Toco Toucan
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| Ramphastos toco Statius Muller, 1776 |
The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is the best known and largest member of the toucan family and is commonly found in zoos. They live in South American rainforests and Cerrado savannah.
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[edit] Description
Toco Toucan have striking plumage with a black body, white throat and a blue eye ring. The most noticeable feature, however, is its huge orange beak with a black tip, which looks heavy but is incredibly light because the inside is hollow. The tongue is nearly as long as the beak and very flat. The birds are an average of 25 inches long, with their beaks that measure up to 8 inches. The male toco toucan weighs 26.8 oz. and the female toco toucan weighs up to 20.7 oz.
The Toco Toucan eats mainly fruit using its beak to pluck them from trees but will also occasionally eat small insects, reptiles and small bird's eggs.
When breeding Toco Toucans search for fallen trees or holes for nesting sites. Their reproduction cycle is annual. After mating, the female usually lays two to four eggs a few days after mating.
[edit] As pets
Toco toucans can become pets if taken from the nest hand reared as babies. Their requirements are specific but basic, and must be strictly adheared to. Requirements include items such as a spacious cages to move about because of their active nature, and toys in their cage to provide mental stimulation. They have an almost exclusive frugivorous (fruit)diet; with that diet comes a sensitivity to hemochromotosis (iron storage disease)which can make them difficult for the novice keeper to maintain. When provided with these things they make wonderful affectionate pets and can be quite hardy in a captive environment. The record for captive longevity is 26 years.
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[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Ramphastos toco. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern.
[edit] External Links
- Bibliography of online, ornithological articles which explore the natural history of the Toco toucan, Ramphastos toco toco.
