the eastern spiny mouse or arabian spiny mouse ( acomys dimidiatus ) is a species of rodent in the family muridae .

they have a wide range , having been found in middle eastern deserts , as well as being prevalent in riverine forests in africa .

this is the only species of spiny mouse which may have black coloration .

their diet is similar to other species of spiny mouse , consisting mostly of seeds .

eastern spiny mouse

the eastern spiny mouse in captivity may have a lifespan of between 3 and 5 years .
the arabian spiny mouse is found in south - western parts of asia and north - eastern africa ( 1 ) .
cairo spiny mice are also known as egyptian spiny mice , arabian spiny mice , greater wilfred ' s mice , or northeast african spiny mice .
if it looks like a mouse , behaves like a mouse , walks like a mouse and eats like a mouse , it must be . . . a gerbil ! or at least , a close relative .
behavior / temperament : the domesticated eastern spiny mouse has a reputation for being docile and easy - to - handle . they rarely bite unless hurt or very frightened : the most common cause of biting is improper handling . a well - socialized eastern spiny mouse may enjoy climbing and exploring on their owner , though unfortunately they can’t be “housetrained” and may urinate and defecate when being handled .
omnivorous , it feeds on insects , spiders , snails and various plant materials and seeds . where its range overlaps with that of the golden spiny mouse ( acomys russatus ) , the two species may exploit the same food sources , with the cairo spiny mouse feeding during the night , and the golden spiny mouse , during the day .
the basics : named for the course , spine - like hairs on its back , the eastern spiny mouse is a unique option for those fancying a more exotic rodent pet . like the more common fancy mouse , the eastern spiny mouse is curious , dynamic , and interactive . they don’t require a lot of room and are relatively easy to care for . they’re a bit larger than the common mouse and less inclined to quick , darting movements , potentially making them a better option for older children who can handle them gently .
as well as the spiny fur , which can act as a deterrent to potential predators , the arabian spiny mouse can easily shed its tail , either whole or in part , with no great impact on the mouse , a remarkable feature that can aid the mouse’s escape from a predator ( 2 ) .
the eastern spiny mouse has the additional benefit of being a desert species – they drink less water and their urine may have a less pungent odor than other mice . in the wild , they can be found throughout africa , india , and the middle east . wild animals should never be taken as pets , so it’s important to find a responsible breeder of domestic eastern spiny mice .
in developing arid regions , the golden spiny mouse has become a small nuisance to agricultural fields that use drip irrigation . in particular ,
the egyptian spiny mouse usually produce two litters a year . gestation is about thirty five days and they may produce from 1 to 4 offspring .
the egyptian spiny mouse is a small rodent that has a possum - like face and a calm temperament . they are a golden brown color with light patches underneath their eyes and behind their ears . their spines can be black or tan . the overall size for a spiny mouse is 5 to 7 inches . spiny mice may live up to 5 years in captivity .
the gray mouse lemur , microcebus murinus , occurs mainly in dry forests in western madagascar , but its distribution extends into humid littoral forests in the south - eastern anosy region . we sequenced the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 for 282 m . murinus individuals from 13 south - eastern study sites . the spatial distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes and the varying genetic distances within two haplotype clades indicated a trend of decreasing genetic diversity towards the south - eastern margin of the range . rufous mouse lemurs , microcebus cf . rufus , have a complementary distribution in south - eastern madagascar which does not overlap with that of m . murinus . taken together , the spatial distribution of genetic diversity within m . murinus and the distinct ranges of the two species could indicate a recent expansion of gray mouse lemurs into littoral forests in south - eastern madagascar .
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fossil evidence suggests that the cairo spiny mouse ' s ancestors first appeared in africa , in the late miocene epoch about 5 to 11 million years ago .
populations are slowly increasing as human progress advances further into deserts and arid regions . this is because human habitation supplies additional food sources for the golden spiny mouse .
the cairo spiny mouse , which occurs across much of northern and eastern africa and the middle east , occupies the widest range of all the spiny mouse species . it favors arid rocky canyons and cliffs and gravel plains . it has also adapted well to human settlements , making its home in building crevices , rock walls , date groves and gardens . it appears to relish high temperatures , ranging from the mid 80 ' s to over 100 degrees fahrenheit .
note : care should be taken when handling a spiny mouse as the tail is very fragile and can be shed . once lost , it will not grow back .
communication : the animal apparently relies heavily on chemical releases that serve as a primary communication cues for identification of littermates , weaning of offspring and interactions with other spiny mouse species .
the golden spiny mouse is a non - aggressive rodent . when in danger or alarmed , it outwardly projects its bristly spines in order to make itself appear larger to a predator .
haim , a . , f . rozenfeld . 1998 . spacing behaviour between two desert rodents , the golden spiny mouse acomys russatus and the bushy - tailed gerbil sekeetamys calurus . .
cairo spiny mouse source : picture taken by olaf leillinger on 2005 - 08 - 13 license : cc - by - sa - 2 . 0 / de and gnu fdl . wikimedia .
golden spiny mice live in arid regions consisting of deserts and savannas dominated by rocky crevices .
the eastern spiny mouse is nocturnal and is an omnivore ( eats both animals and plants ) , specializes in eating hard - shell snails . it can often be found by the big pile of white empty snail shells it leaves on a rock - shelf or under a bush . an interesting mechanism , perhaps used for defense , is the ability to lose the skin tissue that connects the tail to the body and by that , lose the tail . as opposing to some lizards that do that , the spiny mouse cannot grow
spiny mice can be housed in a wire cage or an aquarium . the floor of the cage should have a deep bed of shavings in which they can hide and nest . nestboxes or hide boxes may be used to create a suitable environment for a spiny mouse . spiny mice also enjoy playing on exercise wheels . spiny mice require a warmer temperature than most other mice because they have heat resistant fur that is not built to keep them warm in colder temperatures .
the cairo spiny mouse breeds throughout the seasons , with the female delivering several litters of two or three pinkies over a year ' s time . extremely maternal , especially just before delivering a litter , she has been known to steal another mouse ' s baby and to groom and nurse it . if she doesn ' t have a baby , she may try to groom an adult mouse .
scientists at princeton university say the cairo spiny mouse may look like an old world mouse or rat , but it resembles a mongolian gerbil at the molecular level .
for mammals ,
say the scientists ,
this is the largest discrepancy known between a morphological and a molecular classification .
aside from full or partial tail detachment , the eastern spiny mouse has no specific health concerns . they may be susceptible to the same issues that fancy mice do , including respiratory infections ( from drafty situations ) , occlusion ( from overgrowth of teeth ) , bacterial infections ( from unsanitary conditions ) , and diarrhea ( from diet or stress ) .
different authorities classify african spiny mice into as few as 14 species and as many as 19 . the
characterized by the harsh , inflexible spiny hairs of their upperparts . african spiny mice have large eyes and ears and scaly , nearly bald tails that are shorter than or about as long as the body . the
appearance / health : the eastern spiny mouse is a small - to - medium sized rodent with an average length of 5 to 7 inches . their bodies are covered in short fur which , when stroked against the direction of the hair follicles , feels coarse and quill - like . their long , slender tails look bare but are actually covered in short bristles – and be careful : the eastern spiny mouse’s tail can easily detach , an adaptation developed to escape predators . the have a long , pointed snout , large , black eyes , and large oval - shaped ears . the coat is a dark tan with black or grey tips , and white underside . there may be white patches on the backs of the ears . the tail is greyish - brown or buff .
if attacked by a carnivore such as a caracal or a fennec fox , the cairo spiny mouse may readily forfeit quills and skin patches , and its tail - - the price it pays for escape . if captured , it makes the attacker pay a price for the meal . its spiny hairs are difficult to swallow and irritating to the throat of its predator .
