Rio de Janeiro is a unique city in the world, despite being the second largest city in the country and having a population of approximately 6 million people, it is still possible to admire and have some incredible encounters with wildlife!
In this post, you will meet 4 animals that we encounter quite frequently during our hikes and jeep tours around the marvellous city!
Capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigrittus)
These guys are the know-it-alls of the forest. They are extremely intelligent animals and some populations use tools to open hard-shelled fruits! They are sociable animals, living in groups of 5 to 40 individuals, depending on the habitat in which they live. They are omnivores, with their diet consisting mainly of fruits and insects.
We frequently see this species during our Tour 1 , especially near the Taunay Waterfall, where there is a large supply of food left by visitors in bins and tables.
They are long-lived animals, living an average of 46 years in the wild and 55 in captivity. The capuchin monkey is a native species of the Atlantic Forest and is also very adaptable to environments altered by man.
A curious fact about the species is that the male penis, when erect, is shaped like a nail, giving rise to its popular name in portuguese: "macaco-prego". "Macaco" means monkey and "prego" means nail.
White-tufted marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
The white-tufted marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, is a small primate commonly seen on trails and in urban areas throughout the city of Rio de Janeiro. Although very common, the white-tufted marmoset is an exotic and invasive species that originates in the Northeast of the country. These cute little marmosets can represent a threat to native species either through predation or competition.
They live in groups of three to fifteen members, made up of breeding and non-breeding individuals and live for around 16 years in captivity. They eat everything insects, leaves, fruits, flowers, eggs, baby birds and will not refuse industrialized human food.
It is very important not to feed these animals, as this will encourage an increase in their population, which is already too large, disadvantaging many native species, be strong and resist their cuteness attack!
Cotia (Dasyprocta leoporina)
Have you ever heard of "golden shower"? Yes, the males are adept at this technique and urinate on the females as one of their mating rituals! In the photo below we can see the expression of a female who has just gone through this ritual - hehehe, just kidding! .
Pregnancy can occur up to twice a year and varies from 3 to 4 months, where one to two puppies are born.
The agouti is fundamentally known as a seed disperser. They have the habit of traveling long distances and burying the seeds to consume in the future. Eventually, some of these seeds germinate and grow into seedlings.
The tree native to the Atlantic Forest Joannesia princeps depends so much on the agouti to disperse its seeds that it is popularly known in Brazil as "cotieira", the agouti tree!
Another super interesting fact about the agouti is that the species was used in the UFRJ Refauna project, whose objective is to restore the ecological interactions of the Tijuca National Park Forest by introducing native fauna species.
Ring-tailed coati (Nasua nasua)
Now it's time to blow up our readers' "cuteness meter", we introduce you to Coati! These guys are generalists, that is, they eat everything and more and, therefore, are adaptable to a diverse range of environments, even those with a significant human presence. The Coati is commonly seen in Tijuca National Park and is also the symbol of the Park! On our Tours 01 and 03 we frequently see this species!
The females expel adult males from the group, which can range from 15 to 40 individuals (ALLEVATO, 2013). The males are then condemned to live a life of exile, approaching the flock during the mating period, which normally coincides with the period of greatest fruit availability.
Gestation lasts around 10 to 11 weeks, with between two and seven puppies being born . Coati mothers build nests in the treetops that serve both to shelter their babies and to rest. After 5 weeks, the young ones leave the nests with their mothers and join the flock.
It is important not to feed these animals, as coatis end up getting used to a pre-determined route of abundant food, which can compromise their function as seed dispersers.
Have you seen any of these species? Comment below!
And if you are the type of person who loves hiking and learning about the local fauna and flora, consider taking a tour with us!
We have guides who are experts in natural attractions and some with training in the environmental field! Click here to see our trail itineraries around Rio de Janeiro.
ONE CARIOCA DAY,
Nature connects us!
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