The most dangerous animals of the Amazon rainforest. Freshwater giant of the Amazon The most famous and dangerous fish in the Amazon

Amazon River Basin, also known as rain forests The Amazon, or Amazon, covers more than 7 million square kilometers and spans the borders of nine countries: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. By some estimates, this region (which covers almost 40% of the South American continent) is home to a tenth of the world's animals. In this article, you will discover the most important animals that live in the Amazon, from monkeys to dart frogs.

Piranha

There are many myths about piranhas including that they can eat a cow carcass in less than 5 minutes or that they like to attack people. However, there is no doubt that the piranha is designed to kill, as it has sharp teeth and extremely powerful jaws. Considering how afraid many people are of the common piranha, they would hardly want to know about the giant piranha ancestor - megapiranha, which was 4 times larger than its contemporary.

Capybara

The capybara is the world's largest rodent, growing up to 70 kg. It is widespread throughout South America, but is especially fond of the warm, humid surroundings of the Amazon River basin. This mammal prefers abundant vegetation tropical forests, including fruits, tree bark, aquatic plants, and gathers in social groups of up to 100 individuals.

Jaguar

The third largest representative after lions and tigers. Over the past century, jaguars have faced threats such as deforestation and human encroachment, limiting their range throughout South America. However, jaguars are much more difficult to hunt in the dense forests of the Amazon basin than in open areas, and impenetrable areas of the rainforest may be the last hope for these cats. Jaguar is a superpredator, being on top the food chain, he is not threatened by other animals.

Giant otter

Giant otters are the largest members of the mustelidae family, and are closely related to weasels. Males of this species can reach a length of up to 2 m and a weight of up to 35 kg. Both sexes have thick and shiny fur, which is very valuable for poachers. It is estimated that there are only about 5,000 giant otters left in the entire Amazon.

Unusually for mustelids (but fortunately for poachers), giant otters live in large social groups, consisting of about 20 individuals.

Giant anteater

He has a comical long muzzle- thanks to which he is able to get into narrow insect holes, as well as a long fluffy tail. Some individuals can reach a weight of 45 kg. Like many, the giant anteater is seriously endangered, but the swampy, impassable Amazon River basin provides some level of protection from human encroachment for the remaining individuals (not to mention an inexhaustible supply of tasty ants).

Golden lion marmoset

The golden lion tamarin is a small monkey, also known as the golden lion tamarin or rosalia. This species of primate has suffered terribly from human encroachment: by some estimates, the ape lost a whopping 95% of its South American habitat with the arrival of European settlers 600 years ago. The golden marmoset weighs no more than one kilogram and has a striking appearance: thick, silky, bright red fur, as well as a dark face and large brown eyes.

This primate's distinctive color likely depends on a combination of intense sunlight and the abundance of carotenoids contained in its diet.

Black caiman

This is the biggest and most dangerous reptile in the Amazon River basin. It is a member of the alligator family and can reach a body length of about 6 m and a weight of up to 500 kg. Black caimans eat almost anything that moves, from mammals to birds and their fellow reptiles. In the 1970s, the black caiman was in serious danger of extinction due to hunting for its meat and valuable skin, but its population has since recovered, which may not be a source of joy for other animals in the Amazon rainforest.

Tree frogs

Dart frogs are a family from the class of amphibians, with 179 species. How brighter color in poison dart frogs, the stronger their poison - which is why Amazon predators stay away from bright green or orange species. These frogs do not produce their own poison, but accumulate it from ants, mites and other insects in their diet (this is evidenced by the fact that dart frogs that were kept in captivity and fed on other foods are much less poisonous).

Rainbow toucan

The rainbow toucan is one of the most comical animal species in the Amazon. It is characterized by a huge, multi-colored beak, which is actually much lighter than it appears at first glance (the rest of the body is not so bright, with the exception of the yellow neck). Unlike many of the animals on this list, the rainbow toucan population is of least concern. This bird jumps from branch to branch and lives in small groups of 6 to 12 individuals. During the mating season, males challenge each other to a duel and use their beaks as weapons.

Three-toed sloth

Millions of years ago, during the Pleistocene era, tropical forests South America were home to giant, 4-ton sloths - Megatherium. How things have changed: Today, one of the most common sloths in the Amazon is the three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus). It has a greenish-brown coat color (due to green algae), limbs with three sharp and long claws, and is also capable of swimming. This animal is terribly leisurely - its average speed about 16o meters/hour.

