Belize Mammals


Black Howler Monkey 1199 Black howler monkeys, called “baboons” by Belizeans, are famous for the loud roaring calls made by males. They usually call at dawn, late afternoon, and sometimes during heavy rains. Their roars can be heard from over one-half mile away. Howlers prefer to live in trees along waterways. They eat leaves, flowers and fruits. Howlers need large expanses of protected forest for their survival.
Black Howler Monkey 1199		 Black Howler Monkey 1556 Black howler monkeys, called “baboons” by Belizeans, are famous for the loud roaring calls made by males. They usually call at dawn, late afternoon, and sometimes during heavy rains. Their roars can be heard from over one-half mile away. Howlers prefer to live in trees along waterways. They eat leaves, flowers and fruits. Howlers need large expanses of protected forest for their survival.
Black Howler Monkey 1556		 Black Jaguar 1542 The largest of five native cats in Belize, the endangered jaguar is the only cat in the Americas that can roar. In rarely occurring melanistic individuals, the roseate markings are concealed in the dark background. The “tiger”, as Belizeans call him, often appears as a trickster in Mayan legends.
Black Jaguar 1542 		Jaguar 1559 The largest of five native cats in Belize, the endangered Jaguar is the only cat in the Americas that can roar. Elusive and mostly nocturnal, this powerful predator favors dense forest with access to water. The “tiger”, as Belizeans call him, often appeared as a trickster in Mayan legends.
Jaguar 1559
Jaguar Closeup 1204 The largest of five native cats in Belize, the endangered Jaguar is the only cat in the Americas that can roar. Elusive and mostly nocturnal, this powerful predator favors dense forest with access to water. The “tiger”, as Belizeans call him, often appeared as a trickster in Mayan legends.
Jaguar 1204		 Jaguar Closeup 1557 The largest of five native cats in Belize, the endangered Jaguar is the only cat in the Americas that can roar. Elusive and mostly nocturnal, this powerful predator favors dense forest with access to water. The “tiger”, as Belizeans call him, often appeared as a trickster in Mayan legends.
Jaguar 1557		 Jaguar Closeup 1558 The largest of five native cats in Belize, the endangered Jaguar is the only cat in the Americas that can roar. Elusive and mostly nocturnal, this powerful predator favors dense forest with access to water. The “tiger”, as Belizeans call him, often appeared as a trickster in Mayan legends.
Jaguar 1558		 Kinkajou 1238 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou 1238
Kinkajou 1239 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou 1239		 Kinkajou 1240 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou 1240		 Kinkajou 1241 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou 1241		 Kinkajou 1242 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou 1242
Kinkajou Pup 1230 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou Pup 1230		 Kinkajou Pup 1232 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou Pup 1232		 Kinkajou Pup 1233 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou Pup 1233		 Kinkajou Pup 1234 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou Pup 1234
Kinkajou Pup 1236 The cat-sized kinkajou, which Belizeans call “night-walker,” is kin to the raccoon and coati. This nocturnal master of the treetops uses its prehensile tail and remarkable agility to traverse its rainforest realm. The female carries her baby underneath as she leaps from tree to tree in search of fruit.
Kinkajou Pup 1236		 Margay Kitten 1208 The most arboreal of five native cats in Belize, margays are slightly larger than a house cat. Their ability to leap is remarkable. Their long tail helps them maintain balance as they navigate the rain forest canopy in search of birds and other prey. Their populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Margay Kitten 1208		 Margay Kitten 1209 The most arboreal of five native cats in Belize, margays are slightly larger than a house cat. Their ability to leap is remarkable. Their long tail helps them maintain balance as they navigate the rain forest canopy in search of birds and other prey. Their populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Margay Kitten 1209		 Ocelot 1217 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1217
Ocelot 1218 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1218		 Ocelot 1219 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1219		 Ocelot Closeup 1213 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1213		 Ocelot Closeup (feathers) 1216 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1216
Ocelot Eating Bird 1220 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1220		 Ocelot EatingBird 1221 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1221		 Ocelot Eating Bird 1222 The cocker spaniel-sized ocelot, nicknamed “tiger cat” by Belizeans, is one of five endangered cats in Belize. At night it hunts small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Unlike other cats, when an ocelot kills a bird it plucks all the feathers off before eating it. Ocelot populations decrease as tropical rain forests are destroyed.
Ocelot 1222		 Puma Cubs 1448 The spots of young mountain lion, or puma, cubs provide camouflage for protection. Cubs are suckled for 3-4 months and stay with their mother for a year or longer. “Red tigers,” as Belizeans call them, eat armadillos, coatis, monkeys, opossums, peccaries, tamanduas, tapirs, and rodents. Unlike the larger jaguar, mountain lions cannot roar. They are rare in Central America.
Puma Cubs 1448
River Otter 1193 Neotropical otters, locally called “water dogs,” live along rivers and streams. Strong and graceful swimmers, these members of the weasel family are adept at capturing fish and crustaceans such as crabs and crayfish. On land they move awkwardly with a duck-like waddle. Playful, alert and elusive, otters are a treat to encounter during a river excursion.
Central American River Otter 1193		 Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1223 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1223		 Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1224 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1224		 Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1225 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1225
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1227 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1227		 Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1228 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1228		 Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1229 Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, use their strong forearms and huge claws to open up wood in search of ant and termite nests. They are toothless, but have a long sticky tongue to probe crevices for food. Their prehensile tail helps them grip branches while climbing. When threatened “antsbears,” as Belizeans call them, raise up and spread their claws in a bear-like stance.
Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) 1229		 Baird's Tapir 1195 Baird’s tapir, called “mountain cow” by Belizeans, is Central America’s largest native land mammal and Belize’s national animal. It is related to the horse and rhinoceros. An endangered species, the shy and cautious tapir forages for plants mostly at night. It often seeks refuge in water.
Baird's Tapir 1195
Baird's Tapir 1196 Baird’s tapir, called “mountain cow” by Belizeans, is Central America’s largest native land mammal and Belize’s national animal. It is related to the horse and rhinoceros. An endangered species, the shy and cautious tapir forages for plants mostly at night. It often seeks refuge in water.
Baird's Tapir 1196		 Baird's Tapir 1536 Baird’s tapir, called “mountain cow” by Belizeans, is Central America’s largest native land mammal and Belize’s national animal. It is related to the horse and rhinoceros. An endangered species, the shy and cautious tapir forages for plants mostly at night. It often seeks refuge in water.
Baird's Tapir 1536		 Baird's Tapir 1537 Baird’s tapir, called “mountain cow” by Belizeans, is Central America’s largest native land mammal and Belize’s national animal. It is related to the horse and rhinoceros. An endangered species, the shy and cautious tapir forages for plants mostly at night. It often seeks refuge in water.
Baird's Tapir 1537		 Tayra 1187 Related to otters and skunks, the tayra is called “bush dog” by Belizeans. This powerful and agile tree climber hunts day or night for a variety of foods including insects, bird eggs, rodents, kinkajous, coatis, and fruit. The tayra, like others in the weasel family, uses musk from its scent glands to communicate with other tayras.
Tayra 1187
Tayra 1189 Related to otters and skunks, the tayra is called “bush dog” by Belizeans. This powerful and agile tree climber hunts day or night for a variety of foods including insects, bird eggs, rodents, kinkajous, coatis, and fruit. The tayra, like others in the weasel family, uses musk from its scent glands to communicate with other tayras.
Tayra 1189		      

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