Yangzi Evening News Network December 14 (reporter Xu Sheng) What bird has the largest mouth? Recently, Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo has added 8 new South American friends - Togo toucan, also known as whipping toucan. Relative to the size of the body, the beak length of this bird is undoubtedly the largest, accounting for about 30% to 50% of the body length. Raphael, the toucan in the animated film Rio Adventure, is the Togo toucan, and its huge mouth impresses children.
As a representative species in South America, the toucan has always been a cute bird loved by people. This morning, the reporter saw 2 new Togo toucans in the Red Mountain Zoo, with a huge beak of 20 centimeters, nearly one-third of the body length. "In the past, tourists often mistook the two-horned hornbill for a toucan. In fact, the Togo toucan lives in South America and is a toucan family; the two-horned hornbill is mainly distributed in Africa and southern Asia, the hornbill family. They are two completely different kinds of birds, perhaps because they both have a striking 'big beak', which is easily confused. Breeder You Xiaoqin said that the Togo toucan is also the largest of all toucans.
Togo toucan feathers are predominantly black , with a white throat , thorax and upper tail , and a red undercotch. The eyes are light blue around the periphery and orange on the periphery. Their claws are the same structure as those of parrots, and are the structure of the front two toes and the back two toes, which is different from the first three and last ones of the general birds. Their beaks are large , yellowish-orange , the lower part and the peak of the mouth are reddish-orange , and the base of the tip is black.
Seeing that pair of giant beaks, it is easy to think of kingfishers and pelicans that also feed on fish. In fact, togo toucans mainly eat fruits and insects in central South America, but also eat chicks and eggs. "The giant mouth that looks very heavy is actually hollow and very light. They are particularly dexterous in peeling nuts and usually like to eat pickles. You Xiaoqin told reporters that under the sheath of the toucan's beak, there are hard and lightweight reticulated bones, and these hollow bones support the huge beak. The toucan's beak also has a closed foam-like structure similar to a cell, which can effectively absorb impact forces from the outside.
According to reports, these 8 Togo toucans have just arrived in Nanjing for more than a month, can they adapt to the climate of Nanjing from South America? You Xiaoqin said that they do not like rainy days, and the zoo has specially set up various heating equipment. This bird is very curious and from time to time comes out of the air-conditioned room for a walk. Usually, they are in pairs or four or five together, and their personalities are very naughty.
In addition to the Togo toucan, the new black crested pheasant and grey-winged trumpeter bird at the Red Mountain Zoo this year are also from South America. The female and male birds of the black-crowned pheasant are similar in appearance. The plumage is black, with a distinct white patch from the lower abdomen to the rump, and the crown is thick and chic, like a carefully curled hairstyle. Grey-winged trumpet birds have black and shiny body feathers, and the feathers on the neck are in the color of royal blue and emerald green, and the body shape is like a crane and the mouth is like a chicken. Feeds mainly on fruits and nuts. Its sound is loud and horn-like, and it can run fast on land. Edited by Jin Zhenhuan