 500 and the giant tree are used as medicines. 4,000 fruits at one time, with each fruit

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile (Sarcoramphus papa)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

The Belize Zoo. www. belizezoo.org/birds/ king-vulture.html

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

photo © Keven Law

Anatomy carrion. The king vulture's The king vulture is one of the larger spe- is not as good as that of other types of vul- cies of vulture. It can grow to be 32 inches tures, so they do not always use it to de- long. Unlike other , which are dark tect food. When it sees that other scaven- in color, king vultures are creamy white, ger birds have discovered a meal, it shoots with darker tail feathers. The feathers down from the sky and pushes the others around their heads and necks are blue, out of the way. All of the other vultures red, orange and yellow. The skin drooping are quick to move aside for the "king." over their beak, called a , is a bright red-orange. Their beak is thick and strong, Diet great for shredding flesh, and their long Like other scavengers, the king vulture thick claws are good for keeping a tight does not kill its own food. Instead, it feasts grip on their dinner. on the carcasses and remains of animals that have been killed by some other Habitat means (known as carrion). These large birds live in the uppermost branches of emergent canopy trees any- Threats where from Mexico to central Argentina Though the species is not universally and Trinidad. They perch high up in these listed as endangered, the populations of trees so that they have a great view of king vultures are in decline due to habitat what is going on below them. They have destruction. These royal birds cannot sur- excellent eyesight and rely on it to watch vive if their home forests disappear. out for other vultures that have spotted

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Leafcutter (Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

www.animaldiversity.org

www.thewildones.org

photo © Charles and Clinton Robertson

Anatomy mold from developing a resistance, allow- Leafcutter practice advanced meth- ing the bacterium to remain an effective ods of sustainable agriculture, and oper- defense over time. ate under one of the most studied social caste systems in the natural world. Natu- Habitat ralist E.O. Wilson offered that leafcutters Found mainly in Latin America and the Ca- have perfectly evolved to address every ribbean, leafcutter ants inhabit the forest small need necessary for their survival floor and construct an underground web over their 50 million years in existence. of chambers where they "farm" and har- Different ants are responsible for each vest their staple food, fungus. They create step in the process of cultivation of fungi. underground fungus "gardens" by clipping According to their size, ants fulfill specific and gathering fresh vegetation and inject- roles such as defenders of the colony, ing the pieces with a fungal secretion that caretakers of the young, gardeners, forag- digests the often-poisonous plants into an ers and leafcutters. Incredibly, there are edible and nutritious mushroom form. even tiny ants that straddle the backs of larger worker ants and defend them from Diet carnivorous flies. No survival task is left These ants consume more vegetation than unassigned. Researchers marvel at the any other animal group. Their own fun- complex form of sustainable agriculture gal secretion, which they inject into the that the ants practice. Careful not to over- leaves, can change poisonous plants into a use a single vegetation source, leafcutters nutritious meal. gather fragments from different plants and trees, minimizing the vegetation's tenden- Threats cy to build up its defenses. Some ants are The main natural predator of the leafcut- equipped with a bacterium that acts as a ter ants is the armadillo. However, as the pesticide on a particular mold, the largest leafcutter ants are an integral part of the threat to their fungus gardens. The ants' rainforest ecosystem, as the forests disap- sparing use of this protectant has kept the pear, so do the ants.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile West Indian (Trichechus manatus)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu

Save the Manatee Organi- zation. www.savethe manatee.org/manfcts.htm

The South Carolina Wildlife Federation. www. scwf.org/index.php/ education-programs/ theendangered#West%20 Indian%20Manatee

