Ariel Toucan

## About

An Ariel toucan on a branch.

The Ariel toucan ***(Ramphastos vitellinus ariel)*** is a subspecies of the channel-billed toucan ***(Ramphastos vitellinus)***, despite the two toucans having drastically different appearances. The taxonomic situation of the Ariel toucan is unclear, with some suggesting it is even its own species. An isolated group of Ariel toucans exist in Eastern Brazil, of which many encourage that this group may be a subspecies of the Ariel toucan or even an undescribed species. The Ariel toucan has black plumage on its body and wings, with the exception of the red semi-plume that borders the toucan's tail and the red feathers covers its chest. Aside from the body plumage, it also has a bright orange bib-patch, framed by a yellow band of feathers below. Bare reddish orange skin borders the toucan's bright blue eyes. The bare scales on the Ariel toucans legs and talons are also a slate or lead grey. Similarly to other large toucan species, the Ariel toucan has a massive bill when compared to other birds. The bill itself is black with yellow bands that are apparent at the bill's base. There also exists a deep groove on the toucan's bill, giving the Ariel toucan the channel-billed namesake. Originally the Ariel toucan was considered its own separate species due to these morphological differences. Like the bills of other toucans, the Ariel toucan's bill is believed to help regulate the animal's body temperature, as the toucan efficiently controls blood flow to the area. The Ariel toucan is just a bit smaller than the channel-billed toucan, growing to a length of 40cm (16in) and weighing 320g (11oz), though it is still considered a large toucan.

## Diet

Ariel toucans are omnivorous, consuming a variety of small reptiles, eggs, frogs, insects and the nestlings of other bird species. Despite their omnivorous status, Ariel toucans far prefer fruits over meat, grappling fruits from trees with their specialised bills. Toucan species eat through a means of tossing the food into their throats rather than crushing and then eating it, due to the bird's lower dexterity in its bill structure.

## Conservation Status

The Ariel toucan is most threatened by the combined threats of human expansion and deforestation. Habitat degradation and deforestation destroys much of the bird's available range, eradicating possible nests as well as food sources. This valuable land is more than often cleared for its use as soy or cattle farming land however, it has also been used to grow uniform palm oil plantations, which serve high economic value for rainforest countries. Less commonly, the Ariel toucan is also hunted for its feathers and meat. These combined threats make the Ariel toucan by far the most threatened of the channel-billed toucan subspecies and the subspecies is listed as endangered. The IUCN however, does not provide more information on the Ariel toucan's threats past these examples.

## Range and Population

Ariel toucans have one of the most vast ranges amount toucan species, stretching throughout areas of Brazil. The Amazon Basin and eastern coast of Brazil are the areas in which the Ariel toucan is most prevalent. its range broadens from the Tapajoz river in the north to Minas Gerais in the south of Brazil and the subspecies has also bee said to inhabit the foothills of the Andes. Throughout the toucan's tropical range it occurs in canopies ranging from 1,000-1,700m (3280-5577ft) in elevation however, the Ariel toucan is also known to inhabit the savanna regions of Brazil, though this is less common. Due to the multitude of threats that burden the rainforest environments of South America in general, the Ariel toucan's population is likely experiencing a decline. Unfortunately conservation efforts are difficult to implement as the subspecies' population is unknown.

## Behaviour

The reasoning behind the Ariel toucan being considered a subspecies of the channel-billed toucan, lies in the two group's connected behavioural characteristics. To elaborate, the Ariel toucan and other subspecies are known to interbreed with each other whenever they occur in the same territory. Though the Ariel toucan is closer to the yellow-ridged toucan ***(R. v. culminatus)***, than the citron-throated toucan ***(R. v. citeolaemus)*** however, this does not inhibit the two from breeding. The breeding and courting habits of the Ariel toucan are much less clear than those of the channel-billed toucan, but are likely similar. If similar, it can be suggested that males will grapple and fight for breeding rights and the pair are monogamous and nest in tree cavities, similarly to other ramphastos species.

### Relationship with Humans

Toucans are well respected in Amazonian culture and are seen as beings of both the living and spirit worlds. Often, these peoples will not hunt toucan species for the purpose of consumption however, the body parts of the birds are still widely used medicinally and decoratively. In more Westernised cultures, the Ariel toucan is seen as an incredibly desirable exotic pet.

## In Captivity

The Ariel toucan can only be found in captivity at the Dallas World Aquarium, according to ZOOINSTITUTES.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22726233/94915441
* Ariel Toucan | Birdlife International - http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ariel-toucan-ramphastos-ariel/details
* Ariel Toucan | Classic Fly Tying - http://www.classicflytying.net/wp/materials/ariel-toucan/
* Ariel Toucan | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/ariel-toucan-4728/