rainforest birds and mammals birds and bats of the bolla brenda melton assistant curator, steinhart...

Rainforest Birds and MammalsBirds and Bats of the Bolla

Brenda MeltonAssistant Curator, Steinhart Aquarium

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Birds

• Inhabit the rainforests of Central and/or South America

• 100,000 gallon pool with aggressive, carnivorous fish

• Butterflies and collection ants

• Public immersed in exhibit and birds’ territories

• Avian interspecies and con-specific aggression

• Immature plantings

Collection parameters

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Avian Families of the Bolla

Columbidae - Doves• More terrestrial than

other birds in the Bolla• Our doves are primarily

seed eaters• Monogamous

Blue-Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa

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Columbidae• Produce “crop milk” to feed their young• Lifespan in captivity in the early teens

Inca Dove Columbina inca

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae - Tanagers and their Allies

Blue-grey Tanager Thraupis episcopus

Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae

Turquoise Tanager Tangara mexicana

Paradise Tanager Tangara chilenis

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae

Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum

Opal-rumped Tanager Tangara velia

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae

Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza

Purple Honeycreeper Cyanerpes caeruleus

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae

Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus

Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Thraupidae

Red-capped Cardinal Paroaria gularis

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Fringillidae - Finches• Subfamily Euphoniinae

Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea

Avian Families of the Bolla

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Avian Families of the Bolla

Emberizidae - Sparrows

Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola

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Coerebidae - Bananaquits• Nectar feeder• Pierces flower from side

to consume pollen• Does not hover

Bananaquit Coereba flaveola

Avian Families

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Avian Families of the Bolla

Pipridae - Manakins

• Small forest dwelling birds

• Primarily frugivores, some insects

• Many species lek

Golden-headed Manakin Pipra erythrocephala

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Psittacidae - Parrots

Military Macaw Ara militaris

White-crowned Pionus Parrot Pionus senelis

Avian Families

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Bats

• Family Pteropodidae - flying fox and Old World fruit bats• 166 living species

• Inhabit the rainforests of Southeast Asia

• IUCN Species of Least Concern

• Main threat: deforestation

• Our group is 15 females

Lesser Dog-Faced Fruit Bat, Cynopterus brachyotis

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Lesser Dog-Faced Fruit Bat

• Nocturnal

• Excellent eyesight and sense of smell

• Do not echolocate

• Frugivorous

• Feed primarily on mangoes; will eat any aromatic fruit. Thought to expel the pulp of fruit.

• Seed dispersers and pollinators

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Lesser Dog-Faced Fruit Bat

• Phytophilic• Make foliage “tents” for

roosting

• Life span is 20 - 30 years

• 12 -18 inch wingspan, 30 -100grams

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Rainforest Birds and Mammals

Thank you.

Questions ?