National Park Service. www.nps.gov/ever/ Anatomy bitter-tasting plants. They have even been naturescience/ , slow and gentle giants of the known to dig with their flippers to get manateepage.htm ocean, can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and roots. As far as water goes, no one is sure grow to about 10 feet in length. They have if they need to drink to sur- photo © U.S. Fish & small heads and rotund bodies. Manatees vive, but some manatees have been seen Wildlife Service are very solitary animals that spend their drinking from hoses to quench their thirst! entire lives submerged feeding on marine grasses. When they surface to breathe, Threats only their bristly nostrils poke above the Tragically, the main cause of the depletion surface of the water. of manatee populations is human activity. Manatees are slow-moving underwater Habitat animals. With the increase in boating West Indian manatees live in the waters activities there has been an increase in surrounding the southern United States, manatee death and injury from boat pro- the islands, eastern Central pellers. The boaters do not see the mana- America and off the northeast coast of tees underwater and the manatees cannot Brazil. They can be found in both fresh swim away quickly enough. They can also and marine waters, muddy or clear. They get caught in the nets of fishermen. There seem to prefer water between three and are some that hunt the manatee for its seven feet deep. They will not go in water meat. The friendly nature of the creature, more than 20 feet deep or where the cur- which often results in them approaching rent is faster than three miles per hour. divers or swimmers, also makes them an easy target for hunters. Diet These creatures are the only marine mammals that are strictly herbivorous. They eat a wide variety of plants, prefer- ring mostly sea-grass leaves. They have a tendency to stay away from the more

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Capuchin Monkey (Cebus capucinus)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

Mindy's Memory Primate Sanctuary. www. mindysmem.org/

Monkeys. www.monkeys- monkeys.com/

Animal Info. www.animalinfo.org/

Capuchin Monkeys. www. capuchin-monkeys.com/

Anatomy monkeys leave a scent by soaking their photo © Ma José Paniagua Agile and lean, capuchin monkeys weigh hands and feet in urine. Remaining hidden only three to nine pounds (1.4–4.9 kg). among forest vegetation for most of the The fur of the capuchin monkey varies, day, capuchins sleep on tree branches and but is most commonly cream or light tan descend to the ground only for the pur- around the face, neck and shoulders and pose of obtaining drinking water. dark brown on the rest of the coat. The hair is shorter and darker on the capu- Diet chin's back than on other parts of its body. A typical diet for capuchin monkeys The face of this cute monkey will range includes fruit, insects, leaves and small from white to pink in color. The tail is long, birds. They are particularly good at covered in hair, and partially able to wrap catching frogs and cracking nuts, and it around branches. is suspected that they may also feed on small mammals. Habitat The exact range of the capuchin monkey Threats is not known, although it is assumed that Capuchin monkeys are very clever, and they inhabit a large range in Brazil and easy to train. Because of this, they are other parts of Latin America. Capuchin used to help people who are quadriplegics monkeys usually live in large groups (10– in many developed countries. Alterna- 35 individuals) within the forest, although tively, they have also become popular pets they can easily adapt to places colonized and attractions for street entertainment, by humans. Each group is wide-ranging, as and are hunted for meat by local people. members must search for the best areas As they have a high reproductive rate to feed. Group members communicate and flexibility of habitat, loss of the forest using calls. Capuchins can jump up to does not negatively impact the capuchin nine feet (3 m), and they use this mode monkey populations as much as other of transport to get from one tree to an- species. Natural predators include jaguars other. To mark their territories, capuchin and birds of prey.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Blue-Crowned Motmot (Momotus momota)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Coraciiformes Taxon Advisory Group. www. coraciiformestag.com/ Motmot/momotus/ momotus.html

Cornell University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

photo © Christopher Ciccone

Anatomy coffee farms. Motmots dig their nests in Similar to all members of the motmot the shape of tunnels five to 14 feet long , the blue-crowned motmot has and four inches in diameter with a nest- a large head with a short, broad down- ing chamber at the end, which is 10 by 14 curved beak, which is serrated along the inches in length. Both males and females upper edge. Their tarsi are unique in that begin excavating during the rainy season they are particularly short with a middle from August to October, when the soil is toe almost completely fused to the inner soft. They leave the nest area until breed- toe and only one rear toe. Most of the ing season the following March or April. species of motmots have tail feathers that Both males and females share parental distinguish them from other birds. The responsibility. Motmots choose to live center tail feathers, which twitch like the near water, not only for consumption, but pendulum of a clock when the motmot is also for bathing. perched, have bare spines at the tip. This makes them easily recognizable. The Diet plumage of the blue-crowned motmot is Motmots eat fruit, small reptiles and in- shades of green and blue. They have red sects such as crickets, mealworms, wax- eyes, a turquoise crown and a black face. worms and earthworms. Motmot eggs are round and white. They incubate for three weeks. Motmots make Threats a double hoot sound with a resonance Due to their ability to live in many differ- similar to that of an owl. ent forest types ranging from rainforests to shaded coffee farms, the blue-crowned Habitat motmot is not on the endangered list. Motmots are found in Mexico, Central However, as shaded coffee farms and America and the majority of South Amer- forests are destroyed, the survival of this ica in rainforests, second-growth forests, beautiful bird is threatened. forest edges, shady gardens and shaded