, but analyses of dental and molecular data suggest that the african spiny mice form a distinctive and separate subfamily , acomyinae . other african rodents proved to be close relatives of african spiny mice and were also reclassified in this subfamily ; these are
back the tail and will remain with no tail for the rest of its life . the eastern spiny mouse is abundant all around the middle - east from sinai peninsula and arabia in the south to syria and lebanon in the north and south pakistan and iran in the east . it can be found both in the mediterranean and the desert habitats in rocky landscapes . it is less common to find it near human presence although it is not obligatory .
vegetation changes throughout this region , from east to west , resulting in vegetation communities with varied appearance throughout the spiny thicket . parts of the spiny thicket are completely lacking in species of didiereaceae . alluaudia procera and a . ascendens dominate the eastern portions of the ecoregion . to the west , in the north , there are no emergent alluaudia spp . , but instead this area is dominated by didierea madagascariensis , dwarf baobabs adansonia fony , the very large pachypodium geayi , and delonix spp .
golden spiny mice are popular pets in parts of the middle east and can be a food source for pet snakes . spiny mice are easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory ( nowak 1999 ) . this has led to extensive biological and cancer research with these mice .
the arabian spiny mouse is thought to be present in a number of protected areas across its range , such as ein gedi nature reserve in israel ( 1 ) , but there are currently no known specific conservation actions in place for this species as it is not considered threatened at this time .
the cairo spiny mice eat nearly everything , even fiber mats . they are reported to have dined on the mummies in the tombs of egypt .
hapke a . , andrianaivo t . b . d . , gligor m . , razafimahatratra e . ( 2012 ) range shifts of mouse lemurs in south - eastern madagascar : evidence from mitochondrial genetic data . in : masters j . , gamba m . , génin f . ( eds ) leaping ahead . developments in primatology : progress and prospects . springer , new york , ny
is one of the smallest , with a body up to 10 cm long and a tail of less than 2 cm . depending upon the species , fur covering the upperparts may be gray , grayish yellow , brownish red , or reddish . black ( melanistic ) individuals occur in populations of the golden spiny mouse and the
yoder ad , burns m - m , genin f ( 2002 ) molecular evidence of reproductive isolation in sympatric sibling species of mouse lemurs . int j primatol 23 : 1335–1345
eastern spiny mouse has coarse , dark tan and spine - like fur on the upperparts of the body extended from behind the shoulder onto rump . body color varies from pale - brown to brown in color on the upperparts especially mid - dorsum while the underparts and feet white . the ear is large with white patches . whitish suborbital region . tail long , slender , hairless except on closer inspection has short bristles , shorter than the head and body length , upper surface of the tail pale grayish brown and buff or white on the ventral surface . palm and sole of the feet buff and without hairs . claws whitish .
a new species of spiny mouse of the genus acomys ( rodentia , murinae ) is described . this species is distinguished from the three other palearctic species of acomys by its black coloration and in that the baculum terminates distally in a completely cartilaginous trifid rather than a bony or partly bony trifid as in the other species . a key to these species of acomys is provided .
housing : eastern spiny mice are best housed in glass aquariums with a mesh cover . as a desert animal , they thrive in warmer temperatures ( around 81 degrees f ) and if kept in a cooler environment , may benefit from the addition of a red heat lamp . the cage should be kept in an area free of drafts or direct sunlight . keep in mind that mice are nocturnal , so keeping their cage in a bedroom might result in unrestful sleep for the human occupants !
weisrock dw , rasoloarison rm , fiorentino i , ralison jm , goodman sm , kappeler pm , yoder ad ( 2010 ) delimiting species without nuclear monophyly in madagascar’s mouse lemurs . plos one 5 : e9883
head and face : the cairo spiny mouse has a sharply - pointed snout , large and erect rounded ears , and prominent black eyes . like all rodents , it has sharp chisel - like teeth - - especially the continuously - growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws - - that are well adapted for gnawing . around its nose and mouth , it has long tactile hairs which it uses to detect objects in darkness .
. they are also found in southern turkey and on the islands of cyprus and crete . living in rocky , partially vegetated deserts , savannas , and dry woodlands , they den in rock crevices , termite mounds , or other rodents’ burrows . the cairo spiny mouse has the most extensive distribution , extending from northern africa to the indus river ; it lives near or with humans in some parts of its range . the most restricted is
type for acomys kempi catalog number : usnm 182901 collection : smithsonian institution , national museum of natural history , department of vertebrate zoology , division of mammals sex / stage : female ; adult preparation : skin collector ( s ) : a . percival year collected : 1911 locality : mount marsabit , n slope , eastern province , kenya , africa elevation ( m ) : 1402
the cairo spiny mouse , a social creature , lives in a familial group that often has a dominant male that fights for control . it ' s called by a number of names : a newborn or juvenile may be a
pup ,
kitten
or
pinkie ;
the female , a
doe ;
the male , a
buck ;
and the group , a
horde ,
a
colony ,
a
nest ,
or a
mischief .
this species has been recorded from northeastern tanzania ( amani ) and east central tanzania ( kilosa and morogoro regions ) , southeastern democratic republic of the congo , zambia , malawi ( on the nyika plateau ) , zimbabwe , eastern botswana , central mozambique and northern and northwestern south africa ( limpopo province , north - west province , gauteng and mpumalanga ) . it occurs up to 1 , 800 m asl .
fossils of extinct species trace the ancestry of african spiny mice to the late miocene epoch ( 11 . 2 million to 5 . 3 million years ago ) in africa , where they probably lived in habitats not unlike the dry savannas in which existing species are found .
hide - aways such as cardboard shelters and wood boxes should be provided for seclusion and privacy . toys such as obstacle courses and wheels are also recommended to keep the mice stimulated and active . wheels should have a solid floor and be big enough that your mouse can run with back straight .
after some five and a half weeks of pregnancy , she gives birth - - with no nest - - while she stands , often with the help of another female . the helper mouse may nurse the new mother ' s brood along with her own , an unusual behavior in animal species .
mice enjoy chewing , and should always be provided with items to gnaw on to prevent tooth overgrowth . acorns , walnuts , and other hard nuts are acceptable for dental health and as a treat . the wood from fruit trees or wood sticks from the pet store are an option that won’t add excess calories to your mouse’s diet .
all mice are naturally active and inquisitive , and a well - socialized mouse can be gentle and affectionate . they like to run , jump , and climb . they are primarily nocturnal , though they may wake during the day to forage and exercise . they are social creatures and are best kept in pairs or groups brought together while juvenile .
most information regarding reproduction in spiny mice has been discovered through studies carried out in captivity , as they can be hard to locate and study in the wild ( 2 ) . females give birth to a litter of up to five young following an approximate six week gestation period ( 3 ) , and it is not unknown for one female to help another with tasks such as cleaning and nursing ( 5 ) . the young are weaned after two weeks and may reach sexual maturity within two months ( 5 ) . spiny mice have a life expectancy of around five years in captivity , but in the wild this may be reduced to around three years ( 2 ) .
…old world rats and mice , african spiny mice , platacanthomyines , zokors , blind mole rats , and bamboo rats ) . other groups , however , cannot be classified with certainty and may or may not be a hodgepodge of unrelated genera and species ( new world rats and mice , dendromurines , and malagasy rats and mice ) . also unresolved…
take up residence in terrain consisting of dried up river beds and hillsides strewn with boulders ( kronfeld et al . 1994 ) . here , they can squeeze between crevices and remain protected from predators . the color of their pelage further aids in blending into the arid landscape . spiny mice don ' t typically have a family home , but live in a small community with other
young spiny mice are born in the presence of numerous females . these females will help the mother by licking and cleaning the newborn and disconnecting the umbilical cord . other lactating females will attempt to steal and adopt these young as their own . no fighting occurs , and this
policy
seems to be understood within the species . thus in essence , newborns are the
property
of all nursing females within a community ( grzimek 1990 ) . the male ' s role is not significant . he can be found guarding a nest site and finding food during the first few post - natal weeks . parental care mainly occurs by the mother ( s ) in charge . within 3 months the newborns are on their own and sexually mature . typical lifespan is around 3 years .
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this species lives in semi - arid or dry habitats including rocky and hilly areas , dry deciduous forest and scrub forests . it has also been found in agricultural land and even houses ( 1 ) .
classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .
there are no known significant threats to this species , which is currently considered to not be at risk of extinction ( 1 ) .
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genus a category used in taxonomy , which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’ . a genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common . the genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ latin species name ; the second part is the specific name . nocturnal active at night . subspecies a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species , but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species .
nowak , r . m . ( 1999 ) . walker’s mammals of the world . the john hopkins university press , baltimore , maryland .
varty , n . ( 1990 ) ecology of the small mammals in the riverine forests of the jubba valley , southern somalia . journal of tropical ecology , 6 ( 2 ) : 179–189 .