The three-toed sloth coexists with two species of the two-toed sloth genus (Choloepus): Goffman's sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) and the two-toed sloth or unau (Choloepus didactylus), and they sometimes choose the same trees.

The Amazon rainforest has long been renowned for its dangerous places, where a huge number of strange and amazing creatures, meeting with whom does not bode well. However, the threat lurks not only in the forest. The waters of the Amazon River are no less scary. Just look at the monsters that live there - you'll think a million times before going there!

Black caiman

You could say this is an alligator on steroids, their muscles are much larger, and they can grow up to six meters in length. These are undoubtedly the apex predators of the Amazon River, the local kings who indiscriminately eat anyone who gets in their way.

Anaconda

One more giant monster The Amazon is the well-known anaconda, the largest snake in the world. The weight of a female anaconda can reach 250 kilograms, and this is with a 9-meter length and a diameter of 30 centimeters. These predators prefer shallow waters, so most often they can be found not in the river itself, but in its branches.

Arapaima

The huge predator arapaima is equipped with armored scales, so it fearlessly swims among piranhas, feeding on fish and birds. These creepy fish are almost three meters long and weigh 90 kilograms. The ferocity of these creatures can be judged by their teeth, which are even on the tongue!

Brazilian otter

Brazilian otters grow up to 2 meters in length and feed mainly on fish and crabs. However, the fact that they always hunt in large groups allows them to successfully obtain more serious prey: there have been cases when these harmless-looking creatures killed and ate adult anacondas and even caimans. It’s not for nothing that they were nicknamed “river wolves.”

Common vandellia or candiru

Bull sharks

Most often, bull sharks live in salty ocean waters, but they feel just as great in fresh water bodies. There were cases when these bloodthirsty predators swam so far along the Amazon that they reached the city (), located almost 4 thousand kilometers from the sea. Considering that sharp teeth and powerful jaws provide these 3-meter creatures with a bite force of 589 kilograms, you definitely wouldn’t want to meet them, but they are not averse to feasting on humans!

Electric eels

We would not advise you to approach them under any circumstances: two-meter creatures are capable of generating electrical discharges with a power of up to 600 volts. And this is 5 times the current power in an American outlet and is enough to easily knock down a horse. Repeated blows from these creatures can lead to cardiac or respiratory failure, causing people to lose consciousness and simply drown in the water.

Common piranhas

It’s hard to even imagine more terrible and ferocious creatures; this is the real quintessence of the horror of the Amazon River. We all know that the sharp teeth of these fish have more than once inspired Hollywood directors to create creepy films. However, in fairness, it is worth noting that piranhas are primarily scavengers. But, unfortunately, this does not mean that they do not attack healthy creatures. Their incredibly sharp teeth, located on the upper and lower jaws, meet very tightly, making them an ideal weapon for tearing flesh.

Mackerel hydrolic

These meter-long underwater inhabitants are also called vampire fish. On the lower jaw they have two sharp fangs that can grow up to 15 centimeters. They use these devices to literally impale the victim on them after they rush at it. The fangs of these fish are so large that nature had to take care of the safety of the hydrolics themselves. To prevent them from piercing themselves, they have special holes in their upper jaw.

Brown pacu

Fish with human teeth, the brown pacu, is a larger relative of the piranha. True, unlike the latter, these freshwater animals prefer fruits and nuts, although in general they are considered omnivores. The problem is that the "stupid" pacu are unable to distinguish nuts that fall from trees from male genitalia, which has left some male swimmers without testicles.

The depths of the Amazon hide things that modern horror directors have never dreamed of.

A huge closed ecosystem, which is essentially the entire basin great river, as if specially populated by incredibly tenacious, incredibly dangerous and incredibly bloodthirsty creatures, an encounter with which for a person can only end in one outcome.

Black caiman

Most big predator throughout the Amazon basin. The black caiman grows up to five meters long and can weigh half a ton. Natural born killers are the so-called apex predators - that is, capable of killing and devouring any animal in their habitat.

