Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Green Turtle.

The green turtle is one of 3 varieties of sea turtles (green, hawksbill, and loggerhead) that nest in Belize. The green sea turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, reaching 39 inches in length and 330 pounds in weight. The underneath of green turtles is a yellowish white color while the upper shell is usually varying shades of black, brown, gray and green in irregular patterns and shapes. This turtle is rated threatened to endangered in different parts of the world. Turtles appear to glide along propelled by their flippers, but they can swim very fast when threatened. They have incredible navigational abilities, traveling between feeding sites and nesting sites that may be hundreds of miles apart.
Green turtles are found along the coast and sea, most frequently in the area between the coast and the barrier reef. They can be seen feeding in sea grass beds and resting along the coral reef, they feed on sea grass and algae.
Turtles live their life in the sea, but they return to sandy beaches to lay their eggs during particular months of the year. As air-breathing reptiles covered with impermeable skin, sea turtles are one of the few marine species that are suited for terrestrial life. It is the shelled egg that demands that the turtle's nest be laid on land; if the eggs were laid in water, the air-breathing embryo would drown. Mating between the male and female takes place in the water off of the nesting beaches; little is known about this process. Females then come onto land for the nesting process, an event that requires incredible exertion. After a long journey to land, the female sea turtle makes a long trek up the beach to lay her eggs. She chooses a well¬protected area, above the high tide line, and begins the arduous process of digging the nest. She will lay up to 100 eggs or more that will incubate for 30-60 days before hatchlings emerge and make the treacherous trip down the beach to the sea. Both the turtle nests and the young turtles are highly susceptible to the environment and predators.





Belize's Largest Lizard (Iguana)

Iguana - iguana : Largest lizard in Belize ; males can grow to 10 feet, including tail. They are mostly arboreal and good swimmers. Only young green iguanas  are bright green; adults are much duller; females dark grayish; males olive (with orangish to red heads in breeding season). All have characteristic round cheek scale and smooth tails. A delicacy with the locals who call it ëBamboo Chickení. Also Ctenosaura similis a.k.a. black or spiny, iguana. Large (18-inch tail), tan lizard with four dark bands on body and a tail ringed with rows of sharp curved spines. Terrestrial and arboreal, it sleeps in burrows of tree hollows. Though mostly vegetarian, it consumes small creatures. Seen along the coast in the dry north and in wetter areas farther south.
 Belizean girl eating curried Iguana, It's a delicacy in Belize!!


Video about Iguanas.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Belize's Rainforest!

By definition there is no true rainforest in Belize; however, the quantity of rainfall is only slightly insufficient. Instead, the country is decorated with broadleaf jungle and cohune forest termed "moist tropical forest". This forest, savanna wetlands and the Mayan Mountain areas of the country is habitat for an incredible variety of fauna.

Agouti Paca - quatusa (Gibnut), (Royal Rat).

Agouti Paca - quatusa : Locally known as a gibnut. A 20- inch tail-less rodent with small ears and a large muzzle. Its redish brown on Guatemalans pacific side, more tawny orange on the Belize Caribbean slope. Sits on haunches to eat large seeds and fruit. Nocturnal by habit and highly prized as food item by many Belizeans, the gibnut is more apt to be seen by the visitor on an occasional restaurant menu than in the wild. Also known as ëThe Royal Ratí as it was served to Queen Elizabeth on her last visit to Belize.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Birds of Belize


As many as 575 species of birds have been reported for Belize including many erroneous and/or unverified reports. The actual number of species for Belize probably numbers somewhere around 540. More than any other group, birds are subject to reporting from birding groups and tour guides. Depending on the field guide or checklist used by those reporting bird records the names applied to species may vary. There have been some recent taxonomic changes and this list reflects the A.O.U. through 1998. The most recent published checklist is -- Birds of Belize: a checklist. Miller, B. W. and C. M. Miller. 1998. Belize Audubon Society, Belize City, Belize. 40 pp. Since publication several confirmed species have been added to the list of birds known to occur in Belize. Individual species accounts are updated periodically as new information is added to the database.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Water taxis price hike for Easter!!!


It’s Easter and many will be flocking out to the cayes and most Belizeans will be travelling on water taxis. It’s cheap, efficient and reliable, but a recent development has brought the issue of affordability into question. On Monday the price on Caye Caulker Water Taxi and the Belize San Pedro Express Water Taxis to San Pedro and Caye Caulker increased sharply.
A one way trip to Caye Caulker is now $20 and it is now $30 to San Pedro. A roundtrip to San Pedro is $55 and the news tonight is that as of Monday there will be no roundtrip discounts which means you’ll have to pay $60 to and from San Pedro and $40 to and from Caye Caulker. Prior to the increase – a round trip ticket to Caye Caulker was $25 and it was $45 roundtrip to San Pedro. And so the new prices represent a $15 increase across the board. The increases came out of nowhere and it shocked the customers 

Saturday, March 27, 2010

If you will be in Belize this easter, you gotta attend this!!!


Friday, March 26, 2010

Visit Future Perfect's Online Store at www.futureperfect.yolasite. com, one stop to get everything you need...

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Belize

Belize really is Mother Nature's best kept secret, No doubt!!!!