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Pelotes Island Nature Preserve. pelotes.jea.com/ armad.hts

The Big Zoo. www.thebig- zoo.com/Animals/Nine- Banded_Armadillo.asp

Wonderclub. www.wonder- club.com/Wildlife/mam- mals/armadillo.html

The Library of Congress. www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/ mysteries/armadillo.html

photo © Art Wolfe

Anatomy ing a body of water, armadillos can either Dressed in a suit of armor, the head, body, inflate their stomachs and intestines with legs and tail of the nine-banded armadillo air and float across, or sink down to the are protected by bony plates. Armadil- bottom and use their claws to walk across. los spend most of their time in burrows under the ground. Accordingly, their sense Diet of smell far outpowers their vision and Armadillos' favorite foods are insects. hearing. About the size of a cat, these Their special tongue allows them to con- creatures have elongated, pointed noses sume up to 40,000 ants in one meal! They and long, sticky tongues used for catch- also enjoy feeding on small animals, bird ing insects. Their short, strong legs have eggs, roots, fruits and even rotting animal sharp claws that come in handy when dig- flesh (called “carrion”). ging burrows. Threats Habitat When startled, armadillos can jump three Found from South and Central America to to four feet in the air. Even with their suit Oklahoma, the armadillo tends to live in of armor, bears, coyotes, wild cats, foxes forests near swampy areas. These adap- and dogs feed on armadillos. But cars tive creatures can live anywhere that is continue to pose the biggest threat, and warm and has plenty of food. They prefer many are killed crossing the road each rainforests, tempereate forets, year. Loss of habitat is forcing increasing and grasslands where the soil is good interactions between people and armadil- for digging burrows. Armadillos can hold los, further threatening the survival of their breath for six minutes. When cross- these curious-looking creatures.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Ocellated (Meleagris ocellata)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

National Wild Turkey Federation. www.nwtf.org/ all_about_turkeys/ history_ocellated_wild_ turkey.html

photo © Tim Proffitt-White

Anatomy lar to those on the neck. Ocellated turkeys Male ocellated turkeys look similar to the also have a distinct eye-ring of bright red North American wild turkey, but have skin, especially visible on adult males dur- more vibrant coloring and weigh signifi- ing the breeding season. cantly less than the North American bird. Unlike North American turkeys, breast Habitat feathers of male and female ocellated The is endemic to Mex- turkeys do not differ and cannot be used ico's Yucatan Peninsula, and to determine sex. The body feathers of Belize, and can be found across an area both male and female ocellated turkeys extending 50,000 miles. Ocellated turkeys are an iridescent bronze-green, with males are most often found in tropical deciduous more brightly colored than females. Males and lowland evergreen forests as well as weigh just over 10 pounds and average clearings and abandoned farm plots. three feet in length. At around six pounds, females are slightly smaller, though they Diet gain weight during the mating season. Ocellated turkeys tend to remain in small Both sexes have bluish-gray tails with a groups, and their diet consists mainly of well-defined, eye-shaped, blue-bronze seeds, berries, insects and leaves. colored spot neat the end followed by a bright gold tip. These spots give the ocel- Threats lated turkey its name, as the Latin word Large-scale timbering operations followed for eye is oculus. Males and females have by slash-and-burn agriculture in Central a blue-colored head and neck with distinc- America threatens the habitat of the ocel- tive orange to red warty growths that are lated turkey. The alarming rate of this more pronounced on males. The head of destruction is a major threat to the future the male also has a fleshy blue crown this of this beautiful bird. adorned with yellow-orange growths simi-

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile (Felis paradalis)

Sources Big Cats Online. dialspace. dial.pipex.com/agarman/ bco/ver4.htm

Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

photo © sometimesong

Anatomy during the day to rest. Males and females Measuring up to four feet long, are will sometimes share a territory, which about twice the size and weight of ordi- may be up to three square miles in area. nary house cats. Female ocelots are slight smaller than male, usually growing to two Diet and a half feet in length. She carries a litter Being nocturnal, ocelots hunt at night of two kittens and parents them for a year. with varying techniques. Because they Males do not share in the parental respon- swim well, they will often hunt for fish. As sibilities. The ocelot's buff-to-sandy brown occasional climbers, they will catch birds. coat is covered in a mixture of black spots Small , rabbits, opossum and igua- and small rosettes with distinct markings nas are also main prey for the terrestrial around the mouth and eyes. Its underbelly ocelot. The female ocelot's range is about is light with black spots and its 14-inch- one and a half miles, while the male's can long tail is covered in dark spots. be up to 11 miles.

