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The Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Coendu prehensilis, is found in forested areas of Trinidad. It is nocturnal and sleeps in the canopy during the day. During the night they feed on flowers, fruit and nuts, including the seeds of large fruit. While Porcupines are seldom seen on forest walks their presence is often betrayed by their pungent odor. Despite this sign, they are difficult to detect as they usually choose trees with dense foliage or vines in which they can conceal themselves.
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Red Howler Monkeys Alouatta seniculus, are widely distributed in Trinidad but are most abundant in the forest of the south east the island. They are a highly social species and can be regularly seen in their family groups feeding or grooming in the canopy of the forests surrounding Nariva swamp. Typically a troop will consist of a dominant male and about eight females or infants but troops with more than one adult male occur. At daybreak, and often before approaching rains, the troop reinforces its territory with a powerful rendition of guttural grunts and howls. Howler monkeys feed during the cool periods of the day on leaves and fruit and siesta during the hot periods.
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Trinidad Capuchin Monkeys, Cebus albifrons, like their larger cousins the Red Howler Monkeys are highly social and form groups of about fifteen individuals, usually with one adult male. They are active during the day and can be seen feeding on a variety of fruit and seeds, including fruit of Wild Tobacco and Cocorite Palms. They are omnivorous and also eat invertebrates and even small vertebrates. At Bush Bush Island in Nariva Swamp they seem genuinely interested in visitors as they come down to investigate and interact.
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The Ocelot or Tiger Cat Felis pardalis, is the only native member of the cat family in Trinidad. It is a wide ranging species from southern Texas to Argentina. In Trinidad it is extremely rare and secretive. Ocelots tend to live and hunt alone and feed on a variety of prey including agouti, other small mammals and large lizards. |
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The Nine-banded Armadillo or Tatu Dasypus novemcinctus, is the only member of its family found in Trinidad and Tobago. This species is widest ranging of all armadillo species from central USA throughout Central America to Brazil. Armadillos feed on a range of invertebrates with occasional small vertebrates or plants which they find on the forest floor. While they can be active by day or night, they are hunted by man and are seldom seen during the day.
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