Yellow ridged toucan (Ramphastos culminatus to Ramphastos vitellinus ssp culminatus) is found in a large area from western Brazil into Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and even Bolivia. This 19 inch toucan is quite similar to R. citreolaemus. The throat and upper breast is white marked below with a red bar. The lower breast and belly is dark. The bill is dark with a thin yellow line on the top of the top mandible. The cape and back is dark.

The large toucans (Genus Ramphastos) are found widely on the mainland of tropical South America with one additional species found in Central America. There are 11 total species plus one additional subspecies. Toucans show dark brown or black when sitting on both their wings and backs. These are large birds typically with lengths over 18 and up to almost 24 inches. (These lengths include tail feathers)

To help one navigate through the complex group of species and subspecies, we have separated the toucan family of tropical America into two groups. This is the group of large and multicolored species.

Toucans (Family Ramphastidae) are a group of giant-billed birds that are found in the tropical regions of the New World. Although there seems no use for the giant bill, the birds seem to manage quite well with it. They are primarily fruit eaters. There were 35 species in this family in older references. This count has now been enlarged to about 41 species.

Woodpeckers and Toucans (Order Piciformes) are separated from most other birds by an unusual tendon and foot arrangement that includes two forward and two rear pointing toes. There are six families in this order. Most species in this order have unusual bills adapted for their unique way of obtaining food.

Some taxonomists place the puffbirds and jacamars in various places in the taxonomy tree. We have included the puffbirds (Bucconidae) and jacamars (Galbulidae) herein.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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