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see musser and carleton ( 2005 ) for details concerning the relationship between acomys dimidiatus and acomys cahirinus .
justification : listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution , tolerance of a broad range of habitats , presumed large population , and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category .
this widely distributed species ranges from the sinai peninsula of egypt , lebanon , syria , jordan and israel , through much of the arabian peninsula , southern iraq and iran to southern pakistan ( baluchistan and sindh at 300 to 1 , 200 m asl ) in the east of its range .
this species is common in parts of its range ( eg . israel and jordan ) . it was considered to be ' near threatened ' in the united arab emirates by hornby ( 1996 ) .
this species has been recorded from several semi - arid or dry habitats , including rocky areas and hilly soils in mediterranean woodland , dry deciduous forest and scrub forests . in egypt the species invades human habitations , and it can also be encountered in agricultural areas .
it is presumably present in protected areas over much of the species range ( eg . ein gedi nature reserve , israel ) .
this errata assessment has been created because the map was accidentally left out of the version published previously .
( errata version published in 2017 ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2016 : e . t136471a115208221 .
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mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference ( book , 2005 ) [ worldcat . org ]
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i thought you might be interested in this item at urltoken title : mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference author : don e wilson ; deeann m reeder publisher : baltimore : johns hopkins university press , ©2005 . isbn / issn : 0801882214 9780801882210 0801882389 9780801882388 0801882397 9780801882395 oclc : 57557352
wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of
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wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .
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armour jal , neumann r , gobert s , jeffreys aj ( 1994 ) isolation of human simple repeat loci by hybridization selection . hum mol genet 3 : 599–605
( rodentia : muridae ) in africa and asia . israel j zool 40 : 199–214
) from four montane wadis in the st katherine region of the sinai peninsula in egypt . parasitology 129 : 379–398
dawson da , horsburgh gj , küpper c et al ( 2010 ) new methods to identify conserved microsatellite loci and develop primer sets of high utility—as demonstrated for birds . mol ecol res 10 : 475–494
glenn tc , schable na ( 2005 ) isolating microsatellite dna loci . methods enzymol 395 : 202–222
kalinowski st , taper ml , marshall tc ( 2007 ) revising how the computer program cervus accommodates genotyping error and increases success in paternity assignment . mol ecol 16 : 1099–1106
myers p , espinosa r , parr cs , jones t , hammond gs , dewey ta ( 2006 ) family muridae . the animal diversity web .
raymond m , rousset f ( 1995 ) genepop ( version 1 . 2 ) : population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenism . j hered 86 : 248–249
rousset f ( 2008 ) genepop ′007 : a complete re - implementation of the genepop software for windows and linux . mol ecol res 8 : 103–106
royle nj , hill mc , jeffreys aj ( 1992 ) isolation of telomere junction fragments by anchored polymerase chain reaction . proc r soc lond b 247 : 57–61
rozen s , skaletsky hj ( 2000 ) primer3 on the www for general users and for biologist programmers . in : krawetz s , misener s ( eds ) bioinformatics methods and protocols : methods in molecular biology . humana press , totowa , pp 365–386
alfadala , s . , dawson , d . a . , horsburgh , g . j . et al . conservation genet resour ( 2013 ) 5 : 519 . urltoken
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bedding or nesting material is essential . aspen shavings , corn cob bedding , or commercially available paper products are preferred , though paper strips , paper towels , cotton , tissue paper , and rags can provide additional bedding or nesting material . cedar and pine shaving volatile aromatic oils that can cause damage and irritation to the respiratory system , and should not be used .
the cage should be cleaned often to minimize exposure to ammonia and waste products . the frequency of cleaning will depend on the bedding used and the number of mice . to prevent disease , the entire enclosure should be disinfected at least twice a month .
fresh water should always be available and best provided in hanging gravity bottle feeders .
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adult size and weight : typically , the animal ' s head and body measure roughly five inches in length and its tail , about four and a half inches ; its weight equals about one and a quarter to one and a half ounces .
color and coat : its back is covered with a grayish brown coat and hedgehog - like bristles , and its belly , with light gray to white softer hairs . its coat helps dissipate heat and regulate body temperatures . its scaly tail has few hairs . threatened , the animal may spread its quills , making it appear larger and more formidable for an adversary .
body and legs : it has a plump body , short forelegs and long and powerful hind legs , which it uses for scurrying , hopping and climbing . it has dexterous forepaws , which it uses much like hands , facilitating its mobility .
unlike most rodents , the newborn , weighing about two - tenths of an ounce , arrives active , fully furred and open eyed . growing rapidly , it will be weaned within about two weeks . it will reach sexual maturity and begin reproducing within some eight and a half weeks . it will continue growing for perhaps three years , and it may live for as long as five years , with males generally living longer than females .
if the animal evades capture by sacrificing quills and skin patches or its tail , its blood clots exceptionally rapidly , minimizing losses and facilitating healing . however , its tail , which breaks off easily and painfully , never grows back .
burton , m . , & burton , r . ( 1980 ) the new international wildlife encyclopedia ( purnell ) .
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is brittle and breaks off readily either as a whole or in part . the
, is one of the largest , with a body up to 25 cm ( 9 . 8 inches ) long and a shorter tail of up to 7 cm . the
) , possess the ability to slough off patches of skin when attempting to escape capture from predators . the wounds that remain , which may be painful in appearance , may shrink dramatically within the first 24 hours after the injury . they are covered over by new skin at a rate roughly twice as fast as for wounds of similar size and shape that might occur in adult rats .
rodent , ( order rodentia ) , any of more than 2 , 050 living species of mammals characterized by upper and lower pairs of ever - growing rootless incisor teeth . rodents are the largest group of mammals , constituting almost half the class mammalia’s approximately 4 , 660 species . they are indigenous to every land area except antarctica , new zealand , …
asyūṭ , capital of asyūṭ muḥāfaẓah ( governorate ) and one of the largest settlements of upper egypt . it lies on the west bank of the nile river , almost midway between cairo and aswān . the irrigated nile river valley is about 12 miles ( 20 km ) wide at that…
miocene epoch , earliest major worldwide division of the neogene period ( 23 million years to 2 . 6 million years ago ) that extended from 23 million to 5 . 3 million years ago . it is often divided into the early miocene epoch ( 23 million to 16 million years ago ) , the middle miocene epoch ( 16 million…
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horse , ( equus caballus ) , a hoofed , herbivorous mammal of the family equidae . it comprises a single species , …
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this ecological site is preferred habitat for the threatened desert tortoise ( gopherus agassizii agassizii ) . creosote bush shrublands provides a home for an abundance of specialist insect species , for example , creosote bush flowers provide nutrition for over twenty species of bees , and the creosote bush grasshopper ( bootettix argentatus ) feeds solely on creosote leaves ( pavlik 2008 ) . a diverse assemblage of reptiles and mammals are likely to be found in this site . these may include ( based on habitat preferences ) :
this site may be used for hiking , wildflower viewing , and aesthetic enjoyment .
creosote bush is an important medicinal plant for native americans . it has a very wide range of uses from treatment for consumption , bowl complaints , and menstrual cramps , to induce vomiting , relief for arthritis , rheumatism , aching bones and sprains , congestion and cold , as an antiseptic and disinfectant , dandruff , antispasmodic , to induce urination , gonorrhea , and to cancer treatment . ( this list is not exhaustive ) . urltoken
creosote bush stems are used to make weapons , digging tools , and basket handles , and creosote gum is used for knife and awl handles . creosote bush branches are used as thatch in dwelling construction . urltoken
there are two major rock types in the ecoregion ; the tertiary limestone of the mahafaly plateau and the unconsolidated red sands of the central south and southeast . this geology corresponds to a major division in the habitat ( du puy and moat 1996 ) . the taller , dense , dry forest on the sandy soils is dominated by didieria madagascariensis , and the more xeric adapted vegetation on the calcareous plateau around lake tsimanampetsotsa is characterized by dwarf species .
biodiversity features the ecoregion has the highest percentage of plant endemism in madagascar ( jolly et al . 1984 , davis et al . 1994 , phillipson 1996 ) . forty - eight percent of the genera and 95 percent of the species occurring in the ecoregion are endemic to the island . some of the dominant forest species belong to the endemic family didiereaceae . there are 11 species and 4 genera ( didierea , alluaudia , alluaudiopsis and decaryia ) in this family . some of the endemic plants are extremely rare due to restricted ranges , such as aloe suzannae ( liliaceae ) and the palm , dypsis decaryi , as well as tiny euphorbia herbs , pachypodium spp . , and hibiscus shrubs exploited for the ornamental and nursery trades .