Habitat Threats The ocelot's main requirement for survival Ocelots have been hunted since the an- is a dense cover for living space. This cient Aztec civilization. The highly-prized, cover can vary from arid scrub to tropical distinctive coat of the ocelot is an incen- forest. This flexibility makes it possible for tive to poachers. Their numbers continue ocelots to populate an area from southern to diminish today because along with fur Texas through Central and South America. hunting, ocelots are being trapped for the Ocelots are terrestrial and mostly noctur- trade. Deforestation combined nal. They tend to sleep hidden in thick veg- with direct human threats put the ocelot etation on the ground, but may climb trees on the endangered species list in 1972.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Orchid (Orchidaceae)

which means they grow on other plants Sources and trees. Orchids tend to obtain their Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- nourishment from the air, rain or moisture pedia of Rainforests. Con- in the soil. While some are self-pollinating, necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. most relay on specific insects or birds for pollination. Another unique fact about Botany.com. www.botany. the orchid is that the plant compensates com/orchidaceae.html for its lack of a true water-retentive root system by working with a certain photo © Nadia of fungi called mycorrhizae fungi during Prigoda-Lee some portion of their life cycle. During this period, the fungi grow partly inside orchid roots, helping the plant to absorb water and minerals. The orchid “repays” the fungi by producing some nutrients during photosynthesis that help the fungi to survive. This kind of relationship, where two organisms help one another, is called a symbiotic relationship.

Habitat Orchids are extremely adaptable, and grow in almost all climates except for Botany frigid and arid extremes. Orchid groups Popular around the globe for their beauty are both pantropical, able to grow in dif- and variety, orchids are the largest family ferent tropical countries, and endemic, of plants in the entire world. There are only found in specific countries or habi- 25,000–30,000 different species of orchid, tats. Most orchid species grown in tropical and at least 10,000 of them can be found forests, but others can be found in semi- in the tropics. Orchid species can differ desert regions, near the seashore and in greatly from one another, with extreme the tundra. The majority of neotropical variations in size, weight and color. While orchid species can be found in southern some orchids may only be the size of a Central America, northwest South Ameri- nickel when in bloom, others may weigh ca and countries that lie along the Andes up to one ton, with petals as long as 30 Mountains. inches and sprays of small flowers 12–14 feet long. Orchid blossoms appear in Did You Know? almost every imaginable color except for Because most orchids depend on a single true black. In general, the floral arrange- species of bird, bee or other insect for ment of all orchid species is the same, pollination, if that species is eliminated, with each orchid flower having six parts. the particular orchid that depends on that The outer three flower parts are green “se- species becomes threatened by . pals,” and the inner three flower parts are Thus habitat fragmentation and rainfor- beautifully-colored “petals.” Some orchids est destruction may eventually prove live underground (subterranean), some devastating to the great number of orchid grown on rocks (lithophytes), and some species in existence today. grow in the soil, but most are epiphytes,

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Praying Mantid (Mantidae)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Insecta Inspecta World.