Anaconda

The meeting between man and anaconda will be the last. The nine-meter snake swims well and is even capable of diving. An adult anaconda has practically no enemies in nature, unless it comes across a black caiman on a narrow path, and such cases have actually happened.

Brazilian arapaima

Tropical freshwater fish, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. This predator feeds not only on fish, but also on small animals that come to drink.

Snout shark

No, not because she’s stupid - it’s just the shape of their face. The blunt-nosed shark, or bull shark, is usually found in coastal waters and happily makes its way into rivers. This is one of the most aggressive species sharks that attack people without hesitation.

Electric eel

Perhaps one of the strangest creatures on our planet. Special electrical organs allow eels to generate voltages of up to 1300 V. A sort of floating bare wire, with a positive charge on the face and a negative charge in the tail. With one blow, an eel can stun a horse, but a human heart will simply stop forever.

Brown pacu

You could say that the pacu is a cousin of the piranha. But their teeth are square and resemble human ones. For what? Yes, to tear off larger pieces of meat from the victim.

Giant otter

The cute animal, weighing thirty kilograms, is not very timid, unlike its European relatives. You shouldn’t approach a giant otter for a joint selfie, you might end up without fingers. Locals The otters were nicknamed “river wolves”: gathering in real packs, they boldly attack larger predators.

Kandiru

Another name is the Brazilian vampire. The tiny catfish usually parasitizes other fish, crawling into the gills and drinking blood there. But she absolutely doesn’t care who the victim will be and which hole she will swim into. Thanks to Kandir, smart people in the Amazon never relieve themselves. Can you guess why?

Is one of natural wonders of our planet. In terms of world fame, the river competes with the Indian Ganges and the Egyptian Nile. Unique ecosystem of the longest on earth water artery(more than 7 thousand km from the source) attracts lovers of exoticism, the brightness of tropical flora and fauna, and ordinary tourists - lovers of natural beauty. The vast expanses of the Amazon, which amazes with the richness of flora and fauna, are home to about 1.5 million of the most diverse species of plants and animals; without exaggeration, this corner of the planet can be called the world's genetic fund. According to scientists, per 10 km² of tropical forest there are more than 1,800 species of birds, 250 species of various mammals, about 2 thousand different species of fish and countless various invertebrates and insects (many of their species are still unknown to the scientific world).

The Amazon River basin, which contains 10 longest rivers of the world, together with all its tributaries, occupies approximately 40% of the territory.

In essence, it is a humid jungle and swamps stretching along the equator, so climatic conditions The lowlands are practically the same throughout. The Amazon basin has the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. evergreen forest, the climate of which is hot and humid, the air temperature is stable throughout the year, here it constantly stays at +25-28°C, even at night the temperature almost never drops below + 20°C.

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Fauna

Tropical forests are home to many rare species of animals, some of which are on the verge of extinction. Among these animals we should mention the baker, spider monkey, sloth, armadillo, Caymanian freshwater dolphin, crocodile, and boa.

Near the shores of the Amazon, there is a tapir, an excellent swimmer, although its body weight can reach 200 kg. The tapir most often moves along paths near the river; it feeds on algae, as well as leaves, twigs and fruits of coastal plants.

Near rivers you can often find the world's largest rodent - capybara, whose weight reaches up to 50 kg, and in appearance the animal resembles guinea pig. Animals coming to drink near the shore are watched by anacondas (a species of the largest snakes from the subfamily of boas), which also hunt in the water; it is not for nothing that they are also called water boas. An anaconda can even strangle a caiman (Spanish: Cayman, a genus of reptiles of the alligator family).

One of the very dangerous inhabitants of the jungle, and, at the same time, a water-loving representative of the cat family, is the jaguar, which is called “d’iaguar” (“Like us”).

The incredible number of birds living in the river basin is staggering; nowhere else in the world can such a number and species diversity of birds be found. Most birds feed on insects, which in turn feed on plants. Plants, trying to protect themselves from voracious insects, produce various potent, most often toxic, substances, most of which have medicinal qualities. Therefore, the jungle can safely be called a storehouse of medicinal plants used in scientific and folk medicine.

Among the forest birds one can note the forest falcon, toucan, macaw, bald parrot, fly eater, hummingbird, as well as the gaviao bird of prey.

Among insects, there are over 1,800 species of butterflies and more than 200 species of mosquitoes.

