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Black Howler Monkeys Antillean Manatees Magnificent Frigate Birds Termites Iguanas Rough-Toothed Dolphin

Black Howler Monkeys  (Alouatta nigra).  Howlers "howl" to mark their territories.  In fact, howling is a remarkable communication method - two troops of howler monkeys can "negotiate" territorial boundaries from distances of up to one mile (and never meet)!

The throat sac of the male monkey is responsible for the loud (and ferocious sounding) howling - the sac resonates which amplifies the monkey's "call" (howl).

Howler monkeys primarily eat leaves, with fruits and flowers only accounting for about a third of their diet.  Males dominate females and are about 30% larger than females.  Younger adult monkeys tend to dominate older adult monkeys.

A clan of monkeys averages about 3 adults males, 7 females and several "youngsters."

Effect of Iris:   Troops of Howler Monkeys at Monkey River were seriously impacted by Hurricane Iris.   Trees were denuded which meant no food for the monkeys.  Planeloads of fruits were dropped in the area, but the monkeys refused to eat the fruit, which was not indigenous to the Monkey River area.  Many monkeys died or moved further inland.   However, at least 7 troops remained in the Monkey River area and survived the initial loss of vegetation.  The monkeys now seem to be thriving, although some Belize authorities believe that there may be a long-term survival problem since troops post-Iris seem to be over-populated by young males.

West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Manatees
in Belize are Antillean Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus), a subspecies of the West Indian Manatee (the Florida Manatee is a separate subspecies, Trichechus manatus latirostris).  Belize is home to the largest known concentration of Antillean Manatees in the wider Caribbean. 

Antillean manatees are found in rivers, bays, canals, estuaries and coastal areas that are at least 3.25 feet deep with lots of sea grass and other vegetation (along with vegetation, Antillean manatees have been known to eat fish from nets).  Manatees prefer water temperatures over 70^o F (21^o C).  Manatees can survive in fresh water, salt water and brackish water -- and move easily from one to another.

Adult Antillean manatees average about 10 feet in length, and weigh approximately 800 to 1200 pounds.  The female is larger than the male. 

No one knows just how long manatee live - for an interesting reason.   Throughout their lives, manatees replace worn out teeth with new teeth!  Since scientist primarily use tooth age to determine a mammal's age, the manatee's new teeth prevent researchers from accurately assessing a manatee's age!

All manatee are endangered species (only 3 species are left in the world - the West Indian Manatee, the Amazon Manatee and the East African Manatee - the 4th species, the Stellar's Sea Cow was discovered about 1720, but became extinct by around 1740 from hunting). 

Belize manatee sighting guidelines:

The Conservation Division of the Forest Department is responsible for manatee protection in Belize.  Specific programs, laws and guidelines have been developed for manatee viewing, including the following: 

	Do not swim with manatees
	Be as silent as possible when viewing manatee because noise tends to frighten them
	Do not feed manatees to avoid altering their natural behavior
	Never approach a manatee with a calf
	Never pursue a manatee swimming away from a boat

Penalties for hunting, killing or molesting manatees under Belize's Wildlife Protection Act of 1981 range from $500 to $1,000 and/or imprisonment.

The Belize Manatee Recovery Plan was developed in 1999 to guide the management of Belize manatees from 1999 to 2003.

As part of its protection program, in February, 2000, Belize opened the Toledo Marine Reserve program in the Bay of Honduras.   The program targets illegal fishing and manatee slaughtering (manatee meat is considered a delicacy by Guatemalans, and many manatee in the area are illegally poached for market).

The new Reserve is 27.02 square miles and runs from the southern boundary of the Monkey River (just south of Placencia) to the Rio Grande in the south, and includes the Snake Cayes.  The Reserve includes 3 major zones:

	Wilderness Zone - 2% of overall area - no development allowed, primary focus on scientific research
	Conservation Zone - 8% of overall area - scientific monitoring and educational activities allowed
	General Use - 90% of overall area - sustainable commercial, sport and recreational fishing allowed

Fishermen from the Toledo District will assist in policing the Reserve.

New guide training programs and special certification for manatee sighting tours will be implemented sometime during the year 2000.

Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens) are common sights on the Placencia Peninsula.  These birds are generally 35-45 inches long, with a wingspan of 85.5 to 96 inches (females tend to be larger than males).  Legs and feet of male birds are brown, while the legs and feet of the female are more reddish in color. Local fishermen say that schools of baitfish will be located wherever large numbers of frigatebirds gather.  The Placencia area has far fewer Frigatebirds post-Iris.