Desert USA. www.deser- tusa.com/mag00/dec/ papr/mantis.html

Anatomy functioning reproductive organs. Females The praying mantid's name comes from its and males can be identified by the number at-rest stance, with its forelegs folded up, of abdominal segments they have. Females as if praying. These insects are masters of have six and males have eight. Mantids camouflage, using their coloration to blend are also one of the only insects that can in with foliage, allowing them to hide from turn their heads. predators and better stalk their prey. They not only blend in with the foliage, but also Habitat mimic it, sometimes looking like leaves, Praying mantids can be found throughout grass or stones. Mantids can range from the world in tropical areas and sunnier one to 10 inches in size, have large heads, parts of temperate zones, including North small grasshopper-like mandibles and America and southern Europe. There are large leg segments with the middle and many species of mantids, but most are hind legs being thinner and the front legs tropical, belonging to the Mantidae family. containing spines that they use to capture their prey. They can only move the top Diet part of their bodies, which enables them As a mantid grows, its diet frequently to approach their prey without startling changes. They eat insects, such as beetles, it. Praying mantids have great eyesight butterflies, grasshoppers and other man- and catch their prey with their powerful tids; spiders and small vertebrates includ- forelegs, hold it in place, and devour it ing frogs, , mice and . using their strong jaws. Their antennae are relatively short, and they have long Threats narrow wings that are folded, fan-like, over Though their ability to camouflage helps the abdomen. Mantids are hemi-metabolic, protect them, mantids have many preda- meaning they undergo simple metamor- tors, including birds and bats. Some spe- phosis that includes only the , nymph cies have developed an ability to hear and adult stages. The nymph is almost the high-pitched sonar that bats use to identical to the adult but lacks wings and navigate in order to avoid these predators.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Ruby-Throated (Archilochus colubris)

Habitat Sources Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate Cornell Laboratory of south each year, some flying nearly 600 Ornithology. www.allabout miles from the eastern U.S. across the Gulf birds.org/guide/Ruby- of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula each throated_Hummingbird/id winter and back to their breeding grounds in the U.S. each spring. In the summer Operation Ruby Throat. breeding season, the ruby-throated hum- www.rubythroat.org/ mingbird is often found in the "ecotone," or edge, between forest and meadow. This National Wildlife habitat allows the birds to remain close to Federation. www.nwf.org/ the trees they nest in, while also having Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/ a supply of flowering plants and insects Birds/Ruby-Throated- nearby for food, shelter and space. For Hummingbird.aspx this reason, you can often find humming- birds in backyards and wooded parks. photo © Art Bromage When wintering in Mexico and Central America, ruby-throated hummingbirds tend to choose habitats similar to those they use in the U.S. for breeding and nesting during the summer. This includes the edges of thickets and second-growth forests where forests meet clearings such Anatomy as pastures. The ruby-throated hummingbird is among the smallest of the North American hum- Diet mingbirds, measuring just three to 3.75 While hummingbirds often drink plan inches in length from beak to tail with a nectar, even sugar water from feeders, wingspan of four to 4.75 inches. These tiny they also eat pollen and tiny insects such birds weigh only 0.1 ounces and males are as bees, ants, flies and beetles. Some typically smaller than females. Both males studies have even shown that while hum- and females are a metallic bronze-green mingbirds are overwintering in the tropics, color on their crown, nape, back and mid- they eat more insect matter than plant dle two tail feathers. Males typically have matter. Before migrating, ruby-throated green sides, while females have brownish hummingbirds often double in weight, al- sides, and the wings and outer tail feath- lowing a typical hummingbird to fly nearly ers of both sexes are dark, with a hint of 600 miles without having to stop for food! purple. The female's tail is rounded and has white on the tips of the outer feathers, Threats while the male's tail does not have this Ruby-throated hummingbirds are preyed white coloration and is slightly notched. upon by hawks, praying mantids, bullfrogs Males can be easily distinguished from and even large orb-weaving spiders. Habi- females because of their brilliant, irides- tat destruction due to agricultural growth cent red throats, which seen from the side and clear-cutting of forests poses a major may appear golden, greenish or even dark. threat to the survival of these birds, since The chin and side of the male's head below they depend on specific forest plants for the eyes is black, while the female's chin nourishment, nesting and roosting. is white. The young of both sexes look like the adult female.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Rufous-Bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Arthur Grosset. www. arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/ rufous-belliedthrush.html

Brazilian Embassy. www. brasilemb.org/brazil/ national-symbols/128-the- national-bird/131-the nationalbrid

