Other Mammals and reptiles
We saw 26 types of mammal (including the ‘big five’) and 8 types of reptile
We were mesmerised by the rare, nut-cracking, bearded capuchins. We saw some ocelots, three banded armadillo, lesser anteater, capybara, coati, several ty2pes of deer, marmosets, capuchins and foxes, black howler monkey, porcupine, agouti, Brazilian guinea pig, rock cavy and collared peccary. As well as hundreds of Yacare Caimen we also saw several iguana and lizards, frogs and a green anaconda. Click a thumbnail to enlarge a photo
Nut-cracking, bearded Capuchins. We watched this incredible behaviour for many hours. The dominant male took
precidence and until he had fed on enough nuts no other capuchin was allowed to get a nut. The capuchins arefully placed a
palm nut on a large flat rock and found smaller rounded rocks to hammer the nut. The first task was to remove the husk,
which usually took one well-directed strike before it could be peeled off with nimble hands. This then left the inner shell,
which often required several clean hits before it could be prised open. It was easy to lose track of time as we watched the
troop continue to crack nut after nut, usually opting (by way of a quick smell test) for nuts that had a juicy grub inside – a
grub being more nutritious that the nut itself. Some of the juveniles clearly hadn’t quite developed the knack, and instead
grabbed a nut before scurrying into the overhead branches and proceeding to hit it against the trunk.
See a video of the nut cracking capuchins.
Whilst we were enjoying this incredible behaviour, three Rock Cavys arrived – they are large rodents endemic to eastern
Brazil.
All images © Nova Fisher, novatravels.net
