| Mammals are a group of animals with backbones, | | | | fur is like a baby deers with white spots. |
| bodies covered by hair, they nurse their young | | | | Because the tapir is the national animal of Belize it |
| with milk, and have a unique jaw articulation. | | | | is illegal to hunt and kill them. Belizeans call them |
| Mammals are also the group of animals to which | | | | "mountain cows." Mostly nocturnal, Tapirs eat |
| humans belong. Mammals of Belize include, but are | | | | grass and fruits. Growing up to six feet long, |
| not limited to, the tapir, monkey, jaguar, gibnut | | | | tapirs are the largest herbivore in Belize. April the |
| and kinkajou. | | | | tapir is the most famous tapir in Belize. She |
| There are two species of monkeys in Belize: | | | | resides at the Belize Zoo. Each year, sometime in |
| Howler and Spider. Monkeys range in size with | | | | the month of April, Belizeans celebrate Aprils |
| Howlers being the largest. Be careful of the | | | | birthday with a horse chow cake as the local |
| monkeys, although they are so cute and adorable. | | | | children and the visitors gather and sing Happy |
| Monkeys have been known to throw items such | | | | Birthday to April. |
| as rocks, fruit and coconuts at people. Monkeys | | | | Kinkajou known as "night walkers" in Belize are |
| are as dangerous as any other animal found in the | | | | cute and look like lemurs. Kinkajous are nocturnal |
| wild. Jaguars are the largest mammals in Belize, as | | | | and loves fruits and insects. Only about six pounds |
| big as six feet long plus thirty inches for tail. Like | | | | and two and a half feet long, including the tail, |
| any big cat, Jaguars are dangerous and should not | | | | Kinkajous love to jump from tree to tree high in |
| be approached or feed. | | | | the Belizean jungle canopy. |
| Paca are widely known as gibnuts in Belize and | | | | Belize is home to over 200 species of mammals, |
| are the most prized game animals in the country. | | | | birds and reptiles. The animals listed above are |
| The Queens Rat is one of the many local names | | | | only a few of the many mammals and even |
| that have been given to the Paca. It is said that | | | | fewer animals as a whole in Belize. I hope you |
| the queen of England was fed Paca on one of her | | | | enjoy the wonderful animals of Belize as much as |
| visits to Belize. Paca are rodents like the Capybara | | | | I do! |
| of South America but only half the size and there | | | | |