the harsh , drought - prone environment has produced extreme adaptations among the plants found here . woody species have long tap roots , swollen storage organs , and waxy caducus leaves . pachycaulous stems are common amongst the succulents , seen in adansonia , pachypodium , and moringa spp . spines are abundant among many plants , including the genera allaudia , pachypodium , mimosa , and didierea , and serve several functions . they protect the plants from moisture seeking animals and combine with large terminal leaves to reduce surface area and moisture loss . in fact , several euphorbia spp . have no leaves and conduct photosynthesis and respiration from the trunk and stems alone . other techniques used to deal with unpredictable rainfall include drying and reviving , toxic sap , and precocial flowering .
the red - shouldered vanga and long - tailed ground roller are recorded as
vulnerable
species on the recent iucn red list of threatened species ( iucn 2000 ) .
as is the case in many reserves in madagascar , the reserves themselves are not well managed or protected . for example , cattle and goat grazing continues in the fragile coastal habitats of cap st marie , an area of heavy exploitation by succulent plant collectors . a priority - setting workshop held in 1995 identified the following sites as in need of immediate conservation : the region around lake tsimanampetsotsa , fiherenana region , cap st . marie , and the mahafaly plateau ( ganzhorn et al . 1997 ) .
invasive plant species , such as prickly pear ( opuntia spp . ) and the rubber vine ( cissus spp . ) , which is only a threat in gallery forest , have increased the degradation of the habitats , especially in disturbed forest areas . as in other regions of madagascar , the collection of endemic species of plants and animals for international trade poses a threat to the integrity of the habitats . illegal collection is a particularly significant threat for the populations of the two endemic species of tortoises and various species of succulent endemic plants .
references cornet , a . 1974 . essai de cartographie bioclimatique à madagascar . notice explicative no 55 , orstom , paris .
davis , s . d . , v . h . heywood , and a . c . hamilton . 1994 . centres of plant diversity , a guide and strategy for their conservation . wwf and iucn , oxford , uk .
donque , g . 1972 . the climatology of madagascar . in biogeography and ecology of madagascar , eds . r battistini , and g . richard - vindard , pp . 87 - 144 . the hague , junk .
du puy , d . j . , and j . moat . 1996 . a refined classification of the primary vegetation of madagascar based on the underlying geology : using gis to map its distribution and to assess its conservation status . in w . r . lourenço ( editor ) . biogéographie de madagascar . pp . 205 - - 218 , + 3 maps . editions de l’orstom , paris .
ganzhorn , j . u . , b . rakotosamimanana , l . hannah , j . hough , l . iyer , s . olivieri , s . rajaobelina , c . rodstrom , g . tilkin . 1997 . priorities for biodiversity conservation in madagascar . primate report 48 - 1 , germany .
goodman , s . m . 1996 . a subfossil record of galidictis grandidieri ( herpestidae : galidiinae ) from southwestern madagascar . mammalia 60 : 150 - 151 .
goodman , s . m . , a . f . a . hawkins , and c . a . domergue . 1997 . a new species of vanga ( vangidae ) from southwestern madgascar . bulletin of the british ornithologists’ club 117 : 5 - 10 .
hawkins f . , m . rabenandrasana , m . c . virginie , r . o . manese , r . mulder , e . r . ellis and r . ramariason . 1998 . field observations of the red - shouldered vanga calicalicus rufocarpalis : a newly described malagasy endemic . bulletin of the african bird club 5 ( 1 ) : 30 - 32 .
humbert , h . 1955 . les territoires phytogéographiques de madagascar . in . colloques internationaux du c . n . r . s . , 59 : les divisions écologique du monde . moyen d’expression , nomenclature , cartographie . paris , juin - juillet 1954 . année biologique , 3e série , 31 : 439 - 448 .
jolly , a . , p . oberlé , and r . albignac . 1984 . key environments : madagascar . pergamon press , oxford .
langrand , o . 1990 . guide to the birds of madagascar . yale university press , new haven .
lowry , p . p . ii , g . e . schatz , and p . b . phillipson . 1997 . the classification of natural and anthropogenic vegetation in madagascar . pp . 93 - 123 in : s . m . goodman and b . d . . patterson ( eds . ) . natural change and human impact in madagascar . smithsonian institution press , washington , d . c .
mittermeier , r . a . , i . tattersall , w . r . konstant , d . m . meyers , and r . b . mast . 1994 . lemurs of madagascar . conservation international , washington , d . c .
morat , p . 1973 . les savanes du sud - ouest de madagascar . mémoires orstom 68 : 1 - 236 .
morris , p . , and f . hawkins . 1998 . birds of madagascar : a photographic guide . yale university press , new haven .
nicoll , m . e . , and o . langrand . 1989 . madagascar : revue de la conservation et des aires protégées . world wide fund for nature , gland , switzerland .
phillipson , p . b . 1996 . endemism and non - endemism in the flora of south - west madagascar . pp . 125 - 136 in . w . r . lourenço ( ed . ) . biogéographie de madagascar . editions de l’orstom , paris .
rakotomalaza , p . j . , and n . messmer . 1999 . structure and floristic composition of the vegetation in the réserve naturelle intégrale d’andohahela , madagascar . in a floral and faunal inventory of the réserve naturelle intégrale d’andohahela , madagascar : with reference to elevational variation . fieldiana : zoology , new series , 94 : 51 - 96 .
stattersfield , a . j . , m . j . crosby , a . j . long , and d . c . wege . 1997 . endemic bird areas of the world . priorities for biodiversity conservation . birdlife conservation series no . 7 . birdlife international , cambridge , uk .
sussman , r . w . , g . m . green , and l . k . sussman . 1994 . satellite imagery , human ecology , anthropology , and deforestation in madagascar . human ecology 22 : 333 - 334 .
udvardy , m . d . f . 1975 . a classification of the biogeographical provinces of the world . iucn occasional paper no . 18 . international union of conservation of nature and natural resources , morges , switzerland .
white f . 1983 . the vegetation of africa , a descriptive memoir to accompany unesco / aetfat vegetation map of africa . unesco , paris .
world wildlife fund 1250 24th street , n . w . washington , dc 20037
these communities are not evenly distributed , but located near food sources . in areas where human habitation exists ,
communities are dense , especially due to agricultural food sources ( haim and rozenfeld 1998 ) . it has been suggested that , since
are passive , through time they have been forced into living in arid environments due to competition / exclusion by other more dominant rodents ( kronfeld et al . 1994 ) .
are light golden brown in appearance on the dorsal surface . the ventral side is white in color however , the entire pelage of this species is bristly with individual , non - prickly spines covering the animal . the bristles tend to be thicker and more abundant dorsally . the ends of the spines are black or grey which gives this species a more light brown appearance instead of bright gold . a single white patch is found below each eye and behind each ear . the dorsal sides of each limb contain a small white patch as well . average body and tail lengths are 7 - 15cm . and 4 - 13cm . , respectively ( grzimek 1990 ) . there is slight sexual dimorphism in size .


the curl-crested aracari ( us / ˌɑːrəˈsɑːri / ahr-ə-sahr-ee , uk / ˌɑːrəˈsɑːri / arr-ə-sahr-ee or / ˌɑːrəˈkɑːri / arr-ə-kahr-ee ) , or curl-crested araçari ( pteroglossus beauharnaesii ) , also known as the curly-crested aracari , is a species of bird in the ramphastidae family , the toucans .