photo © Dario Sanches

Anatomy the female builds a cup-shaped nest made Also known as the red-bellied thrush, the from grass, leaves and moss and incu- rufous-bellied thrush belongs to the family bates two to six light-colored spotted eggs. Turdidae, which also includes well-known These thrushes can live 25 to 30 years in birds such as the American robin, blue- the wild. bird and nightingale. It is easy to recog- nize with its bright orange-red belly and Diet dark streaks along its white throat. Some- Rufous-bellied thrushes are mainly insec- times you can spot a yellow ring around tivorous, which means a large part of their its eyes. Thrushes have relatively long, diet consists of insects and spiders. They slender legs and hop, rather than walk, also like to feed on oranges, mature papa- along the ground. yas and the coconuts of several species of palm tree, spitting out the pits after about Habitat an hour, which helps contribute to the The rufous-bellied thrush is found distribution of these plants. throughout southern and eastern Brazil, , Uruguay and neighboring parts Threats of Bolivia and Argentina. It is one of the Like many thrushes, this bird has a very best-known thrushes in this region and attractive song and for this reason, it is is commonly seen in woodland areas, often sold as a cage bird in Brazil. Habitat gardens, parks, backyards and the edges destruction due to deforestation is also of forests. The rufous-bellied thrush an ongoing threat to the lives of these migrates north to the warmer tropical birds. The rufous-bellied thrush became zone during the winter and returns to the the national bird of Brazil in October 2002, temperate zone when the climate in south- which may help to ensure its protection in ern Brazil becomes warmer again. These that country. birds prefer to live alone or in pairs, and

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Belize Zoo. www.belizezoo. org/birds/scarlet-macaw. html

photo © Loren Sztajer

Anatomy Diet Macaws are the largest in the Nuts, leaves, berries and seeds from the world—the body of the scarlet macaw rainforest make up the bulk of the scarlet from beak to tail can be as long as 33 macaw's diet. Its strong, hooked beak inches. This beautiful macaw has a is perfect for breaking nuts and seeds. creamy white, almost featherless face, Interestingly, the scarlet macaw can eat with bright red plumage covering most of fruits toxic enough to kill other animals. its body, wings and long tail. Brilliant blue This could be because they also eat large and yellow feathers also adorn the lower amounts of clay, which is thought to neu- wings. The bird's strong beak is adapted to tralize plant poisons. breaking hard nuts found in the rainforest. Threats Habitat The primary threats to the scarlet macaw The scarlet macaw can be found from are habitat loss from rainforest destruc- southern Mexico to Peru, as well as tion and heavy exploitation for pet trad- Bolivia, eastern Brazil and the island of ing. In , these birds, which are Trinidad. They prefer to spend their time frequently stolen from their nests, can in tall, deciduous trees in forests and be sold on the black market for $200. In near rivers, usually in large, noisy groups. the United States, baby birds smuggled Macaws also mate for life, nesting from into the country can be sold for as much January through April in the holes of dead as $4,000. Because tourists bring almost canopy trees. Mated adults lay up to two $14,000 a year to see birds like the scarlet eggs per year, and preen each other and macaw in the wild, biologists hope that their offspring for hours, cleaning bugs local governments will devote more atten- from their feathers. tion to the protection of these magnificent birds.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile (Tremarctos ornatus)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/

photo © Markus Schroeder

Anatomy spend days up in trees collecting fruit. The spectacled bear's real name is the An- Sometimes they will even build platforms dean bear. It is called the spectacled bear out of broken branches in order to reach because it has circles of cream-colored fur their desired treat! They also enjoy din- around its eyes, which make it look like it's ing on berries, grasses, tree bark, honey, wearing glasses. This cream-colored fur sugarcane and insects. If necessary, they can also extend down its throat and chest. will eat small animals like rodents, rabbits Each bear has its own unique pattern of and birds. These bears do not hibernate, "spectacle" markings. The rest of its fur is as their food sources are available all year black or dark brown. They have special- round. The spectacled bear plays an im- ized claws for climbing trees. In the wild, portant role in the health of its habitat—it they live for about 25 years. disperses tree seeds that are too large for other animals to digest. Scientists Habitat believe that the bears are responsible for The spectacled bear is the only species the spreading of three important types of of bear that lives in Latin America. These trees in their habitat. bears can live in the Andean deserts and up through the misty cloud forests to the Threats mountaintop paramo grasslands. Their There are many legends about spectacled range extends from Panama all the way bears having mystical powers. However, south to Argentina. these fabled mystical powers have not kept the animals from becoming endan- Diet gered. People who want to prevent them The spectacled bear's favorite foods are from raiding their cornfields or attacking fruits and bromeliads. They are know to their livestock frequently kill these bears.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Brown-Throated Three-Toed (Bradypus variegatus)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

San Francisco State Univer- sity. bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/ courses/Fall99Projects/ sloth.htm

