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Flora Of Trinidad And Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago are continental islands with a geologically very recent history of direct land bridge connection to South America. As a result, unlike most of the Caribbean Islands, Trinidad and Tobago supports a primarily South American flora (plants), flora and fauna (animals), fauna and has greater diversity of plant and animal species than the Antilles. However, rates of endemic (ecology), endemism are lower than in the rest of the Caribbean because there has been less time for genetic isolation from mainland populations. Specifically, a land bridge to Venezuela existed fairly recently in Trinidad, allowing fewer opportunities for speciation than in Tobago, as well as a lot of overlap in biodiversity with the South American mainland. Trinidad is nearer to mainland South America and has been directly connected to the mainland via land bridges more often and for longer periods than Tobago. This, as well as Trinidad's larger size and more varied topography and hydrology comp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Silky Anteater
The silky anteater, also known as the pygmy anteater, has traditionally been considered a single species of anteater, ''Cyclopes didactylus'', in the genus ''Cyclopes'', the only living genus in the family Cyclopedidae. Found in southern Mexico, and Central and South America, it is the smallest of all known anteaters. It has nocturnal habits and appears to be completely arboreal; its hind feet are highly modified for climbing. A taxonomic review in 2017, including both molecular and morphological evidence, found that ''Cyclopes'' may actually comprise at least seven species. The only known extinct cyclopedid species is '' Palaeomyrmidon incomtus'', from the Late Miocene ( c. 7 to 9 million years ago) of modern-day Argentina. Etymology The scientific name ''Cyclopes didactylus'' translates to "two-toed circle-foot", referencing the two claws present on the forefeet. Additionally, the name alludes to the toes' ability to nearly encircle a branch while clinging. Description S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tufted Capuchin
The tufted capuchin (''Sapajus apella''), also known as brown capuchin, black-capped capuchin, or pin monkey, is a New World primate from South America and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Margarita. As traditionally defined, it is one of the most widespread primates in the Neotropics, but it has recently been recommended considering the black-striped, black and golden-bellied capuchins as separate species in a new genus, thereby effectively limiting the tufted capuchin to the Amazon basin and nearby regions. However, the large-headed capuchin (''S. a. macrocephalus''), previously defined as a distinct species, has been reclassified as a subspecies of the tufted capuchin, expanding its range east to Peru and Ecuador and south to Bolivia. The tufted capuchin is an omnivorous animal, mostly feeding on fruits and invertebrates, although it sometimes feeds on small vertebrates (e.g. lizards and bird chicks) and other plant parts. It can be found in many different kind ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin
The Trinidad white-fronted capuchin is a subspecies (''Cebus albifrons trinitatis'') or species (''Cebus trinitatis'') of gracile capuchin monkey. It is found on the island of Trinidad. Taxonomy Boubli ''et al''. found in a 2012 study that the capuchins on Trinidad had derived from within ''C. olivaceus brunneus'' (or more specifically, the mitochondrial genes of the single Trinidad specimen they sampled derived from ''brunneus''). However, the morphological distinctiveness of Trinidad populations has led to doubts over its taxonomic position. Further complicating this taxonomy is the fact that subsequent morphological inspection of the ''C. brunneus'' specimens used for the study found them to be distinct from the actual type specimen of ''C. brunneus''. Due to this controversy, taxonomic authorities take differing views on the Trinidad capuchins; the IUCN Red List classifies them as a distinct, critically endangered species (''C. trinitatis''), the America ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guyanan Red Howler
The Guyanan red howler (''Alouatta macconnelli'') is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, native to Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, French Guiana, Venezuela and Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population .... References Guyanan red howler Mammals of the Caribbean Mammals of Trinidad and Tobago Primates of Brazil Mammals of Venezuela Mammals of Guyana Mammals of French Guiana Mammals of Suriname Guyanan red howler Taxa named by Daniel Giraud Elliot {{newworld-monkey-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Collared Peccary
The collared peccary (''Dicotyles tajacu'') is a peccary, a species of artiodactyl (even-toed) mammal in the family Peccary, Tayassuidae found in North America, North, Central America, Central, and South America. It is the only member of the genus ''Dicotyles''. They are commonly referred to as ''javelina, saíno'', ''taitetu'', or ''báquiro'', although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family. The species is also known as the musk hog. In Trinidad, it is colloquially known as ''quenk''. Taxonomy Although somewhat related to true Old World pigs, and frequently referred to as a pig, this species and the other peccaries are no longer classified in the pig family, Suidae. Although formerly classified in the genus ''Pecari'', studies in 2020 placed them in the genus ''Dicotyles'', based on an unequivocal type-species selection; these studies have been accepted by the American Society of Mammalogists. Currently, the IUCN still places them in the genus ''Pecar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Brocket