curl - crested aracari

handfed , tame baby aracaris . green aracari - 2150 curl crested aracari - 3950
you can see our curl - crested aracari up close during special feedings held twice a day .
curl - crested aracari ( pteroglossus beauharnaesii ) is a species of bird in the ramphastidae family .
the curl - crested aracari is deserving of notice on account of its beautiful , variegated plumage .
the curl - crested aracari ( pteroglossus beauharnaesii ) is a south american toucan that is named after its distinctive curly head feathers .
the curl - crested aracari , also known as the curly - crested aracari , is a species of bird in the ramphastidae family , and is closely related to the toucans . it was named for it ' s unique curly crest of feathers . the curl - crested aracari can be found in amazonian peru , brazil and bolivia south of the amazon river . its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests . more
the curl - crested aracari , also known as the curly - crested aracari , is a species of bird in the ramphastidae family , the toucans . on account of its relatively long tail and curly crest , it was formerly placed in the monotypic genus beauharnaisius .
behavior : the curl - crested aracari is a social bird . it will sleep with up to five adults and their fledged offspring in the same nesting hole .
curl - crested aracari are the largest in the smaller classification of aracaris , weighing just under 10 ounces . in the wild , they inhabit rainforests throughout south america .
the curl - crested aracari is classified as least concern . does not qualify for a more at risk category . widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category .
habitat / range : the curl - crested aracari inhabits tropical moist lowland forests of western amazonia in southern peru ( south of the amazon ) , western brazil and northern bolivia .
the curl - crested aracari is a beautifully colored , glossy - feathered bird with curled feathers on its crown . it is one of only three toucan species with red feathers on the nape and shoulders , and it is the most colorful of small toucan species . once only kept in captivity in zoos / aquariums , the curl - crested aracari has been successfully bred and is available as a pet .
the curl crested aracaris weigh about 210 grams or 7 . 4 oz and are tied with black neck aracaris for the number two position in size after the chestnut eared aracari . ( ref : jerry jennings )
curl - crested aracari ( pteroglossus beauharnaesii ) , a member of the toucan family and native to the amazon rainforest of south america . living in parker aviary , san diego zoo . conservation status : least concern
“curl - crested aracaris are exquisitely beautiful and peaceful additions to the mixed species aviary , and their friendly disposition makes them fantastic pets . curl - crested aracaris are the most intelligent and cuddly of the toucanets and aracaris , and by far the most colorful of all toucan species . ”
curl - crested aracari are threatened by the outlaws who cage and trade them as pets , or poach them for meat and medicine . however , the biggest threat to this species is the same of most birds today ; habitat loss . one of the largest contributions to the habitat destruction of the aracari is the mining of bauxite , a mineral that is used for the production of aluminum products . one way to fight off this threat and aid our friendly curl - crested aracaris is to lessen the demand of aluminum products . for years , the curl - crested aracari has managed to maintain its populations enough to be listed as “least concern” .
curl - crested aracaris are beautiful and peaceful birds . unlike some toucan species that cannot be kept with smaller size birds , the curl - crested aracari can be kept in a mixed species aviary . when hand - fed , they bond closely to their human companions and they enjoy being a part of the family . they can even be potty trained and can learn to perform tricks .
the curl - crested aracari is uncommon in the forest canopy of amazonia , on the south side of the amazon and lower marañon rivers . it is known to range up to 900 m along the foothill of the andes . it also occurs in
picture of the curl - crested aracari has been licensed under a creative commons attribution . original source : lonnie huffmanpermission ( reusing this file ) use with credit to lonnie huffman . author : lonnie huffmanpermission ( reusing this file ) use with credit to lonnie huffman .
hello everyone ! i am new to bird - dom . i hope to someday have flighty friendly flocks of friends ! i am particularly interested in ramphastids . dream bird ? toco toucan . secondary dream bird ? keel billed . tertiary dream bird ? curl crested aracari .
taken june 29 , 2013 at the bird store about the curl crested aracari toucan : curl - crested aracaris are among the largest in the aracari family , with an average weight of just under 10 ounces . they are found in a broad range of rainforest habitats throughout south america and are currently not endangered . their colorful body , speckled chest , and curly hair - do make for one intriguing bird which many believe sets them apart as one of the most captivating of all the toucan species . i must say i have to agree .
common murre , common puffin , razorbill , crested auklet , etc . vintage 1984 bird book plate
size : this aracari reaches lengths of 16 - 18 inches ( 41 – 46 cm ) .
the curl - crested aracari ( or “curls” , as referred to by the toucan world of enthusiasts ) are a vibrant colored , glossy - coated bird with curled feathers on it ' s crown , hence its name . it is one of three toucan species with red feathers on its nape and shoulders and is most colorful of the small toucan species . it ' s also the most cuddly and smart of the family . the curl - crested aracari are peaceful birds , which has made them easy to keep and breed in captivity when once , they were only kept in zoos and aquariums .
because of its peaceful nature , the curl - crested aracari can be kept with other small birds in an aviary . when they are raised being hand - fed they even form close bonds to their captors and become one of the family . they are not only peaceful and cooperative , but very smart . curl - crested aracari are capable of being potty trained and performing tricks ! to some keeper ' s disappointment , the bird cannot mimic or talk the way other parrot species can . they are fairly quiet and only make loud calls when agitated or excited . some may find this is a blessing .
3 year old curl crested aracaris ! $ 4 , 000 located in new jersey shipping available . please call 973 - 944 - 0722 for details on how to add these amazing birds to your family !
curl - crested aracari videos on the internet bird collection
curly - crested aracari
photo gallery vireo photo - high res photo - high res ; article tropicalbirding photo - medium res - ( dorsal view ) ; article nashvillezoo . orgâ€”
ramphastidae
didn ' t find what you were looking for . need more information for your travel research or homework ? ask your questions at the forum about birds of bolivia or help others to find answers . this article is licensed under the gnu free documentation license . more
the curl - crested aracari is found in the southwestern section of the amazon basin , with the amazon river being its northern range limit . near the amazon river , its range extends east to about the madeira river , while it in the southern half of its range extends east to around the xingu river . more
the curl - crested aracari range includes central and southern brazil , ranging as far east as the mouth of the madeira river and westward to the lowland forests of eastern peru and south into northern bolivia . near the amazon river , its range stretches east to about the madeira river . its southern half of its range extends east to the xingu river .
the curl - crested araçari is part of the toucan family . toucans are easily recognized birds with an over - sized and colorful bill that allows them to pluck fruit from vegetation as well as drink water from the crevices of trees .
you may remember jeff from one of my past posts in the species special feature series on curl - crested aracaris . without further ado , i’ll give the floor to jeff , this time to discuss in more depth toucans as pets .
2017 hatch captive bred baby curl crested aracari special this week $ 4500 . 00 each including shipping . freshly weaned babies , ugly baby plumage . ! st picture is showing an adult . 2nd 2 pictures are showing babies for sale . 4th picture : some ugy old guy . . . . lol trades will always be considered . . . we sh . . .
toco toucan $ 23k a pair 3 years old ; curl crested aracaries $ 7500 a pair 4 and 5 years old ; collared aracaries 2 years old $ 2200 pair ; african pied hornbills $ 2000 pair ; redbilled hornbilled $ 550 a pair .
curl - crested araçaris are found in western brazil into southeastern peru and northeastern bolivia , in tropical moist lowland forests . they are arboreal and diurnal . araçaris are considered mainly frugivorous , but are actually omnivores , occasionally consuming eggs or young birds .
the curl - crested aracari is one of the more spectacularly plumaged aracari , and one of the more stranger looking birds . unlike any other aracari , or any other bird , it has modified head feathers that resemble shiny black pieces of plastic . it is from these modified feathers that this species gets its name . it is restricted to lowland terra firme forest of western amazonia in southern peru ( south of the amazon ) , western brazil , and northern bolivia . apart from the bizarre head ornamentation , the curl - crested aracari is a quite pretty toucan , with a red back , yellow underparts with a single red breast ban , and a quite ornately patterned , multicolored bill . it overlaps in terra firme forest with both lettered aracari ( pteroglossus inscriptus ) and ivory - billed aracari ( pteroglossus azara ) , both of which have different underpart and bill patterns , the two features important in identifying aracaris . it is more similar to chestnut - eared aracari ( pteroglossus castanotis ) , which also has yellow underparts with a single red breast band . chestnut - eared differs by having a dark brown , as oppose to yellow throat , a mostly dark bill , and is found more in riverine habitats , as opposed to terra firme forest . calls very different from other aracaris , a loud rising “ eeee - yak . ” moves in small groups through the canopy , foraging in fruiting trees .
description :
the curl - crested aracari is deserving of notice on account of its beautiful , variegated plumage .
source : cuppy ph . d . , hazlitt alva beauties and wonders of land and sea ( springfield : mast , crowell & kirkpatrick , 1895 ) 289 keywords : pretty birds , talking birds copyright : 2009 , florida center for instructional technology . see license . more
curl - crested aracari enthusiasts , jeff and ken , house 5 curl - crested toucans and consider them part of the family . they and their 5 toucans live in northern california . rocky lives in jeff ' s home office and flies freely around their home . he is treated most like a pet . oskar and shirley are tame because of being hand - raised , but live outside in an aviary connected to the house and have access to jeff ' s home office through the window . the others are breeding pairs and are not tame . they live in a large aviary off - site that more resembles their home in the wild .