Enchanted . www. enchantedlearning.com/ subjects/mammals/sloth/ Sloth3printout.shtml

photo © F. Arteaga

Anatomy fur helps camouflage the sloth in its for- This cat-sized mammal typically weigh- est environment. spend nearly all ing eight to nine pounds has a round of their time in trees, descending to the head, a short snout, small eyes, long ground only once a week to defecate. legs, tiny ears and a stubby tail. Sloths have long, coarse that is light brown in Diet coloration, but often appears green due Sloths are herbivores (plant-eaters), feed- to the blue-green algae that grow there. ing on a low-energy diet of leaves, twigs Instead of toes, their front and hind feet and fruit. Because of their slow movement have three curved claws that allow them and metabolism, it can take up to a month to easily hook onto three branches and for the sloth to digest a single meal. hang upside-down. Sloths can rotate their heads nearly 90 degrees, and their Threats mouths are shaped so they look like they Sloths are among the slowest-moving are always smiling. Males are distinguish- animals on Earth. They can swim but are able from females because they usually virtually unable to walk. This makes them have a bright yellow or orange patch of fur an easy target for jaguars, eagles and located between their shoulders. people that hunt sloths for their meat. The brown-throated three-toed sloth popula- Habitat tion is threatened by deforestation, habitat The three-toed sloth is an arboreal animal, fragmentation and human encroachment. inhabiting the tropical forests of Central In addition, their restricted diet prevents and South America. Their algae-covered them from thriving in .

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Red-Eyed Tree (Agalychnis callidryas)

clinging to leaves in the rainforest canopy, Sources and their nights hunting for insects and Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- smaller frogs. Male red-eyed tree frogs pedia of Rainforests. Con- can grow up to two inches in length and necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. females up to three inches. Belize Zoo. www.belizezoo. Habitat org/ First identified by herpetologist Edward Cope in the 1860s, the red-eyed tree frog University of Michigan is found in the lowlands and on slopes of Museum of Zoology. Central America and as far north as Mex- animaldiversity.ummz. ico. As with other amphibians, red-eyed umich.edu/ tree frogs start life as tadpoles in tempo- rary or permanent . As adult frogs, photo © Green Pathways they remain dependent on water to keep their skin moist, staying close to water sources such as rivers found in humid low- land rainforests. Red-eyed tree frogs can be found clinging to branches, tree trunks and even underneath tree leaves. Adults live in the canopy layer of the rainforest, sometimes hiding inside bromeliads.

Anatomy Diet Thanks to their big bulging red eyes, it's Red-eyed tree frogs are carnivores, feed- not hard to recognize red-eyed tree frogs! ing mostly on insects, including crickets, This alien-like feature is a defense mecha- flies, grasshoppers and moths. Sometimes, nism called "startle coloration." When the they eat smaller frogs. For tadpoles, fruit frog closes its eyes, its green eyelids help flies and pinhead crickets are the meals of it to blend in with the leafy environment. choice. If the nocturnal frog is approached while asleep during the day, its suddenly open Threats eyes will momentarily paralyze the preda- Frogs have historically been an indicator tor, providing the frog with a few seconds species, evidence of an ecosystem's health to escape. However, the frogs' eyes are or its impending vulnerability. Not surpris- not their only fashion statement! These ingly, the world's amphibian population frogs have bright lime green bodies that has experienced a decline in recent years; sometimes feature hints of yellow or blue. research indicates that factors include According to their mood, they can even chemical contamination from pesticide become a dark green or reddish-brown use, acid rain and fertilizers; the introduc- color. They have white bellies and throats, tion of foreign predators and increased but their sides are blue with white bor- UV-B exposure from a weakened ozone ders and vertical white bars. Their feet layer that may damage fragile eggs. are bright red or orange. Adept climbers, Though the red-eyed tree frog itself is not red-eyed tree frogs have cup-like footpads endangered, its rainforest home is under that enable them to spend their days constant threat.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba)

Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002.

Casebeer, R.S., Linsky, R.B. and C.E. Nelson. 1963. “The phyllostomid bats, Ectophylla alba and Vampyrum specturm, in Costa Rica.” Journal of Mammalogy. 44: 186–189.

