Dinosaur Showcase: Caiuajara
Introducing the Caiuajara – originally from the desert cliffs of Brazil, these impressive piscivores have a striking crest and are natural performers, bringing colour and constant motion to any aviary.
Notable Characteristics:
- This social flying species can, with enough space, happily share its enclosure with Quetzalcoatlus.
- Caiuajara care for their juveniles in groups, meaning all adults will display parental behaviour with young.
- Requires a mostly Barren enclosure with Fish feeders available for food.
Dating from the Cretaceous period, the Caiuajara is a distinctive flier with a large bony fin on its snout. It boasts a wingspan of over 2 metres with a tough beak and no teeth which made it perfect soaring over large open spaces.
The pterosaur was discovered in a rare bone bed known as the Pterosaur Graveyard in what is now southern Brazil. The site, believed to be from the Upper Cretaceous period, included at least 47 different individual pterosaurs. The Pterosaur Graveyard was once a Cretaceous desert and the Caiuajara was named after the formation it was found within.
Caiuajara are a sociable species, living in medium sized colonies and taking care of their juveniles together. Their enclosures should reflect their natural habitat, with plenty of wide-open space for them to take to the sky alongside rocky perches, arid ground and sparse cover much like their desert home. They will congregate near water to hunt fish so make sure to place enough piscivore feeders.
Graceful. Sociable. Endlessly watchable. The Caiuajara makes an exciting attraction for any new habitat.
