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We are Continuing Our "Guatemala" Trip Special
Take 15% OFF ($345)*To Help You Start Planning Your Next Vacation

Have You Ever Heard About
The Quetzal Bird, The Howler Monkey or The Ceiba Tree?
These are just a few species of the amazing flora and fauna you'll see on your Guatemala vacation

Quezal (kasäl') is a common name for a magnificent bird of the Trogon family, found in the rain forests of Southern Mexico and of Central America at altitudes of up to 9,000 ft (2,745 m). It is brilliantly beautiful, with a crested head, bronze-green back, and crimson and white under-parts. Quetzals nest in holes, and lay from two to four eggs per clutch. The male shares incubation duties with the female. The nesting hole has a single entrance, not two as was once believed. The Aztec and Maya used the 2-ft (61-cm) shimmering green tail plumes of the breeding male ceremonially and worshiped the bird as the god of the air, associating it with the god Quetzalcoatl. The Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and also the name of the monetary unit of the country.

Howlers are heavy, bulky monkeys that live in the tallest trees in the densest part of the forest. Generally the Howlers attain lengths of about 40–70 cm (16–28 inches), excluding the 50–75 cm tail, their hair is long and thick and, depending on species, is typically black, brown, or red. They get their name from the earsplitting noise they make at dawn and dusk. The howler is able to make its roar due to a bony trumpet in its throat that moves up and down with its cries. They have very strong tails, which help propel them through the treetops. The howler's diet consists of leaves, flowers, and some fruits. They carefully select food items, and after feeding, spend much time resting and allowing meals to be digested. Howlers live in groups of up to 20 monkeys, with generally more females than males in the group.

Ceiba trees are among the tallest trees in the tropical forest sometimes reaching as high as 198 ft (60m). Ceiba trees are called emergent trees, meaning their large umbrella-shaped canopies typically emerge above the forest canopy.  Their thick columnar trunks often have large buttresses. Young trunks and branches are armed with thick conical spines, and are often green due to photosynthetic pigments.  The leaves alternate between 5-8 entire-margined leaflets.  The radial symmetrical flowers can be rather small and are not easily seen or noticed.  Ceiba fruits are large ellipsoid capsules up to 20 cm long, with 5 woody valves that split open to reveal abundant fluff. The Ceiba family consists of 10 species of large tropical trees. The ancient Maya believed that the great Ceiba was standing in the middle of the earth and connecting it with the spirits above.

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