Timm, R. and J. Mortimer. 1976. “Selection of roost sites by Honduran white bats, Ectophylla alba (Chi- roptera: Phyllostomatidae).” Ecology. 57: 385–389.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Anatomy predators. Heliconia stems are not very animaldiversity.ummz. Averaging four centimeters long, Hondu- strong, so any predator brushing against umich.edu ran white bats are relatively tiny. True to the leaf causes the bats’ tent to shake. their name, they have a fluffy white coat. This alerts the bats to danger and they photo © Wanja Krah Their ears, face, nose and parts of their fly quickly away. Why do Honduran white legs and wings are bright orange. Almost bats have bright white coats rather than no hair grows on their black wings. Since green like the leaves they hide inside? their nose protrudes from their face in a When the sun shines through the leaves triangular shape, scientists call members of their tent, it makes the bats’ white coat of their family “leaf-nosed bats.” A thin appear green, making them hard to spot! black membrane covers their and However, their tent is not home sweet may provide the bats with protection from home for long. The bats rarely return to ultraviolet radiation—a natural form of the same tent for more than a day. sunscreen! Diet Habitat During the day, Honduran white bats roost Honduran white bats live in the lowland under their tents. At night, they emerge to rainforests of eastern Honduras, northern search for food. However, these creatures , eastern Costa Rica and west- are not looking to suck your blood—they ern Panama. By cutting along the veins of only eat fruit or vegetation. heliconia leaves, the bats force the leaves to collapse into upside-down V-shaped Threats “tents” that might shelter only one bat, or Since Honduran white bats live mainly as many as 12. When they roost, they hang under heliconia leaves, rainforest destruc- close together upside-down in the center tion is a serious threat. For this species of the leaf. The tents help protect them to survive, rainforests in the Central during the day from rain, the hot sun and American lowlands that have heliconia predators. In fact, the bats choose leaves must remain standing. Natural predators that are six feet off the ground—high may include opossums, snakes and other enough to be out of the reach of terrestrial carnivorous animals.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Yucatan White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus yucatanensis)

deer, called a “doe,” will have one to three Sources offspring, known as “fawns.” The fawns are Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- reddish-brown at birth, and are covered pedia of Rainforests. Con- with white spots to help camouflage them necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. from predators. Female fawns may stay with their mother for up to two years, but National Parks – La Tigra, males usually depart after about one year. Honduras.

Habitat Honduras.com. www. There are 38 subspecies of white-tailed honduras.com/official/ deer residing throughout Central, North and South America. Their range extends Natureworks. www.nhptv. from northern South America all the way org/natureworks/ up to southern Canada. White-tailed deer whitetaileddeer.htm live in temperate and tropical deciduous forests and are often found at forest edges photo © Jerry Bauer and open fields. In Honduras, one is most likely to encounter a white-tailed deer at an inland national park or forest like La Tigra.

Diet White-tailed deer are herbivorous, mean- Anatomy ing they eat only plants. They feed day and The white-tailed deer is an animal that night on grass, leaves, sprouts, lichens, almost all of us in the United States are mosses, tree bark and some fruit. In Hon- familiar with—we've seen them in our duras, they are often accused of raiding backyards, in the woods and even along bean fields while farmers sleep. Like cows, roads. The Yucatan white-tailed deer all deer species are ruminants. Ruminants is reddish-tan in color, with gray along have a stomach with four separate cham- its chest and white on its throat, inner bers for food . thighs, abdomen and underside of its tail. When threatened, they flip their white tail Threats straight up to signal danger to others. The In June of 1993, the National Congress of Yucatan white-tailed deer is smaller than the Republic of Honduras declared the its North American relatives—just three Yucatan white-tailed deer its national feet tall, 4.5 feet long and weighing 70–80 mammal and the national symbol of all pounds—yet it is considered a relatively Honduran wildlife. But even the national large mammal. It has long legs, a long flat mammal of Honduras has threats to its ex- back, and a long narrow head. All white- istence. Its main natural enemies are the tailed deer are known to be excellent run- and the jaguar. , horseflies ners, jumpers and even swimmers. Males, and mosquitoes plague the white-tailed called “bucks,” have curved, branched deer. However, as with most rainforest antlers that are shed each year. They animals, humans pose the biggest threat. use these antlers to attract mates, mark Humans hunt white-tailed deer for their their territory and sometimes to fight or meat, antlers, hides and sometimes just defend their territory against other males. for sport, and they destroy the habitat About six months after mating, the female upon which the animal depends.

www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum