Most travellers to Belize and Northern Guatemala want to experience lush tropical forests and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of exotic wildlife: toucans and parrots, hummingbirds and hawks, monkeys and big cats, frogs and toads, crocodiles and snakes. In this book is all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about the region's magnificent animal life. -- Identifying and location information on the most frequently spotted animals. -- Full-color illustrations of more than 500 of Belize’s most common insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. -- Up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of the families of profiled animals, and on conservation in Belize and Guatemala. -- Information on habitats of Belize and Northern Guatemala and on the most common plants visitors encounter. -- A section on Belize's famous coral reef and on the underwater animals most divers and snorkelers actually see. -- Brief descriptions of the region's most frequently visited parks and reserves. Easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated – you will want to have this book as constant companion on your journey.

Les Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and university zoology teacher

Preface	p. ix
Ecotourism: Travel for the Environmentally Concerned	p. 1
What Ecotourism Is and Why It's Important	p. 1
The History of Ecotourism	p. 2
How Ecotourism Helps; Ecotravel Ethics	p. 3
Belize and Northern Guatemala: Ecotourism, Geography, Habitats, Parks, and Reserves	p. 6
A Brief Eco-history of Belize and Northern Guatemala	p. 6
Belize	p. 6
Guatemala	p. 11
Geography and Climate	p. 14
Belize	p. 14
Guatemala	p. 15
Habitats	p. 16
Tropical Forest: General Characteristics	p. 16
Forest Habitats and Common Vegetation	p. 20
Belize	p. 20
Guatemala	p. 34
Parks, Reserves, and Other Eco-sites: Brief Descriptions and Getting
Around	p. 36
Belize	p. 36
Guatemala	p. 44
Environmental Threats and Conservation	p. 46
Belize	p. 46
Major Threats and Conservation Record	p. 46
Conservation Programs and Ecotourism	p. 47
Northern Guatemala - Peten District	p. 49
History of the Peten	p. 49
Major Threats	p. 50
Conservation Programs and Ecotourism	p. 50
How To Use This Book: Ecology and Natural History	p. 54
What Is Natural History?	p. 54
What Is Ecology and What Are Ecological Interactions?	p. 54
How To Use This Book	p. 56
Information Given in the Family Profiles	p. 56
Information Given in the Color Plate Sections	p. 60
Amphibians	p. 63
General Characteristics and Natural History	p. 63
Seeing Amphibians in Belize and Guatemala	p. 65
Family Profiles
Salamanders	p. 66
Toads	p. 67
Rainfrogs	p. 70
Treefrogs	p. 71
Other Frogs	p. 74
Frog Population Declines: Amphibian Armageddon or Alarmist Absurdity?	p. 77
Reptiles	p. 80
General Characteristics and Natural History	p. 80
Seeing Reptiles in Belize and Guatemala	p. 82
Family Profiles
Crocodilians	p. 83
Turtles	p. 86
Columbrids: Your Regular, Everyday Snakes	p. 89
Dangerous Snakes and Boas	p. 93
Geckos	p. 97
Iguanids	p. 99
Skinks and Whiptails	p. 102
Poisons and Potions in Snakes and Frogs	p. 105
Birds	p. 108
Introduction	p. 108
General Characteristics of Birds	p. 109
Classification of Birds	p. 109
Features of Tropical Birds	p. 110
Seeing Birds in Belize and Guatemala	p. 111
Family Profiles
Seabirds	p. 112
Waterbirds	p. 114
Herons and Egrets	p. 117
Marsh and Stream Birds	p. 119
Ducks	p. 121
Shorebirds	p. 123
Currasows, Quail, and Turkey	p. 125
Tinamous	p. 127
Vultures	p. 129
Raptors	p. 132
Pigeons and Doves	p. 135
Parrots	p. 138
Cuckoos and Anis	p. 141
Owls	p. 143
Goatsuckers	p. 145
Swifts and Swallows	p. 146
Hummingbirds	p. 148
Trogons	p. 152
Jacamars and Puffbirds	p. 154
Kingfishers	p. 156
Motmots	p. 157
Woodpeckers	p. 159
Toucans	p. 161
Woodcreepers	p. 163
Antbirds	p. 165
Manakins	p. 167
Cotingas	p. 169
American Flycatchers	p. 171
Wrens	p. 173
Thrushes and Mockingbirds	p. 175
Jays	p. 176
Warblers and other small, flitting birds	p. 178
Blackbirds and Orioles	p. 180
Tanagers	p. 183
Sparrows and Grosbeaks	p. 186
Coffee Crops and Conservation	p. 188
Mammals	p. 191
Introduction	p. 191
General characteristics	p. 192
Classification of mammals	p. 192
Features of Tropical Mammals	p. 193
Seeing Mammals in Belize and Guatemala	p. 194
Family Profiles
Opossums	p. 195
Bats	p. 197
Primates	p. 202
Anteaters and Armadillos	p. 206
Rodents	p. 209
Carnivores	p. 212
Peccaries and Deer	p. 217
Tapir	p. 219
Marine Mammals	p. 221
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center	p. 224
Marine Life	p. 226
The Barrier Reef Ecosystem	p. 226
Coral Reef Communities	p. 227
Coral Biology	p. 228
Common Reef Animals	p. 229
Mangrove Swamps	p. 231
Diving in Belize	p. 231
Identification Plates 1-104	p. 233
Habitat Photos	p. 443
References	p. 453
Species Index	p. 455
General Index	p. 469
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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