three genres of the toucans is summarized under the name Arassaris. With a total-length between 30-48 cm, they are smaller than the representatives of the other types, for who "big toucans" are called with approximately 60 cm of total-length. These longitudinal-names always include the beak.
Types The 7 types of the Grünarassaris (type Aulacorhynchus) are jay-big, predominantly green birds with the relatively shortest beak of the whole family. Only the Kehlpartie takes off white, gray or blue, as well the tail-underside and the tops of the tail-feathers in its red-coloring. The mountain-forests of South-Mexico are the habitat of the Grünarassaris until Bolivia and Guayana. Here, one rarely finds it under 900 m, often even in altitudes over 3000 m and more. Therefore, the birds must be tried on at the daily strong temperature-fluctuations; however, they move more deeply in the winter.
The Schwarzarassaris (type Pteroglossus) have the most colorful plumage of the whole family and are the farthest widespread. Much less specialized, they occur in different altitudes from South-Mexico until Argentina. The 11 types have a long, stepped tail and seem slimmer than the big toucans. they also are more sociable than other types. Usually they fly across the jungle in small flocks or sleep in tree-caves together.
The Kurzschnabel-Arassaris (type Selenidera) put the third type.
Food The food of the Arassaris consists of fleshy forest-fruits, that they pick skillfully with its big beak (toucans). Also insects, like Z, become in the flight. B. Sex-bulls of the termites, hunted; even small, tree-living in reptiles can be consumed. Whether they - as the big toucans - exclude also nests of other birds, is not known.
Way of life Opposite its natural enemies, martens and gripping-birds, its colorful plumage offers a certain protection since it is an excellent camouflage (dissolution of the contours). During the night, they look for protection in hollow trees. From the view of the human being, they behave quite strikingly on the other hand during the day by passing vociferously through the jungle, croak and with the beaks clatter.
Reproduction Arassaris nest in abandoned woodpecker-caves, rarely, they even hollow out rotten trees as big toucans with its beaks do it. The brood-habits are hardly known, both sexes take turns at the Nistplatz at least during the day. Only the Grünassaris hold its Nistplatz on that occasion relatively clean. Others "paves" the ground with from-choked food-rests.
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