Our armour-plated friends

In recent weeks, the fields around our lodge have been visited by some hungry yellow armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus). These are also known as six-banded armadillos. We have enjoyed watching them purposefully scurry around in search of food. These animals are omnivores and so eat a wide range of food items from insects and small vertebrates to plant material. On one occasion, we watched one of these armadillos feeding on the ripe nuts of an acuri palm tree. On another occasion, we watched one digging in the ground for grubs. Yellow armadillos are diurnal and solitary. They den underground. As you can see in the photos above, these armadillos have bright, stiff hairs across their body and are covered with armour plating.

Blue crowned mot mot

We discovered this blue crowned mot mot (momotus momota) nesting in a tunnel in the riverbank. These are large birds, measuring between 38 - 48cm, but their brown and green colouring makes them difficult to spot when perched on a branch in the trees. Blue crowned mot mots eat a range of different foods, including small creatures such as insects and lizards, as well as fruits.