Download Aulacorhynchus prasinus Emerald toucanet. Tucaneta verde.

Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Emerald toucanet. Tucaneta verde.
By Debra Pellouso
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Ramphastidae
Genus: Aulacorhynchus
Species: Aulacorhynchus prasinus
Geographic Range
Neotropical: Emerald Toucanets, Aulacorhynchus
prasinus are found abundantly in Central and South America, mostly along the eastern
coast. They are sparse in the eastern-central parts of Mexico and exist more densely in
the southern mountainous parts down through Costa Rica and Panama into the
northernmost part of Venezuela. (Campbell 1974, USGS 2001, Peterson 1973).
Habitat
Elevation
915 to 3050 m
(3001.2 to 10004 ft)
Their native habitats are in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama in the higher elevation
cloud forests. They have recently expanded their range into lower elevation rain forest.
Emerald Toucanets will make their home at elevations from 915 m up to 3050 m (3,000
feet - 10,000 feet). They migrate vertically from lower elevation to higher elevation.
(Campbell 1974, Peterson 1973, USGS 2001).
Physical Description
Mass
149 to 160 g; avg. 154.50 g
(5.24 to 5.63 oz; avg. 5.44 oz)
Length
30 to 33 cm; avg. 31.50 cm
(11.81 to 12.99 in; avg. 12.4 in)
The male and female are monomorphic (alike) in color, but dimorphic (different) in
size. The smallest of the toucans, Emerald Toucanets are commonly 30 cm. to 33 cm.
(11 3/4 inches - 13 inches). The male will weigh in at about 160 g. (5.7 ounces), and the
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female at about 149 g. (5.3 ounces). Adults have colorfull beaks, with a definite outline
of white on both; the top one colored yellow, and the bottom one colored black or dark
red depending on the subspecies. Their feather coloration, dominantly green with
highlights of whites, grays, and reddish browns, makes them blend in with the colors of
the trees in which they dwell. (Campbell 1974, Dunning 1993, Perrins 1996, Terres
1980).
Reproduction
Eggs per season
3 to 4; avg. 3.50
Time to hatching
16 days (average)
Time to fledging
43 days (average)
Mating season is typically March through July depending on the weather, as inclement
weather will harm the eggs or the female during incubation. Like many species, they
have a common mating practice--a sort of sparring--mostly harmless; they engage in
“bill fencing” where injury does occur because of how aggressive this activity can get.
This usually begins after the pair has worked at preparing a nest.
Three or four white eggs are typically found in a tree-hole nest located between 2 and
30 meters (7 feet - 90 feet) above ground. Each egg has an incubation period of about 16
days. Both parents participate in the incubation before hatching, and in the nesting and
feeding after; but are never in the nest at the same time. The parents keep a clean nest
for their altricial (not well developed) young. The chicks have no eyesight the first 16
days, and though their eyes may no longer be tightly closed at about 25 days, they
remain cloudy until about 27 days. Their feathers are not at all apparent the first 20
days. At about 35 days, except for having only pink skin around their eyes and the
absence of the white line on their mandibles, they appear to have full plumage--green,
like the adult. They take flight as early as 40 days, at which time the feedings provided
by the parents begin to decrease until such time as the young do not return to the nest at
all; at about 43 days. (Campbell 1974, Skutch 1983).
Typically the Emerald Toucanet is considered to be a secondary cavity nester,
appropriating previously excavated holes in trees from smaller species.This nest hole is
then enlarged just enough for the adult Emerald Toucanet to get inside. The male seems
to be the relief parent in nesting activities, giving the female short to extended breaks
during the process of preparing the nest, cleaning the nest, and foraging and feeding the
brood. While the brood is present only the female will stay throughout the night. The
male relief comes throughout the day. (Campbell 1974, Skutch 1983, Toucans 1999).
Both parents participate in the incubation before hatching, and in the nesting and
feeding after; but are never in the nest at the same time. The parents keep a clean nest
for their altricial (not well developed) young.
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Behavior
Emerald Toucanets search for food in pairs or small flocks of up to about eight birds.
They are very active birds covering large amounts of territory on a daily basis. They
roost in trees, perched on branches. A nest is used only for incubation and raising the
brood. (Skutch 1983, Terres 1980, Toucans 1999).
Food Habits
Emerald Toucanets are omnivorous, eating lizards and the eggs or nestlings of other
birds when possible, though insects and fruits are the largest part of their diet. (Terres
1980).
Predation
A Bat Falcon--once observed by a boy who helped Alexander Skutch find nests at
Montana Azul--was the only predator of adult Emerald Toucanets, cited within. It is
presumed snakes and other arboreal animals are also a threat, primarily to eggs or
unfledged offspring. (Skutch 1983).
Ecosystem Roles
Emerald Toucanets have been identified as a seed disperser for several rainforest trees.
Studies indicate that the germination rate of seeds of these trees is higher following the
seeds passing through the digestive tract of the bird. (Wenny 2000).
Key ways these animals impact their ecosystem:
disperses seeds.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
No special status.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
Emerald Toucanets were not found in any of these endangered species databases.
However, the importance being placed on the coffee market may someday have a
negative effect of survival for this species. (Henriquez 1999).
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Contributors
Debra Pellouso (author), Fresno City College.
Carl Johansson (editor), Fresno City College.
References
USGS, "Emerald Toucanet Habitat Map" (On-line). Accessed October 5, 2001 at
http://www.mbr.nbs.gov/central_america/birds/bird555_distr.gif.
Campbell, B. 1974. The Dictionary of BIRDS in color. New York: Exeter Books.
Dunning, J. 1993. CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC
Press, Inc..
Henriquez, A. June 1999. "Celaque National Park, Honduras" (On-line). Accessed
October 14, 2001 at http://www.generation.net/~derekp/CelaqueE-S.html.
Perrins, C. 1996. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of BIRDS. New York: Barnes & Noble.
Peterson, R., E. Chalif. October 1973. A Field Guide to Mexican Birds. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Riverbanks Zoo, 1999. "Toucans at Riverbanks Zoo / Breeding" (On-line). Accessed
October 14, 2001 at http://www.riverbanks.org/aig/2canbree.htm.
Skutch, A. 1983. Birds of Tropical America. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Terres, J. 1980. The Audubon Society ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN
BIRDS. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Wenny, D. May 2000. Seed dispersal, seed predation, and seedling recruitment of a
newtropical montane tree. Ecological Monographs / Ecological Society of America, 70
(2): 331-351.
2009/03/01 02:39:45.251 US/Eastern
To cite this page: Pellouso, D. 2002. "Aulacorhynchus prasinus" (On-line), Animal
Diversity Web. Accessed March 02, 2009 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aulacorhynchus_pras
inus.html.
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
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