Scientific Name:
Rampastos toco
Distribution
South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname
Diet:
Omnivore. Fruits, insects (such as caterpillars and termites), nestling birds and eggs.
Facts
Habitat: The only non-forest toucan. Riverine and coastal edges of forest, savannas, plantations.
Incubation: 17-18 days / 2-4 eggs
Social structure: flocks of ~6 members
Weight: 860g
Dimensions: 55-61cm
Estimated population in the wild: Fairly common
Lifespan: 20-26
Threats: Hunting pressure and taking of young as pets
IUCN Status: Least concern
Did you know that:
In their native region, toucans are associated with evil spirits and are thought to be the incarnation of a demon. In certain religions of S and C America, the father of a new child must not eat toucan meat as it might bewitch the newborn and cause it to fade away. The toucan can also be a tribal totem and the medicine man can use it as an incarnation to fly to the spirit world.