Toucans. Many of us only saw
one in a picture or in a zoo. Perhaps a few have been lucky enough to travel to
their habitat and see one there. But what are those majestic creatures?
Toucans are birds most
commonly found in forests of Mexico, Paraguay and Argentina. They are
relatively small, black and yellow, with very sharp claws allowing them to hold
tightly to trees. Their size varies; some toucans weight as little as 130 g,
and some as much as 680 g.
Toucans diet was a mystery for
scientist for the longest time. At first they were thought to be carnivores.
Their long beaks have small outwards-pointing spikes that resemble fangs, which
led scientists to believe that it must have been used for hunting prey. It was
proven false: while toucans do eat meat, it’s usually bugs or very small
animals. Most of toucans diet consists of various fruit.
Speaking of the beak – it’s
probably the most amazing thing about toucans. The beaks are enormous, almost
as big as the rest of the bird. In fact, toucans have the largest beak in
comparison to the rest of their body among all the birds in the world. Despite of
that, the beak is very light. It’s made entirely of keratin, a substance our
nails or birds’ feathers are made of.
While menacing, the beak is
soft and in general a terrible weapon. Still, it’s a great tool for a
fruit-eating bird. They help toucans to reach for food, small teeth on them are
useful in separating the fruit. Despite the fact they are not good to
fight, , most animals are easily scared off due to its sheer size and yellow
color – a signal that something could be dangerous, poisonous or both. Last but
not least, the beaks are among the best natural cooling systems ever created –
the arteries in the beak can expand, releasing hot air and cooling the toucan
down.
Do you like toucans, or birds
in general? Would you like to see one from up close, not when its locked in
cage? Would you like to own one, even though it’s illegal?
Sources:
www.nationalgeographic.com
Comments
I wouldn't like to have one - I can't see a point of having a bird. They stink and they are loud.
When I was a kid I wanted to have Toucan because of the Toucan Sam on the package of some cereals.
Now when I’m older I don’t want to have Toucan or any other bird really. I don’t see the point of having a bird. You can’t play with it like with a dog, nor you can cuddle it like with a cat.
- that there are over forty species of toucans found in the tropical rainforest of South America
- their predators in the South American rainforest are generally large birds and wild cats. Other animals such as snakes and rodents may go after adult toucans but prefer to feed on their egg
- toucan has small wings that do not allow it to fly very far. This is not a problem for the Toucan because it does not need to travel far. It hops around the rainforest trees and may fly very short distances to obtain food.
I don't like the fact that due to their beauty toucans are often captured and sold as pets... Those who do such cruel should be definitely punished.
https://scontent-waw1-1.cdninstagram.com/t50.2886-16/14444216_1151113284924318_8137233983755780096_n.mp4
Thanks for sharing some interesting facts about these birds. I had no idea their beat has spike resembling fang and for that reason they were thought to be carnivorous.
I wouldn't like to own toucan, I think it would be very harmful for this animal. Its place, like most animals, is in real nature.
1. they camouflage in the rainforest thanks to their bright colorful markings
2. toucans build their nest in tree hollows created by other animals
3. when toucan sleeps, his beak temperature can be reduced by about 10 deg. Celsius in a few minutes
I’ve seen toucans only in cages in the zoo. They look very clever, comparing to most of the birds. I like unusual animals and the disproportion of toucan makes him a great candidate to be called unusual.
So probably it’s hard to be a toucan. Imagine yourself to have a nose which is a half size of your whole body. Toucans deserves respect for this :D
I would not like to own toucan, it is the wild animal and should live in its natural habitat.
I never knew they ate meat or that they had tiny, saw like teeth on their beaks. I also thought they were bigger. I wish to see a living toucan one day, but I definitely wouldn't like them imprisoned in a home. I generally think keeping birds at home is weird and I don't like it.
I like birds, they are beautiful, especially sparrows. They're cute and fluffy and often sit on my window.
But the idea of owning the toucan sounds bad, the poor thing wouldn't be very happy to live in a european apartment, I guess. So I'd better own a traditional dog:)
If it comes to having an animal illegally, I would really like to have a monkey, but I feel like it is better for them to live in their natural habitat.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4053490/The-terrifying-creatures-deep-Russian-deep-sea-fisherman-online-hit-revealing-bizarre-catches.html