Ramphastos sulfuratus - The keel-billed toucan is native to the tropical rainforests of South America. Both sexes have the same coloration and same sized beaks. Although the beak may look cumbersome, it is made of a lightweight keratin material and serves as a handy tool when reaching for fruit in the high canopy of the rainforest. Toucans prefer hopping from branch to branch and only take short flights when moving to another tree; perhaps longer flights are hindered by their large beaks.
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The Orinoco River is the 3rd longest river in South America. It rises in the Parima Mountains, a small range forming a natural border between Brazil and Venezuela. The river empties in the Atlantic Ocean after flowing for a distance of 2,140 kilometers. The drainage basin of the Orinoco is 880,000 square kilometers, produces a discharge of 33,000 cubic meters per second, and makes the Orinoco the world’s 4th largest river in discharge volume despite ranking as the 58th longest river in the world.