The red brocket (''Mazama americana'') is a species of brocket deer from forests in South America, ranging from northern Argentina to Colombia and the Guianas. It also occurs on the Caribbean island of Trinidad (it also occurred on the island of Tobago until very recent historical times, but has been extirpated there). Taxonomy It formerly included the Central American red brocket (''M. temama'') and sometimes the Yucatan brown brocket (''M. pandora'') as subspecies. Considerable taxonomic confusion still exists for the populations remaining in the red brocket. Pending a solution to this, it has been evaluated as data deficient by the IUCN, though as presently defined, it is the most widespread species of brocket. It is sympatric with the smaller Amazonian brown brocket over much of its range (the latter tends to have significantly lower population densities). The karyotype A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of chromosomes in the cells of a species or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Naturalisation (biology)
Naturalisation (or naturalization) is the ecological phenomenon through which a species, taxon, or population of exotic (as opposed to native) origin integrates into a given ecosystem, becoming capable of reproducing and growing in it, and proceeds to disseminate spontaneously. In some instances, the presence of a species in a given ecosystem is so ancient that it cannot be presupposed whether it is native or introduced. Generally, any introduced species may (in the wild) either go extinct or naturalise in its new environment. Some populations do not sustain themselves reproductively, but exist because of continued influx from elsewhere. Such a non-sustaining population, or the individuals within it, are said to be adventive. Cultivated plants, sometimes called nativars, are a major source of adventive populations. Botany In botany, naturalisation is the situation in which an exogenous plant reproduces and disperses on its own in a new environment. For exampl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Small Indian Mongoose
The small Indian mongoose (''Urva auropunctata'') is a mongoose species native to Iraq and northern India; it has also been introduced to several Caribbean and Pacific islands. Taxonomy ''Mangusta auropunctata'' was the scientific name proposed by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1836 for a mongoose specimen collected in central Nepal. In the 19th and 20th centuries, several zoological specimens were described: *''Mangusta pallipes'' proposed by Edward Blyth in 1845 was based on mongooses observed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. *''Herpestes palustris'' proposed by R. K. Ghose in 1965 was an adult male mongoose collected in a swamp on the eastern fringe of Kolkata, India. The small Indian mongoose was later classified in the genus '' Herpestes''; all Asian mongooses are now classified the genus '' Urva''. The small Indian mongoose was once considered a subspecies of the Javan mongoose (''H. javanicus''). Genetic analysis of hair and tissue samples from 18 small Indian and Javan mongooses ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crab-eating Raccoon
The crab-eating raccoon, southern raccoon, or South American raccoon (''Procyon cancrivorus'') is a species of raccoon native to marshy and jungle areas of Central and South America (including Trinidad and Tobago). It is found from Costa Rica south through most areas of South America east of the Andes down to northern Argentina and Uruguay. Despite its name, this species does not feed exclusively on crabs, and the common raccoon also seeks and eats crabs where they are available. In the Tupi–Guarani languages, it is known as aguará or agoará popé. Distribution The crab-eating raccoon can be found in South America and parts of Central America. It can be found in Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Diet and anatomy The crab-eating raccoon eats crabs, lobsters, crayfish, other crustaceans, and shellfish, such as oysters and clams. It is an omnivore and its diet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neotropical River Otter
The neotropical otter or neotropical river otter (''Lontra longicaudis'') is a near-threatened (per the IUCN) otter species found in freshwater systems from Mexico and Central America through mainland South America, as well as the island of Trinidad. It is physically similar to the northern (''L. canadensis'') and southern river otter (''L. provocax''), which occur directly north and south of this species' range, respectively. Its head-to-body length can range from , plus a tail of . Body weight ranges from .Berry, K. (2000)''Lontra longicaudis'' Animal Diversity Web The neotropical otter is found in many different riverine habitats and riparian zones, including those in tropical and temperate deciduous to evergreen forests, savannas, ''llanos'' (of Colombia and Venezuela) and the pantanal (in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay). It prefers to live in clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams, preferably away from competition with the more boisterous giant otter (''Pteronura brasiliensi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tayra
The tayra (''Eira barbara'') is an omnivorous animal from the mustelid family, native to the Americas. It is the only species in the genus ''Eira''. Tayras are also known as the ''tolomuco'' or ''perico ligero'' in Central America, ''motete'' in Honduras, ''irara'' in Brazil, ''san hol'' or ''viejo de monte'' in the Yucatan Peninsula, and high-woods dog (or historically ''chien bois'') in Trinidad. The genus name ''Eira'' is derived from the indigenous name of the animal in Bolivia and Peru, while ''barbara'' means "strange" or "foreign". Description Tayras are long, agile mustelids, similar in appearance to a large fisher or marten, but slightly more reminiscent of a sleeker, smaller wolverine. They range from in length, not including their 37- to 46-cm-long (15 to 18 in) bushy tail, and weigh . Males are larger and slightly more muscular than females. They have short, dark brown to black fur, which is relatively uniform in length and color across the body, limbs, and tail ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