In general, in the Amazon jungle, the territory of which is more than 6 million km² and covers 9 countries of South America, there live as many different organisms as there are on any “piece” of our planet. A huge number of diverse trees allow us to rightfully call the Amazon jungle the “Tree of Life”. In fact, every tree is home to more than 400 species of insects alone! Monkeys, birds, snakes and the bats. Did you know that almost 50% of all living organisms known to scientists today live in the Amazon basin, every year this tropical world gives us more and more new varieties of plants and animals, hitherto unknown.

The tropical forest is divided into peculiar tiers in which they live different kinds, many animals do not even move vertically, remaining all the time in their natural niche. One of these unique animals is Amazon sloth, which, living up to its name, practically does not move, it constantly hangs on branches or on vines. It is interesting that these animals are completely incapable of moving on the ground, they can neither walk nor stand, but sloths are wonderful swimmers.

On one of the islands, located in the middle of the river, on an area of ​​more than 800 hectares, there is a unique eco-park, which gives sick and confiscated monkeys the opportunity to adapt to the environment. wild environment. The island contains more than 20 species of primates; there are quite rare species here that cannot be seen in any zoo in the world. This one is exceptional nature reserve was created for environmental purposes, as well as science Center, who studies primates.

- an irreplaceable natural ecosystem, which today is threatened with extinction due to massive cutting down of trees. Ruthless exploitation of forests leads to soil erosion and the death of many species of plants and animals. Nowadays it is extremely rare to find here Amazonian otter(lat. Ptesonura brasilensis). The list of endangered species has already included the mahogany tree (Spanish: Rio Palenque) and the unique Brazilian rosewood(Palisander Rosewood) with amazingly beautiful wood from which expensive furniture is made.

The waters of the Amazon are rich river inhabitants: the number and diversity of representatives of the river depths is simply amazing, but this is not surprising, because just one of the river’s tributaries carries more water than all of them European rivers, taken together!

Underwater inhabitants of the Amazon

According to scientists, tens of millions of years ago, in the place of the Amazon, there was a sea that divided the South American continent into northern and southern parts. Due to land formation processes, this territory began to slowly rise, sea ​​water gradually desalinated, and the ancestors of some of today's inhabitants of the Amazon managed to adapt to fresh river water.

This kind of inhabitants includes: massive bull fish (reaching a length of 4 m and weighing more than 500 kg) and typical sea ​​fish- stingray Interestingly, the Pink Dolphin's neck spine is not fused together, allowing it to bend its neck at right angles to its body.

The rich fauna of the Amazon is also represented by the freshwater white river dolphin Inia geoffrensis and nutria (in Europe, this animal is specially bred on fur farms).

The variety of fish species found in the Amazon and its tributaries is simply amazing. By the way, many popular aquarium fish, for example, swordtails, guppies, angelfish and armored catfish come from here. Only in the Amazon basin are there fish such as tambaqui (Spanish Tambaqui, Latin Colossoma macropomum) - an omnivorous predator that grows up to 90 cm in length, feeding on seeds and fruits of rubber trees falling into the water; protoptera (lat. Protopterus) - a species of lungfish, one of the last on the planet; as well as the arawana fish (Spanish Arawana, Latin Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), reaching a length of up to 1 m, which, jumping out of the water, grabs insects from tree branches hanging over the river.

Herbivores include exotic wedge-bellied fish, which can fly through the air for more than 10 m, as well as very impressive (up to 4 meters), but completely harmless arapaima, their rough tongue (the Indians use it instead of a grater, rubbing roots) helps manatees prevent the river from becoming overgrown with algae.

In addition to herbivores, there are also many predators in the Amazon. It is impossible not to mention here one of the most famous inhabitants of the Amazon, piranhas - small flat fish (13 - 40 cm long), unusually voracious, with powerful lower jaw. The triangular teeth of piranhas are arranged in such a way that when the fish closes its mouth, they resemble the teeth of a gear. Piranhas lead predatory image life, they even attack large animals crossing the river. They are also dangerous for people: attracted by the smell of blood, schools of these fish attack their prey, gnawing the victim down to the bones with lightning speed.

