In the dense forests of Costa Ricaa team of scientists discovered a strange phenomenon that occurs tens of meters above the ground: There are communal «bathrooms» in the treetops that are shared by multiple species of mammals..
This finding not only reveals a previously unknown social behavior in the forestry field, but also identifies an unexpected plant protagonist.
A single tree for all species
After an exhaustive study in which 169 trees of 29 different species were climbed and examined, the researchers Jeremy Quiros-Navarro, Tim Chamberlain and Deiver Espinoza They found something surprising: these latrines were not distributed randomly.
Exclusively, the multispecies latrines were located in a single species of tree: the fig tree (Ficus tuerckheimii)
While none of the other 154 trees of different species showed signs of this behavior, 73% of the specimens of Ficus tuerckheimii analyzed It functioned as a public bath for wildlife.
Visitors to the tall «bathroom»
Thanks to camera traps installed 30 meters high, 181 visits from 17 species of mammals in just 60 days.
Among the most frequent users are the porcupinewho turned out to be the most frequent visitor, followed by the guatusa and the hammer.
However, the most shocking discovery involves the two-toed sloth. For decades, it was believed that sloths descended to the ground exclusively to defecate, a behavior that exposed them to predators, but the study challenges this theory. Interestingly, females with young were observed using these latrines, suggesting that it could be a survival strategy to avoid going down to the ground during maternal care.
More than just waste: a communication center
Why do so many animals choose the same tree to relieve themselves? Scientists suggest that these latrines function as «communication centers» or meeting points.
Instead of just being a waste site, they act as places where animals exchange information through chemical signals, such as smell. For example, the margay, an arboreal feline, was observed marking the site with urine, possibly for territorial purposes.
In addition to communication, these latrines play a vital role in the nutrient dynamics of the forest, concentrating nitrogen and seeds at specific points that benefit the canopy ecosystem. This discovery highlights the critical importance of Ficus tuerckheimii as a key structure in the jungle.
However, the authors warn that activities such as recreational climbing tourism in these specific trees could disrupt these hubs of animal interaction, underscoring the need to protect these natural «baths» to preserve the delicate balance of life at altitude.
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