Guianan toucanet | |
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Male at Dallas World Aquarium, USA | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Piciformes |
Family: | Ramphastidae |
Genus: | Selenidera |
Species: | S. piperivora |
Binomial name | |
Selenidera piperivora (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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Synonyms | |
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The Guianan toucanet, or Guyana toucanet (Selenidera piperivora) is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family found in the north-eastern Amazon rainforest.
The Guianan toucanet was originally described as belonging to the genus Pteroglossus. Recently, some discussion was made of the naming of this species. Pacheco & Whitney (2006) suggested the correct scientific name was Selenidera piperivora, but then Walters (2007) noted that this name was pre-occupied. A paper by Piacentini et al. (2010) presented arguments for the use of Selenidera piperivora (Linnaeus 1758) as the correct name for the species and it was renamed as such by the IOC in 2010. Most other authorities have now also adopted this taxonomy.
It is found in north-western Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is tropical humid lowland forests. It is 25 cm (10 in) long and weighs 110-165 grams (3.9-5.8 oz.)
The Guianan toucanet is sometimes kept in aviculture as a breeder bird or a pet.