It should be noted that, despite their frightening reputation, not all types of piranha are so terrible: only 4 out of 18 are dangerous to humans modern species. But it’s better not to mess with carnivorous piranhas. It is a little reassuring that this fish, which has a small mouth, is not able to bite off large pieces, so schools of piranhas pose a real danger.

As you know, piranhas sense blood in water from a great distance. Sensing prey, the school frantically rushes towards it, and if the animal carelessly gets within reach, the fish finish it off in a matter of minutes. So, in 1981, red piranhas set the most monstrous world record: a ferry sank near the city of Obidos (), and more than 300 people were eaten alive by a school of fish in a few minutes.

It is not very pleasant to meet a giant Amazonian crocodile - caiman, a relative of the North American alligator. The caiman is especially dangerous because this animal is a real genius of camouflage; it is not easy to immediately identify a floating “log”. He often moves with a “wreath” of water hyacinth decorating his head.

Fish like flathead catfish(Latin Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) and haraki (Spanish Jaraqui, main commercial fish Amazons) due to the ability to vibrate their swim bladder by contracting muscles, are able to make piercing sounds. The Amazonian flathead catfish can reach more than 2 m in length and up to 80 kg. weight, this fish makes loud trumpet sounds, similar to the roar of an elephant, which spread over the water at a distance of up to 100 m. And male harakas during spawning make a very loud sound, reminiscent of the noise of a running motorcycle engine. The abundance and diversity of “singing” fish in the Amazon is apparently explained by the significant amount of humus and limestone impurities in the river. In conditions of high turbidity river waters Visual communication between fish becomes difficult, so they use sounds.

The Amazonian splasher fish can be safely sent to the Olympics, because the accuracy of its “shooting” is beyond belief - the “spit” of the splasher, mind you, from under the water, hits the target (usually an insect) from a distance of more than 1.5 m!

Many amazing animals are found in the Amazon, including “mammalian” fish that have glands along their sides that secrete a liquid similar to milk. The younger generation of this amazing fish feeds on mother's "milk".

Completely unique electric eel , found in the underwater thickets of the river. In addition to the fact that it has special organs capable of producing a “discharge” of up to 600 V, the stingray also has a radar. Simply a unique mobile power station!

List of inhabitants of the Amazon unique fish and aquatic animals can be continued endlessly!

Dangerous Animals of the Amazon

The amazing world of wild flora and fauna that reigns in the area of ​​the world's largest river may be unsafe for people. After all, poisonous and dangerous animals are found everywhere in the Amazon.

In addition to the aforementioned Amazonian piranha, vampire fish, and jaguars, there are various Poisonous snakes, frogs and spiders. These animals are dangerous and, at the same time, very rare species.

frogs

Frogs living on the coast, as well as in the forests of the Amazon Basin, undoubtedly deserve special mention:

• “Ranitomeya summersi” (Latin) is a genus of frogs from the order of tailless amphibians, dart frogs (they live in tropical forests). This poisonous species frog, recently discovered in Peru in 2008. The frog is distinguished by unique bright orange patterns covering its entire body and a “black mask” that hides its eyes.
• "Ameerega pepperi" (lat.) - also a species of poisonous frog, found in Peru in 2009, with an unusual bright skin color (bright green with shades of blue).
• "Osteocephalus yasuni" - another species unusual frogs, which were discovered in the last century (in 1999). The habitat of this frog is the Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and.
• "Ranitomeya benedict" - dwarf poison dart frog, this tiny tree frog lives in low-lying rain forests, is very poisonous and dangerous. It was first found in 2008 in Peru. In addition to the fact that the frog is very beautiful, it is also useful: the poison of the frog is used in medicine as an effective painkiller.
• "Hypsiboas liliae" - a unique frog, of the rarest kind. It is bright green in color, with large, strongly bulging eyes and iridescent blue skin on its abdomen.
• "Nymphargus wileyi" - unusual interesting view frogs, first found in Ecuador. The frog is different in that it has green color and such transparent skin on the abdomen that everything is clearly visible through it internal organs amphibian (for which they were nicknamed “glass frogs”).
• "Osteocephalus castaneicola" is a frog first discovered in Bolivia as recently as 2009. The frog has silver-gray skin with a fashionable "tiger" pattern on its legs.

