Many-banded Aracari (Pteroglossus pluricinctus) Class: Aves, Order: Piciformes, Family: Ramphastidae, Genus: Pteroglossus, Species: pluricinctus, IUCN Status: Not listed

The Many-banded Aracari is a member of the toucan family (Ramphastidae). Although these birds are fairly common throughout Amazonia, they have not been heavily studied. Many-banded Aracaris have large black and yellow striped bills and bare blue skin around their eyes. Their plumages are primarily black, although they have green tail feathers and are characterized by bands that run across their pectoral (chest) sections. These bands alternate between yellow, black, and red. ( http://www.audubonart.com/images/catalog/TOU1/TOU1_015_01.jpg)

Many-banded Aracaris have a range that includes most of the forests and sandy soil woodlands of Amazonia. (htt p://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/many-bandedaracari.html) These birds feed in the canopy and sub-canopy levels on fruits. They are known to digest the fruit fiber and then regurgitate the seeds. Because of this practice, they are instrumental in seed dispersal. (http://www.nashvillezoo.org/piciformes/pdf/seeddispersal withphotos.pdf)

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