once jerry had “cracked the code” and was producing a large number of curl - crested babies , he offered to sell me one . we named the new kid on the block rocky , after the flying squirrel . he was very sweet and settled into our home easily .
curl - crested aracari need space to fly freely and play with their toys . they are highly active birds and eat a diet consistent of fruit they ' d naturally find in the wild . like many bird species , you may avoid citric acid because of its ability to aid the absorption of iron which can be bad for birds kept as pets . a low - iron protein source should be provided to them .
curl - crested aracaris make their nests in abandoned hollows of trees ( usually left from woodpeckers ) . once its found a suitable place to lay its eggs , it lays three or four and incubates them for just over two weeks time . chicks are born blind and hairless , but after a month and a half or so , the chicks will gain some plumage and learn to fly with the guidance of their parent birds . if the bird is not nesting with its partner , curl - crested aracaris will roost in groups of five or more birds .
curl - crested aracaris are highly active and need plenty of space to both fly and play ; their cages should also have enough toys for entertainment . their diet consists primarily of fruit in the wild , and the same should be replicated in our homes . because citric acid facilitates the absorption of iron , it is recommended not to give this species any citric fruits . in addition to a wide variety of fruits , their diet should be supplemented with a low - iron protein source . curl - crested aracaris are very peaceful and can even be kept with other birds .
hand fed curl crested aracaris . one of the most affectionate and cuddly of all the aracaris ! extremely small number expected to be available this year . located in middle tennessee , nationwide shipping available . when it comes to choosing a breeder , bigger is not always better . references happily . . .
curl - crested aracaris are among the largest in the aracari family , with an average weight of just under 10 ounces . they are found in a broad range of rainforest habitats throughout south america and are currently not endangered . their colorful body , speckled chest , and curly hair - do make for one intriguing bird which many believe sets them apart as one of the most captivating of all the toucan species . i must say i have to agree .
curl - crested araçaris are a beautifully colored , glossy - feathered birds with curled feathers on their crown . these modified head feathers are unlike any other araçari and resemble shiny black pieces of plastic . they have a long tail and zygodactyl feet . they have relatively small wings , suitable only for short distance flights .
that’s definitely interesting , anita , that he did that as an aracari too . touk was an amazing bird – thank you for sharing him with us . 🙂
. the curl - crested aracari has a black cap and nape made out of curly tape - like feathers . the throat is yellow with dusky spots . the mantle and rump are red with the rest of upperparts and tail dusky greenish . the underparts are yellow with a distinctive red band across mid belly . most of the lower mandible is creamy yellow . the tip of the bill and upper mandible are reddish and chestnut with a greenish stripe along the upper mandible . it is similar to
to further describe its beauty , the curl - crested aracari has bare skin that is blue around its eyes . the feathers on his face have hardened black tips . its belly plumage are yellowish with a single red band on its breast and elaborate pattern on its beak . its tail is long and varies in colors of dark green , red , yellow to brown , and black . one could describe its features on and on . the female birds have smaller beaks and bodies than its male counterpart .
i am very excited to continue this series of toucan species interviews today featuring a true toucan man named jeff and his eclectic flock which just so happens to include some of the most fascinating - looking toucans of all the 38 + species – curl - crested aracaris . but before we begin , just in case you missed them , be sure to check out these fun posts with our other toucan friends , touk the green aracari , pixie the swainson’s , pogo the keel - billed , and yoshi the emerald toucanet .
toucans and aracari are different in cage need / space , diet and even how they move . being
smacked
by a toco can hurt . because they are such big birds a bite will pinch ( no where near the pressure of a parrot ) . but to kill things they grab and smack the item . if mad at you they can smack and that hurts . i am not into feeding live food such as pinkies that the large toucans eat . they hop to get where they are going . very nice birds though . curl cresteds are great aracari and make wonderful pets / easy to travel with . the toucans and aracari do learn some tricks if you take the time .
under the international code of zoological nomenclature , the valid form and source of the name for the well - known curl - crested aracari should remain pteroglossus beauharnaesii wagler , 1832 . although it is an incorrect subsequent spelling , its challenger , pteroglossus beauharnaisii , is a nomen oblitum . pteroglossus beauharnaesii wagler , 1832 has been in universal use since 1900 , and it is protected either by article 23 . 9 or 33 . 3 . 1 of the code , depending on the interpretation of the way the younger name was introduced .
the curl - crested ' s long bill allows it to reach and feed on many kinds of fruits native to the amazon ( such as figs ) . the serrated bill is the perfect tool for the job . few other species of bird in their habitat can yield the amount of fruit a toucan can in one season . this is what makes the aracari an important species for dispersing seeds and keeping the ecological balance of the rainforest . ficus and other fuiting trees are dependent on the toucan ' s efficiency to spread their seeds and produce .
an aracari , on the other hand , can be incorporated into a human household fairly easily . rocky , my curl - crested aracari , follows me around our ( admittedly , quite small ) house , turning corners from room to room in flight in a way daisy the toco or jimmy the swainson’s could never do in that restricted area . when rocky wants some alone time , he goes back to his cage or perches on the edge of a shallow bowl sitting on top our microwave which he has made his poop station in the kitchen / family room . he joins us on the couch without having to drive the dogs out of the room first , and jumps down your shirt to be snuggled or squeezes into a space between you and a pillow or you and a dog or person for a group nap . and he craves physical contact in general . this was also true of the green aracari i had ( my first ramphastid , frank , now “stolen” by a dear friend who lives nearby and fell in love with him ) and is true for a friend’s collared aracari , rafi , who i care for sometimes .
honestly , the price tag of a toco ( $ 10000 ) / keel - billed ( $ 9000 ) / swainson ' s ( $ 5000 ) toucan , or even a curl - crested aracari ( $ 4500 ) ( a very large , and the most
toucan - like
aracari ) was not and probably will not ever be doable for me ( in the same way i could never afford a hyacinth macaw ) . if you are really put off by the prices of these larger birds , i would really encourage you to look into the smaller species of aracaris . ivory - billed aracaris are actually supposed to be the second smallest aracari ( behind the green aracari ) , and kevin is ~ 130g ( the size of a sun conure if you know how big those are ) . i don ' t know how to accurately judge him in banana - lengths lol but here ' s a pic of him holding a normal mechanical pencil and one of him cuddling with the bf . i ' d have to say that i enjoy all of the personality of a rhamphastid without the huge cage requirement and added mess .
for what this species is called in other , non - english languages , see avibase , here . as you can see we swedes now have adopted the portuguese spelling ( with cedilla ) and call it krushuvad araçari ( curl - crested araçari ) . from 2015 we use the common name araçarier ( araçari ' s ) for all the species in pteroglossus , but before that they were called both arassarier or aracarier . how the portuguese spelling came in favour here is a bit hard to understand , and quite a few have a hard time accepting it , but it does help with how it´s pronunciated ( in swedish ) ; arra - sári . however , compare with the
original
one ; today ' s black - necked aracari pteroglossus aracari linnaeus 1758 ( here ) as
ramphastos aracari
, and its explanation , in jobling ' s hbw alive key , here . which spelling is the most appropriate one , in english , i do not know . . .
short , l . l . & bonan , a . ( 2018 ) . curl - crested araçari ( pteroglossus beauharnaisii ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
description : the most interesting characteristic of the curl - crested aracari is the shiny , black curled feathers on its head that look like pieces of plastic or curled ribbon . the bare skin around the eyes is blue ; the whitish - yellow facial feathers have hardened black tips ; the patterned , multicolored bill has an orange tip ; the back is red ; the breast is yellow with red blotches and a single red band . the tail is long , varying in color but has a greenish - bronze dominant color . this species is often considered to be the most attractive and colorful of the smaller toucans . the bill of the female is shorter than the male’s .
my first toucan was a green aracari , hand - raised by a breeder in southern california . his name ( the bird , not the breeder ) was frank and he was a great ramphastid ambassador . when tonia ( current owner of pogo the keel - billed toucan ) was first thinking of getting a toucan , she heard about frank from the yahoo toucans ramphastid group and came to visit with her husband , armando , and her sister , emily . frank won them all over . my sister , who lives in milwaukee , met frank and later went on to get a green aracari and a swainson’s toucan . another friend in the bay area also visited extensively with frank before acquiring his own green aracari .
