The birds of family Ramphastidae are found in South and Central America, from central Mexico to southern Brazil, and include the large toucans, the smaller aracaris, and the very small toucanets. This information sheet reviews natural history and taxonomy, as well as diet, housing, normal physiologic data and anatomy, restraint, behavior, and important medical conditions seen in family Ramphastidae.
Zalmir Silvino Cubas earned a master in veterinary sciences from the Federal University of Paraná (Brazil). Zalmir then served as both a staff veterinarian and chief veterinarian for the Curitiba Zoo, Brazil for 9 years. He also completed a residency in zoological medicine at the University of California at Davis. He then became the Director of the Parque das Aves Foz Tropicana, Brazil. Dr. Silvino Cubas has also served as the Director of the Department of Environment for the Municipality of Foz do Iguaçu and a veterinarian for the Três Fronteiras Conservation and Breeding Center, Foz do Iguaçu. Zalmir worked at the Itaipu Binacional company wildlife refuge, zoo and veterinary hospital from 2006 to 2020, in the areas of animal care, management, research and wildlife conservation. Dr. Silvino Cubas co-edited Biology, Medicine and Surgery of South American Wild Animals with Professor Murray Fowler…
