The Flickr Taiamãreserve Image Generatr

Female Black Howler Monkey in a Piuva Tree on the Paraguay River. We saw them eating blossoms of this pink trumpet tree.

The black howler (Alouatta caraya) or black-and-gold howler, is among the largest New World monkeys. The black howler is distributed in areas of South America. The adult males have entirely black fur and adult females and babies of both sexes having an overall golden coloring; which emphasizes black-and-gold in the name. The black howler is classified as Near Threatened as a result of a recent population reduction due to a variety of human-caused factors.

Black howlers are recognized for their 'howl', a powerful vocalization that can be heard over a mile away, mostly around dawn, but never heard them. Howling is used to define their territory.

Males weigh from 13-17 lbs. (6 to 7.7 kg) and females weigh about 10 lbs. (4.5 kg). They are 12-30" (30-75cm) in height, and their prehensile tail is 16-31" long (40-80cm) making them versatile climbers and allowing them to stay comfortably in the canopy of trees, sometimes hanging only by their tails. They are mostly arboreal, rarely coming down to the ground.

Female Ringed Kingfisher flying above the Paraguay River.

Largest kingfisher in Americas with exceptionally enormous bill and raucous calls. Blue-gray with shaggy crest, white collar, and rufous belly. Male and female similar, but note different breast pattern: entirely rufous on male, while female has blue-gray band bordered by white. Often conspicuous, searching shallow water for fish from a prominent perch and chattering noisily when disturbed.
(39.5cm / 15.5")

Keeled Sepia Snake. Small serpent measuring about 80cm / 31" in length. Its coloring is in shades of grayish-brown. It has a poison-inoculation tooth; however, it is located deep in the back of the mouth).

Green Ibis in flight over the Paraguay River. Nice Color!
(56-58.5cm / 22-23")

Female Ringed Kingfisher flying above the Paraguay River.

Largest kingfisher in Americas with exceptionally enormous bill and raucous calls. Blue-gray with shaggy crest, white collar, and rufous belly. Male and female similar, but note different breast pattern: entirely rufous on male, while female has blue-gray band bordered by white. Often conspicuous, searching shallow water for fish from a prominent perch and chattering noisily when disturbed.
(39.5cm / 15.5")

Southern Crested Caracara flying above the Paraguay River.

They are the second-largest species of falcon in the world by mean body mass, second only to the gyrfalcon.

The Southern Crested Caracara has a total length of 20-26" (50–65cm) and a wingspan of 47-52" (120–132cm). Its weight is 2 to 3.5 lbs. (0.9–1.6kg)

Southern Screamer at the Paraguay River.
(84-91.5cm / 33-36")

Jabiru family in their nest. ‘Jabiru’ actually means swollen neck. The Jabiru is the tallest flying bird in South America. Their pouches are inflated during mating displays, and also as a threat to others when they feel their spaces is being invaded. Standing an average of five feet tall and with a wingspan of eight feet, the Jabiru stork is one of the largest bird species in the Americas. In addition to their large size, another notable feature of the Jabiru stork is its throat sac. When it expands, it communicates to other birds that they are eager and excited - an important form of expression for a social bird. When greeting one another, they turn face-to-face, hold their necks upright, and rattle their beaks very quickly while waving their necks and moving their heads up and down.
(127-140cm / 50-55")

Capped Heron by the Paraguay River.
(56-58.5cm / 22-23")

A Jabiru at the Paraguay River. ‘Jabiru’ actually means swollen neck. The Jabiru is the tallest flying bird in South America. Their pouches are inflated during mating displays, and also as a threat to others when they feel their spaces is being invaded. Standing an average of five feet tall and with a wingspan of eight feet, the Jabiru stork is one of the largest bird species in the Americas. In addition to their large size, another notable feature of the Jabiru stork is its throat sac. When it expands, it communicates to other birds that they are eager and excited - an important form of expression for a social bird. When greeting one another, they turn face-to-face, hold their necks upright, and rattle their beaks very quickly while waving their necks and moving their heads up and down.
(127-140cm / 50-55")

A Nanday Parakeet also known as a Nanday Conure or a Black-Hooded Parakeet on the Paraguay River. It has been popular as a pet, and Nanday Parakeets which escaped from captivity have established large feral populations around Los Angeles, CA; Tampa Bay, FL, and Phoenix, AZ.
(31cm / 12")

Flame-Tailed Pondhawk.

Two Giant River Otter Pups sharing a moment on the bank of the Paraguay River. These loud and social otters rule the waterways and at 5-6 feet long, will weigh up to 70 pounds. They will be large enough to fend off caiman and jaguars. A family of otters can be as small as four individuals or on average 8-10 in some areas.

Flame-Tailed Pondhawk.

Great Kiskadee with dinner at the Paraguay River.
The Great Kiskadee (so named for its three-syllable call) is one of the largest and most boisterous members of the tyrant flycatcher family. Great Kiskadees are aggressive. They will boldly chase larger animals that attempt to raid their nests, such as monkeys, raptors, and snakes. They also have a black mask that works like the eye-black that athletes smear beneath their eyes—an adaptation to reduce glare and assist them in hunting in bright light or where light reflects off water.
(23-23.5cm / 9-9.25")

Juvenile Rufescent Tiger Heron by the Paraguay River.

The rufescent tiger heron is a medium-sized heron, measuring 26–30" (66–76cm) in length, with a mass between 22 and 35 oz. (630-980g).

Red-and-Green Macaw. They are the second largest members of the macaw family – the largest being the Hyacinth Macaws. In flight, they can reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
(89-96cm / 35-38")

Forest Hummingbird called a Glittering-Throated Emerald Woodnymph.
(9-10 cm / 3.5-4")

American Golden Plover on the Paraguay River. Our guide was really excited about seeing this bird. He said it was a first for him!
(25cm / 10")

Yacare Caiman in the Paraguay River. They can live for 50 years, move at 30 mph (48 km/hour), weighs 31-128 lbs. (14-58 kg), and is 6.5 to 8 feet long {2 to 2.5 meters). They also have excellent hearing and eyesight.

They are also called Piranha Caiman. Although they do eat piranha, the name ‘piranha caiman’ is also used for them because their bottom teeth are easily seen, like those of piranhas.

Inside their mouth is an average of 74 teeth but these fall out and are replaced often meaning this number varies between 70 and 82. Through their life they go through up to 40 sets of teeth. The fourth tooth on the lower jaw will sit in a socket when the mouth closes.

The temperature in a nest determines the baby’s gender. Lower temperatures mean that females will be born, while higher temperatures produce males. After hatching, young caimans follow their mother to the water where she will show them how to swim. This species is better adapted for swimming than walking on land. When they swim, they propel themselves along by moving their tails from side to side. They do not use their legs for swimming.