in addition to his curls , jeff also provides a home to an 8 year old female eclectus , ichigo ; numerous songbirds ; and breeding pairs of blue - crowned hanging parrots and stella’s lorikeets . brazilian cardinals and a white - crested laughing thrush share the aviary with the curl couple , oskar and shirley . i met jeff through the toucan network of friends that i have been lucky to build over the past year . he is an amazing resource on all things toucan and i know you’ll enjoy hearing about his passion for curls .
as for comparing them with other ramphastid species , i would say that as one of the larger aracaris , they approach the toucans in intelligence without all of the attendant issues that make keeping the large toucans as pets a bad idea for most people . it may just be my impression , but the curl - cresteds seem to have a bit more “presence” than some of their smaller relatives . because of their physical uniqueness – larger size , relatively heavy bodies , bills shaped more like the toucans than the aracaris , and of course their unique , curly - feathered hair - dos – they were classified in a separate genus ( beauharnaisius ) for many years , and though now they have been brought into the pteroglossus ( aracari ) genus , in many ways they still seem rather transitional between pteroglossus and ramphastos , giving them an aracari personality in a toucan body .
i purchased my curl - cresteds from jerry jennings . initially , i had purchased a non - tame pair to breed and set them up in the outdoor aviary adjacent to the house . at the time , jerry had not yet succeeded in breeding curls and no babies were available .
the second , cultural reason ( and i think one actually can speak of animal cultures ) is that the large toucans are more aggressive and singular than aracaris . aracaris sleep in their tree holes every night , sometimes in fairly large family groups , even when they’re not breeding . aracari families sometimes communally raise the breeding pair’s chicks . the large toucans generally only use their nest holes during the breeding season . this cultural tendency to feel comfortable with and even crave close physical contact shapes the aracari personality in a way that makes them more suitable as companions for us flightless , biped apes .
jeff and his partner , ken , are the proud owners of not just one , but five curl - crested aracaris ( or “curls” as they are commonly referred to in the toucan world ) . they live in northern california and their curly flock includes : rocky , the “pet” , who is 4 years old and lives in a large cage in jeff’s home office and spends most of his days out free - flying the house ; oskar and shirley , 3 years old , who are a tame , hand - raised pair that live in an aviary attached to the house with access to jeff’s home office through a window ; and another non - tame breeder pair which are kept in a large aviary off - site .
last thing to say about large toucans vs . aracaris : noise . though none of them compare with a parrot’s screech , the beautiful , haunting call of a swainson’s carries for miles , which is why i had to eventually part with my jimmy . the call of the toco carries for blocks . and the call of a friend’s keel - billed can be heard by neighbors . not so with an aracari – another thing that makes them an easier fit for life with humans .
hi , jeff . thank you so much for taking the time to share your toucan wisdom with us . you are definitely one of my favorite people to talk toucans with ! you are always so generous with your time and often offer people on the toucan forum a lot of useful advice when it comes to caring for and adopting toucans . you are quite a big aracari fan and often seem to try and steer people away from the larger toucans as pets . is that intentional ?
but i do have an agenda in trying to direct new bird keepers away from the large toucans as house pets . i’ve kept four and still currently have two tocos . i previously had a swainson’s and my first toucan was a plate - billed mountain toucan . all were hand - raised and tame , but large toucan tame and aracari tame are two different things . the main differences as far as one considering taking a ramphastid on as a companion animal are two – logistical and cultural .
one big aracari fan in particular is jeff hunter , who i was fortunate to meet through the yahoo toucan forum and has proceeded to make me fall in love with aracaris with each subsequent conversation we have . he always contributes really interesting information to the forum and has experience with several different species of toucan , both large and small . jeff’s views on toucans as pets are in alignment with my own and i knew he would do a much better job than i to help weigh the differences between the large vs . small toucans as pets .
i have tuki , a 4 year old curl from jerry jennings’s farm . she is adorable . she sleeps in her own little cat bed that looks like the hollow of a tree every night . wants to taste all of our food . and cuddles with us in the evening before getting into her own bed . we love her to bits , and she greets us every time we come in the door . she has a different greeting for each one of us , and she recognizes each of our steps before we are in the house .
i eventually had the opportunity to purchase an unrelated pair of hand - raised curl babies , oskar and shirley . i then transferred the wild pair to a friend’s breeding facility where they would have more privacy . i put the new pair of babies in my aviary adjacent to my office . they remain tame after several years and i occasionally open the window and let them into the office to play with me or visitors . i’m hoping that because they are used to people , they will feel more at ease breeding in an aviary in such close proximity to the house .
probably the most challenging thing about owning an aracari is providing it with a suitable home and keeping that home ( and your home ) clean . a large cage is absolutely necessary , and plenty of time out of the cage is a requisite . you also need to devise a way to keep fruit splatter under control . i use flexible plastic sheeting that comes in rolls around three sides of the cage to keep our walls clean and a sheet of plexiglas sits on top of the cage . you still need to clean the walls and floors occasionally , as well as hose down the cage .
jerry jennings , president / director of emerald forest bird gardens fallbrook , ca also imported this species in 2004 , and sold some curly - crested aracaris to the dallas world aquarium and the riverbanks zoo in columbia , south carolina . at this point in time , over 40 pairs are scattered around the united states that were sold by jerry jennings , who himself has 14 breeding pairs . at this point in time sufficient breeding pairs are set up in the united states for this species to be available to private aviculturists . adrienne reeves , who bought one of his curly - rested aracaris contributed her pet marley ' s photos for publication on the avianweb .
green aracari singing american goldfinch winter song facts call habitat images diet bird state bird female adaptations all about birds audio as pet audubon alberta pine siskin animal totem attract appearance american goldfinch birdhouse beak . behavior bird call birdhouse plans baby bird song birds for sale bird feeder class colors color change chirp cornell classification coloring page cornell lab ornithology call mp3 drawing diseases description detroit distribution distribution map detroit restaurant . song download what do they eat eggs eye disease endangered eating habits eat enemies egg size edmonton ecosystem nest and eggs american goldfinch food flying feather fun facts . american goldfinch warbling wiki winter plumage winter colors winter female x canary youtube young yellow song singing youtube .
besides just the price though . . . . you say you want a toucan because they are more
mild
than a macaw . that is not necessarily the truth . my aracari is usually chill ( the breeder admitted that he was an extremely cuddly baby and rather calm ) , but even then he is more often than not bouncing around the room . i can deal with that because he is relatively small ( about the size of a large conure ) , and has a nice big cage to play in , but if you get a larger aracari or toucan you will have a bird that is the equivalent of a kid on a sugar high that can cross half the room with one good hop . big cage , lots of energy . . . yes they are quieter than a macaw but they definitely will not sit on a perch for more than a few minutes like one . finally , have you done some research into their diet ? all rhamphastids have a very specialized diet , low in iron , because they are susceptible to hemochromatosis ( iron - storage disease ) . you must only feed low - iron softball pellets , and low iron fruits / veggies ( blueberries , melon , papaya , apple , pears , carrots , cherries , sweet potato , etc ) as well as no citrus .
each day starts with chopping fruit – if you’re not a morning person , don’t get an aracari . i usually have the birds fed by about 8 : 30 am . i let rocky out in the morning while i’m preparing food to cruise the living room and spend time with ken before he goes to work ( i work from home ) . when i go into my office , rocky joins me there , going in and out of his cage freely , landing on my head , playing in the bookshelves , and banging his toys around . if it’s a sunny day , i give him a few hours in a ( metal ) sunning cage on our deck . while he’s on the deck , i can let oskar and shirley inside .
they also have a soft , whining sound that is used when being stroked or petted – i believe this is probably the sound that chicks make to solicit food . and finally , they have a loud , car - alarm call probably most owners will never hear . it’s a high , descending whoop and i think it is used to call to flock members that are far out of sight . when i first put my wild breeding pair in the aviary , they did it for a few days in the morning . i think they were trying to see if any other curl - cresteds were in hearing range . occasionally , my tame pair will make this cry in the morning , just once or twice . even rocky may do it in the morning if i have overslept and am not down to greet him at the usual time .
