Aripo Cave

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Aripo Cave (Aripo Main Cave) is a cave in the Northern Range, in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the longest accessible cave in Trinidad and Tobago, with 862 m length and 160 m depth. [1] It is one of several caves created by recrystallised limestone. [2] The cave is a notable bat roost, and that bats contribute considerable amounts of guano, which in turn support vast numbers of cave-dwelling invertebrates.

One of the caves more notable inhabitants are the Oilbirds. These are the only nocturnal fruit-eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as the bats.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Trinidad and Tobago</span>

Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic republic in the southern Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. They are southeasterly islands of the Lesser Antilles, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande, Little Tobago, and St. Giles Island. Trinidad is 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeast coast of Venezuela and 130 km (81 mi) south of the Grenadines. The island measures 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq mi) in area with an average length of 80 km (50 mi) and an average width of 59 km (37 mi). The island appears rectangular in shape with three projecting peninsular corners. Tobago is 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Trinidad and measures about 298 km2 (115 sq mi) in area, or 5.8% of the country's area, 41 km (25.5 mi) in length and 12 km (7.5 mi) at its greatest width. The island is cigar-shaped in appearance, with a northeast–southwest alignment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oilbird</span> Species of bird

The oilbird, locally known as the guácharo, is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the only species in the genus Steatornis, the family Steatornithidae, and the order Steatornithiformes. Nesting in colonies in caves, oilbirds are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the oil palm and tropical laurels. They are the only nocturnal flying fruit-eating birds in the world. They forage at night, with specially adapted eyesight. However, they navigate by echolocation in the same way as bats, one of the few birds to do so. They produce a high-pitched clicking sound of around 2 kHz that is audible to humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinidad</span> Largest island of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmost island in the West Indies. With an area of 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq mi), it is also the fifth largest in the West Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Juan Jabloteh F.C.</span> Football club

San Juan Jabloteh Football Club is a football club located in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago that plays in the country's TT Pro League. The team plays its home games in Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Trinidad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asa Wright Nature Centre</span> Nature restort in Trinadad and Tobago

The Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge is a nature resort and scientific research station in the Arima Valley of the Northern Range in Trinidad and Tobago. The centre is one of the top birdwatching spots in the Caribbean; a total of 256 species of birds have been recorded there. The centre is owned by a non-profit trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Range</span>

The Northern Range is the range of tall hills across north Trinidad, the major island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The hills range from the Chaguaramas peninsula on the west coast to Toco in the east. The Northern Range covers approximately twenty-five percent of the land area of Trinidad.

El Cerro del Aripo, at 940 metres (3,084 ft), is the highest point in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is part of the Aripo Massif and is located in the Northern Range on the island of Trinidad, northeast of the town of Arima.

Aripo may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroni River (Trinidad and Tobago)</span> River in Trinidad and Tobago

The Caroni River is the largest river in Trinidad and Tobago, running for 40 km (25 mi) from its origins in the Northern Range on the island of Trinidad, through the northern lowlands of the Caroni Plains and enters the Gulf of Paria at the Caroni Swamp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaspar Grande</span>

Gaspar Grande or Gasparee is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. The island is 1.29 km2 in area and lies 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Port of Spain. It is one of the "Bocas Islands", which lie in the Bocas del Dragón between Trinidad and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunapuna–Piarco</span> Region

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost-faced bat</span> Species of mammal

The ghost-faced bat is a bat in the genus Mormoops. It is one of only two extant species within its genus, the other being the much smaller Mormoops blainvillii. They are nocturnal and hunt using echolocation.

Dunston Cave is an igneous cave on the Northern Range of Trinidad and Tobago. The cave is located on the grounds of the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Originally named Guacharo Cave, it was renamed Dunston Cave in 1972 in honour of engineer John Dunston. The caves are home to an Oilbird colony. These are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as the bats.

Cumaca Cave is a large cave system located in northern Trinidad, in the southeastern area of the Northern Range. This cave is sometimes also called Oropouche. The caves are home to bats and Oilbirds. These are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as bats, but with a high-pitched clicking sound audible to humans.

La Vache is a cave in located in the Northern Range, on the north coast of Trinidad. The Caves are home to the Oilbirds, These are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as bats.

Lopinot Cave is a large cave in the Lopinot Valley in the Northern Range of Trinidad and Tobago. The Caves are home to the Oilbirds. These are the only nocturnal fruit eating birds in the world. They forage at night, navigating by echolocation in the same way as bats. It is a 1.5 hour drive from the capital

Tamana caves is a cave system located on the northern slope of Mount Tamana in eastern Trinidad. Mount Tamana is a 307-metre flat topped hill of Miocene Guaracara Limestone of the Tamana Formation in the eastern Central Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Trinidad and Tobago</span> Overview of and topical guide to Trinidad and Tobago

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinidad and Tobago moist forests</span>

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References

  1. "Aripo Main Cave, Trinidad". Wondermondo.
  2. "Aripo Cave". wecaribbean.net. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-04-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)