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belize animals

Animals of Belize, Central America - The Jewel of the Caribbean

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Belize is home to over 300 species of mammals, birds and reptiles. Mammals of Belize include, but, not limited to, tapir, monkey, jaguars, gibnuts and kinkajou.

Mammals are a group of animals that backbones, bodies (fully or partially) covered by hair, nurse their young with milk, and have a unique jaw articulation. Mammals are also the group of animals to which humans belong.

There are two species of monkeys in Belize: Howler and Spider. Monkeys range in size with Howlers being the largest. Be careful of the monkeys so cute and adorable, monkeys will throw at you: fruit feces and just about anything they can pick up.

Jaguars are the largest mammals in Belize, as big as six feet long plus thirty inches for tail. Jaguars are strictly carnivorous and can only eat meat. Scientific research shows that there are over 80 species of animals that a jaguar will prey on. Like any “big cat” species, Jaguars are dangerous and should not be approached or feed.

Paca are widely known as gibnuts in Belize and are the most prized game animals in the country. The Queens Rat is One of the many names that have been given to the Paca, because it is said that the queen of England was fed Paca on one of her visits to Belize. Paca are rodents like the Capybara of South America but, only half the size and their fur is like a baby deer with white spots.

Because the tapir is the national animal of Belize it is illegal to hunt and kill them. Belizeans call them "mountain cows." Mostly nocturnal, Tapirs eat grass and fruits. Growing up to six feet long, tapirs are the largest herbivore in Belize. April the tapir is the most famous tapir in Belize. Each year sometime in the month of April, April the Tapirs birthday is celebrated with a horse chow cake as the local children sing Happy Birthday to their beloved April.

Kinkajou known as "night walkers" in Belize are cute and look like lemurs. Kinkajous are nocturnal, loves fruits and insects. Only about six pounds and two an a half feet long including tail Kinkajous love to jump from tree to tree high in the canopy.

The animals listed above are only a few of the many hundreds of mammals in Belize and even fewer animals as a whole! I hope you enjoy the wonderful animals of Belize as much as I do!

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