Termites (most common local species, Nasutitermes).  Termite nests (or termitaria) are also a very common sight in Belize.  A paperlike material called "carton" makes the nest (carton is a mixture of digested wood and termite fecal matter).  Carton is essentially a glue, and strong enough and waterproof enough to be used to repair wooden boats (the carton is powdered and water added to it).   Older fishermen say that the carton-repaired area of a boat was always more watertight and stronger than the original wood. 

Damage to a termite nest is very quickly and expertly repaired by worker termites (which are blind).  Designs can actually be cut into a nest, and when repaired by the worker termites, appear to have been carved by the termites themselves. 

Termitaria are very high in nutrients, and abandoned ones that fall onto the jungle floor often provide the needed nutrients for the sprouting and nourishing of young trees.  In Africa, abandoned termitaria were used as ovens during safaris.

Iguana (Iguana iguana).  The common iguana (shown at left) begins life as a small green lizard-like creature that becomes dark brownish black as a grown-up.  It can reach 6 feet in length (but most of that is tail).   Iguanas spend most of their time in the trees, and are usually vegetarians by the time they become adults.  (No, the adults aren't watching their waistlines.  As they grow larger, the amount of food energy they would get from chasing smaller creatures just isn't worth it - plants sit there and wait to be eaten, so are a more efficient supply of iguana food.  Smaller iguana youngsters do chase after insects, but they don't have the bulk, so the insects are good food for them).  Human animals have absolutely nothing to fear from iguanas - iguanas will run away - and if near water, will probably jump in when threatened (iguanas are great swimmers).

Iguanas lay eggs in sand or dirt (about 50 at at time).  Once the eggs are laid, the mother iguana deserts them, so only about 10 or so of the babies born will actually survive to adulthood.  Baby iguanas take about 2 years to mature.

The Placencia area also has a goodly number of green iguanas - common iguanas that are - - you guessed it - green in color rather than brownish black like the guy above.  (A green iguana that lives in our neighborhood is shown at right.)  The green coloring is primarily a camouflage to help them blend into trees better to avoid predators.

Green iguanas are the iguanas locally called "Bamboo Chicken" -- a delicacy among some Belizeans.  (Don't worry, iguanas will not be among the restaurant fare you will find in Placencia). 

Green iguanas have longer fingers and tails than the common iguana, and the tail can be used as a weapon - it's quite sharp and the iguana uses it by sawing it rapidly through the are.  The tail will also break off if caught by a predator, but grows back as a matter of course, without any ill effects or scars.   Green iguanas also have a great sense of smell and good vision.  Their skin is very tough and they can leap 40-50 feet onto the ground without being hurt.

Green iguanas are not endangered, but in some areas of Belize are threatened by humans who eat them - - and also humans who collect them for sale in other countries as pets.  The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center has initiated special captive breeding and conservation education programs throughout Belize.

Iguanas were also seriously impacted by Hurricane Iris and the loss of vegetation on the Peninsula.  Local residents attempted to feed the iguanas after the Hurricane.  However, very little fresh vegetables of fruit were available.  Fortunately enough survived, and the local population seems to be recovering well.

Rough-Toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis).  Very little is known about the rough-toothed dolphin other than its appearance.  Unlike the smooth-toothed coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) usually seen in Belize, the Steno has conical teeth with ridges running from the root to the crown of each tooth.   Steno dolphins also have no crease separating the beak from the forehead, their beak has a white tip and their sides and stomach have white and yellow blotches.  The first time a Steno dolphin was reported in Belize was 1981 when 13 washed up dead near the mouth of the Sibun River.  Stenos were reported seen off the coast of Placencia in May, 1999 and in the summer of that year, three schools were found inside the reef, two schools were reported seen on the east side of Drowned Cayes and a single Steno in the shipping channel west of Water Caye. 

Marine biologist believe the Steno dolphin is more common than data indicate because they are so easily confused with other dolphin species.   The Steno's proclivity to swim with other types of dolphins such as Fraser's dolphins (Lagenodelphis hosei) and bottlenose dolphins merely adds to the confusion.

Send email to mtoy@destinationsbelize.com.    Please Note:  Belize (and particularly Placencia) has significant  phone and Internet service problems.  If you do NOT receive a response to your email within 24 hours, please try resending - we HOPE that will get your message through .)

Mailing Address:  General Delivery, Stann Creek District, Placencia, Belize

Phone: 

Belize: 
       Land Line:  523-4018 (from outside Belize dial  011-501-523-4018) 
       Cell:  610-4718  (from outside Belize dial  011-501-610-4718)
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U.S. Fax or Voice Mail Messages:  1-603-452-4797

Last modified: June 23, 2007

İMary V. Toy, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006