The Amazon River can be called one of the wonders of the planet. In terms of fame, it rivals the Nile and Ganges. The unique ecosystem of the longest waterway on earth attracts lovers tropical flora and fauna. The plants and animals of the Amazon are striking in their diversity of species. Here you can meet unique and very dangerous living creatures.

Amazon Basin

The Amazon basin is the largest lowland on our planet. It covers an area of ​​more than six million square kilometers. Almost the entire area is covered with tropical rainforests (Amazon jungle). This tropical forest is the largest in the world. The center of the region is the Amazon itself - the most deep river on the ground. It's hard to imagine, but its tributaries collect water from nine countries: Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Bolivia, French Guyana and Suriname.

Flora and fauna of the Amazon

The region has incredible great value due to the fact that it is a unique ecosystem. The flora and fauna of the Amazon are unique. It has so much variety. And many representatives of the local fauna and flora are endemic and are found only in this area.

It is worth noting that in the Amazon there is the most huge variety plants. Oddly enough, the region has been little studied to this day, and therefore many animals and plants of the Amazon are still unknown to science. Some researchers believe that the actual number of plant species in this region is three times greater than currently known. Science knows about only 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds, 125 species of mammals and countless invertebrates and insects. The river is home to more than two thousand fish and many reptiles.

Flora of the Amazon

Before 2011 wild forests The Amazons were ruthlessly deforested. And the reason for this was not only wood. People have adapted to clearing freed lands for agricultural activities. However, it is worth remembering that the river basin contains the most diverse vegetation on the entire planet. Amazon forests they play very important role on Globe. They are a huge source of oxygen. In addition, forests maintain the required level of groundwater, preventing the destruction of soil covers. More than 4,000 species of trees grow in the Amazon jungle - this is a quarter of all famous breeds in the world.

The forests contain palm trees, myrtle, laurel, begonias, and mangroves. And fruits include pineapples, bananas, guavas, mangoes, oranges, and fig trees. The Amazon rainforest can be considered the world's genetic pool. Even in small areas the species diversity is striking. For example, in ten square kilometers of forest you can find up to 1,500 varieties of flowers and 750 species of trees. With all this, as we mentioned earlier, not all tropical riches have been studied and described by scientists. One can only guess what other plants grow in the depths of the Amazon.

Valuable representatives of the plant world

Many representatives flora are of great value. For example, in the forests of the Amazon, giant nuts grow, or rather, bertholia nut trees. They are famous for their amazing taste. Each shell, weighing up to twenty kilograms, contains about twenty nuts. Such fruits can only be collected in completely calm weather, since nuts accidentally blown off by the wind can cause significant harm to the picker.

No less interesting is the one that produces a sweet drink reminiscent of milk. But cocoa is obtained from the fruits. The Amazon forests contain a huge number of trees that can take a long time to list. Among them, rubber. The latter is famous for its lightest wood. Indians float down the river on rafts made from such trees. Sometimes their size is so large that an entire village can fit on such a raft.

But of course, most of everything in the Amazon is palm trees. In total there are more than one hundred species. An interesting fact is that they are all very valuable to humans. They produce fiber, wood, nuts, juice and much more. And only the rattan palm is disliked by many, and the Indians generally call it “the devil’s rope.” The fact is that this plant is the longest tree on Earth. It looks more like a vine and sometimes reaches 300 meters in length. The thin trunk of the palm tree is studded with incredibly sharp thorns. The rattan palm creates impenetrable thickets, entwining the trunks and branches of nearby bushes and trees.

Victoria Region

The nature and animals of the Amazon are sometimes so amazing that they boggle the imagination. The most famous plant of these places can be considered the water lily with beautiful name Victoria region. This giant plant, whose leaves reach several meters in diameter and can support up to 50 kilograms of weight.

The largest water lily in the world blooms from March to July. Its flowers exude the most delicate apricot aroma, each of them reaches forty centimeters in diameter. You can see this miracle of nature only at night, since the flower begins to bloom only in the evening. On the first day of flowering, the petals have white color, the next day it becomes light pink, and then even dark crimson and even purple.

Amazon wildlife

The Amazon rainforest is full of rare animals, some of which are on the verge of extinction: the peccary, the sloth, spider monkey, armadillo, freshwater dolphin, boa, crocodile. The fauna of the Amazon is so diverse that it is difficult to count all its representatives.

