Ramphastos
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| Genus: | Ramphastos |
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Ramphastos is a genus of toucans, tropical and subtropical near passerine birds from Mexico, and Central and South America, which are brightly marked and have enormous, often colourful, bills.[1]
This genus comprises the largest toucans, ranging from 42 to 61 centimetres (17 to 24 in) in length.[1] All have black wings, tails and thighs, but the colour of the remaining plumage depends on the exact species involved. All the species are basically fruit-eating, but will take insects and other small prey.[1] They are arboreal and nest in tree holes laying 2–4 white eggs. They are essentially resident birds, but may take part in minor, local movements (e.g., to lower altitudes in the winter).[1]
The ischnoceran louse Austrophilopterus cancellosus is suspected to parasitize all species of Ramphastos toucans. Its presence has been confirmed on all species except the citron-throated toucan.[2]
Species list
See also List of Ramphastos species and subspecies
- Green-billed toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus)
- Channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus)
- Citron-throated toucan (Ramphastos (vitellinus) citreolaemus)
- Choco toucan (Ramphastos brevis)
- Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
- Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco)
- White-throated toucan (Ramphastos tucanus)
- Yellow-throated toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus)
Diversity of bills
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Keel-billed toucan
(Ramphastos sulfuratus) -
Channel-billed toucan
(Ramphastos vitellinus vitellinus) -
Green-billed toucan (Ramphastos dicolorus) -
Chestnut-mandibled toucan
(Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) -
White-throated toucan, (Ramphastos tucanus) -
Toco toucan
(Ramphastos toco)
References
- ^ a b c d Short, L. L., & Horne, J. F. M. (2002). Toucans (Ramphastidae). pp. 220-272 in del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J. eds. (2002). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 7 Jacamars to Woodpecker. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-37-7
- ^ Price, Roger D. & Weckstein, Jason D. (2005). The genus Austrophilopterus Ewing (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) from toucans, toucanets, and araçaris (Piciformes: Ramphastidae). Zootaxa 918: 1-18. PDF fulltext
External links
- List of Toucans
- Toucan videos on the Internet Bird Collection
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