oh yes i have looked into the toucans quite a lot i know about their diets and what - not which can be costly but then again pets are costly . as for mild , mild is relative what i meant by that is the from what i have read and people on here have said toucans tend to be less emotional then macaws and the like , and quiet too , i dont mind the flying all around getting into trouble bit that is half the fun of a bird . i am just having trouble justifying to my self the absurdly high cost of toucans to myself without having had hands on time with one , tocans live 25 years or less and many cost as much as a macaw or twice as much . if i remember right the ivory billed is the smallest of the aracari just how large is he in regards to say a banana for scale
tocos are unique among ramphastids in a number of ways . according to the literature , they are the only non - forest species , preferring generally open country dotted with trees . and , probably as part and parcel of that ( fewer trees = lower concentration of food per acre ) , they don’t usually travel in the large , often mixed flocks that other toucans do . swainson’s and keel - billeds , for example , will travel through the rainforest in very loose flocks of 5 to 7 or more individuals , often mixed with aracaris . so do the mountain toucans and the large uber - family that makes up the ramphastos vitellinis group ( 6 to 8 subspecies , depending on who’s counting ) . tocos usually travel singly or , at most , in pairs . all the aracaris travel in large family and “tribe” groups ( related families ) , often mixing with other aracari species as well .
i own an aracari ( same family as toucans ) and can say after doing my research not too long ago , that yes , the bigger rhamphastids are going to be pricey . because these birds aren ' t being bred or sold by many people , prices can fluctuate depending the seller and availability . for example , my ivory - billed was originally $ 1800 , already below the average price of $ 2000 asked by other reputable breeders . in the end i got him for $ 1200
on sale
because he was the absolute last bird the breeder had from the last season . $ 5000 for a swainson ' s is not unusual at all , though you may find some around $ 3000 who are older , maybe not - hand tamed , etc . most people want babies so that they can socialize and bond with them ( though in my experience , having bought an older bird this is not 100 % necessary ) .
urltoken unabridged based on the random house unabridged dictionary , © random house , inc . 2018
there are many ways to contribute—we need species information , photographs , audio , video , translations , maps , distribution data , and bird sightings . there ' s a role for everyone !
) , in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa . retrieved from neotropical birds online :
one of the several species of aracaris that could be seen at eye level during our tour to the cristalino reserve .
hi jeff ! you have quite the enviable flock . how did you first become interested in toucans ?
i can’t even remember how i first became interested in toucans . i’ve kept birds since i was a child – parakeets , finches , and so forth . i probably got it from my dad , who had a pet parakeet when i was a baby and was always fascinated by animals . when i lived in japan in the 70s and 80s , i had a few large parrots , cockatoos , and lories . i think i ventured across jerry jenning’s website ( emerald forest bird gardens ) in perhaps 2006 ? i was intrigued by his description of the difference between toucans and parrots .
after several years here , frank made the final sacrifice and got adopted by a close friend in the area . i still see frank regularly and he’s very happy in his new home .
i’ve had three other toucans . my first larger toucan , dino , was a very rare species – a plate - billed mountain toucan . he was also bred in southern california , though since then , all representatives of the species have been sent to the dallas world aquarium and no more remain in the pet trade . i have also owned a swainson’s toucan named jimmy and a toco toucan named daisy , who now has a toco mate named mario .
whenever i let oskar and shirley inside , they gather on the playpen on top of rocky’s cage . shirley , who is rocky’s sister from another clutch , seems intent on murdering rocky , so he has to be in his cage when the pair are in my office . oskar and shirley are presently courting and perhaps this year they will breed .
breeding is not my main goal , but i would like to keep this species going in captivity since they make such good pets . there are only a handful of breeders at this point and i’d like to do my part .
birds generally rest during the mid - day period , being most active in the mornings and toward dusk . rocky usually spends most of the afternoon in his cage , spacing out , by his own choice . oskar and shirley often retreat to their nest log in the afternoon for a nap . for some reason , rocky seems to bathe late in the afternoon , almost every day . oskar and shirley usually bathe in the morning . no clue as to why it’s different .
rocky often joins us in the living room while we’re watching tv in the evening . he enjoys spending that time tucked into a little blanket someone made just for him . he seems to like being wrapped up . occasionally , he pops out , takes a poop break on one of his special stands with trays underneath , then comes back .
they have a repertoire of about five calls that i’ve been able to identify . there is a sharp , loud , staccato warning call that can be irritating . they use it when fearful – a cat , a hawk , a new person , or a plane in the sky . they have a low , chortling sound that is their most frequent call , used as a greeting , it seems to me . they have a loud trill / purr / chatter that is used when happy – at having received some food or being reunited with a long - lost loved one ( like after not seeing you for 30 minutes ) .
he likes to sit on the back of the couch behind your head and preen your hair or have you reach back and stroke him in that position , to which he responds with baby begging sounds . he also likes his beak stroked or rubbed gently .
if i take a short afternoon break from work , rocky will join me on the couch , diving into a crack between me and the couch or me and the dog i’m sitting next to to sleep and be pet .
it has taken him two years to get used to our newer dog . at first , he was afraid and a little aggressive , but now he simply walk up to him and stares or gives him a tentative poke in the thigh . the dog just looks at him like , “what , me , worry ? ” but we always supervise their interactions .
rocky also enjoys being hand fed tidbits of food . we keep a small cup of his pellets in the living room to hand feed him from time to time . he demands whatever you’re eating , so we usually cage him during our mealtimes – although he often manages to get a tiny piece of toast in the morning .
unlike the larger toucans , in my experience , aracaris don’t use passing of food back and forth to strengthen the pair bond . the males do , however , offer food to the female , but i have never seen a female reciprocate . once you give rocky a treat , he isn’t going to give it back . what he does do is fly around the room , showing it off to everyone , “see what i’ve got ! you don’t have this ! it’s my special treat ! ”
i haven’t trained rocky to do anything . after the first year , he trained himself to poop on the two stands with trays that we have in our living area . he never poops on people or furniture . i haven’t trained him to “step - up” either – sometimes he will and sometimes i just gently reach for him and enclose him in my hand . when i need to put him in his cage , i make him fly to the couch and he waits there for me to pick him up . i suppose i could train him but…i’m too lazy and i don’t see the need .
lots of things , actually . i find them stunningly beautiful and to be honest , that’s an important factor for me . they are also so affectionate and playful , without any of the common parrot problems such as biting , destroying furniture , feather plucking , or screaming . they are easy to care for and feed , and are happy to just sit playing in their cage most of the day in the presence of their human flock . they enjoy cuddling , but aren’t desolate if you can’t spend hours exclusively devoted to them , like some cockatoos would be .
they are just so happy , cheerful , and easy to have around . they are also a species for which i think we humans can successfully meet their physical , emotional , and social needs , which is important .
they don’t eat much , so the expense of the food is minimal , but feeding aracaris is more trouble than just buying a bag of seeds or pellets , obviously . i’m feeding other even more labor - intensive birds , so to me , they’re easy . additionally , i live in california where tropical fruits are readily and inexpensively available year - round .
i would certainly recommend a hand - fed baby as a pet – if and only if you have the necessary time and space to fulfill its needs . on the other hand , if you’re simply going to park it in a cage all day while you’re off at work , i think a canary , parakeet , or cockateil is a more ethical choice for a pet . aracaris are , by nature , much more social and deserve extended opportunities for interaction , ranging from focal to ambient attention ( ie . just being in the same room as you ) .
perfect description – if only cassette tape also had body . it feels just like it looks – like little
curls . their feathers are smooth and solid , without any barbs . they are shiny too , like little strips of black patent leather that you curled with scissors , as if making a bow for a christmas present .
i’d like to express my appreciation to jeff for sharing not only a piece of his life with us in this interview , but also for always readily sharing his toucan expertise with me when i’m either in need or just simply feeling curious . his enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge have been so beneficial to me and i am so glad i was able to connect with him . all of the photos and video in this post were provided by jeff . best wishes to jeff , ken , and their spectacular flock !
i loved reading this interview . so fun and educational . i would like to point out that touk used to share anything that he loved eating ie cherries , blueberries and grapes . . he would try to feed them to marlean’s and my hand . he was the best bird ever .
id certainty 100 % . ( archiv . tape 374 side a track 38 seq . a )
id certainty 100 % . ( archiv . tape 374 side a track 35 seq . c )
id certainty 100 % . ( archiv . tape 374 side a track 35 seq . b )
id certainty 100 % . ( archiv . tape 374 side a track 35 seq . a )
natural vocalizations from a group of 5 about 30m up in canopy of tall cecropia in low terra firme forest .
a few assorted barks . wind noise below 100hz filtered . bird singing from atop canopy next to the 50m tower , in terra firme forest .
previously published on avocet as av10117 . certainty : 100 % . id determined by : not specifically indicated ; recordist normally sees birds recorded and indicates if any question ; matches xc cuts . gps : google earth .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .