Toco Toucan
"Ramphastos toco"
Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus and Species
Fun Facts | Art and Poetry | Works Cited
they're capable of complex movement
multicellular organisms
heterotrophs
ingest and digest food in an internal cavity
bodies are made of cells into tissues
reproduce sexually
bilateral symmetry
segmented body
three germ layers
single dorsal
complete digestive system
hollow nerve cord
horny beak
no teeth
large muscular stomach
feathers
strong skeleton
hard shelled eggs
it is a toucan
it flies
strong feet
long tails
rounded wings
genders mostly alike
enlarged bill (male bill is heavier)
Genus and Species: Ramphastos toco
the beak can get up to 7 1/2 inches long
legs are strong and short
two toes point forward and two point backward
largest member of toucan family
they are very colorful
bill is brightly colored
body is black except for a white throat
tail is long and has a rectangular shape
it is found in eastern South America
it does not like to be in dense rainforests
the toco toucan prefers woodlands, river forests, plantations, and palm grooves
female toco toucan usually lays 2-4 white eggs
it is very noisy and travel in flocks of half a dozen birds
it flies in short distances, but flies gracefully
it is very playful and like to 'beak wrestle'
when the toco toucan sleeps, it moves its head so its bill lays on its back and its tail lays on top of its head
to escape from predators, it hides in a hollow tree
the bird usually eats fruit, occasionally capturing larger prey like lizards and eggs
the young birds are nurtured until they are six weeks old
the average life span of a toco toucan is about ten years
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Toco Toucan A funny little bird, so swift and bright, A very long beak that is so light, A big yellow eye, That looks up at the sky, And flies over the rainforest tremendously high, That little bird is courageous and loud, It flies through clouds, and is so proud.
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Marek, L. 1999. "Ramphastos toco" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 28, 2004 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ramphastos_toco.html
Mcgee, Vernon. "Toco Toucan." 11 April 2003. Sedgwick County Zoo. 21 January 2004. <http://www.scz.org/animals/t/toucan.html>.