Near the river bank you can find a stunning creature that can weigh up to 200 kilograms. It usually moves along paths along the river, looking for algae, twigs, leaves and fruits for food.

Amazon animals such as capybaras (the largest rodents in the world) live near the ponds. Their weight reaches 50 kilograms. Externally, the animals resemble a guinea pig. And along the banks of the river, the anaconda, which is rightly considered an incredibly dangerous creature, awaits its victims.

The most dangerous animals of the Amazon

Tropical forests are not only incredibly interesting places, but also unsafe. Not all of their inhabitants are distinguished by a meek disposition. The most dangerous animals of the Amazon terrify any person. This is not surprising, because meeting one of them can lead to the most dire consequences. It’s not for nothing that some jungle inhabitants have long become heroes of numerous horror films.

Dangerous animals of the Amazon are of impressive size and capable of causing harm not only to their fellow creatures, but also to humans. One of their list is the electric eel, which can grow up to three meters and weigh up to forty kilograms. The fish is capable of generating a discharge of up to 1300 volts. For adults, the electric shock is, of course, not fatal, but very unpleasant.

They live in the waters of the Amazon. Their length is two meters, and some individuals reach three meters. The weight of the largest fish was 200 kilograms. Arapaima are not believed to pose a threat to humans, but in 2009, several men were attacked and killed. Therefore, you should be wary of such inhabitants. Because they cannot be called harmless.

Still, it is worth remembering that the wild animals of the Amazon live in dangerous world, where every minute of their life is filled with the struggle for survival.

The jungle is home to the Brazilian wandering spider, also known as the banana spider. It is believed to be incredibly poisonous. In addition, it is on the list of the largest spiders on the planet (13-15 centimeters). An interesting fact is that the insect does not always inject poison into its victim; this happens only in 30% of cases.

But the spotted poison dart frog is incredibly dangerous to humans. A cute little frog with colorful covers reaches no more than five centimeters. But at the same time, her skin contains so much poison that it can kill 10 people at once.

Five of the most dangerous creatures

The most dangerous animals in the Amazon are jaguars, caimans, anacondas, piranhas and mosquitoes. These representatives of the fauna are the threat of the jungle and pose a danger not only to people, but also to forest inhabitants.

Jaguars are largest representatives felines in Western Hemisphere. Males weigh on average up to one hundred kilograms. The animals' diet includes up to 87 different creatures, from mice to deer. Of course, they attack people quite harshly. Basically, this situation can arise if the animal is forced to defend itself. But you should still understand that a wild predator is not a plush toy or a cute pussy.

They live in the waters of the Amazon. They grow up to five meters in length. At one time, their merciless extermination led to the fact that they were on the verge of extinction. But later the situation improved as a result of the adoption of strict laws. Caimans prefer to hunt at night, and attack from ambush. Animals eat for the most part fish (and even piranhas), as well as aquatic vertebrates. Larger specimens attack jaguars, anacondas, wild cattle and even humans.

Meeting an anaconda in the jungle is not the most pleasant event. Its weight reaches one hundred kilograms, and its body length can reach up to six meters. Anaconda is the longest snake in the world. She spends most of her time in the water, but sometimes crawls onto land to bask in the water. sun rays. It feeds on reptiles and quadrupeds, attacking them on the shore.

The most famous inhabitants The Amazons are piranhas. They have incredibly sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Each fish reaches thirty centimeters and weighs about a kilogram. Piranhas are characterized by a gregarious lifestyle. They swim in large groups in search of food, devouring everything that gets in their way.

Mosquitoes pose an incredible danger to humans. They are the main threat to the Amazon forests. Feeding on blood, they spread incredibly dangerous diseases that kill livestock and people. Their bite can cause yellow fever, malaria, and filariasis. For this reason, mosquitoes top the list the most dangerous inhabitants jungle

Manatees

What else is interesting about the Amazon? The nature and wildlife of the jungle is certainly dangerous, but among its inhabitants there are very cute creatures. Such as the manatee. Unlike their counterparts, they have more modest sizes (2-3 meters) and weigh up to 500 kilograms; the animals live in the fresh waters of the Amazon.

They have virtually no subcutaneous fat, and therefore they can only live in a warm environment at a temperature of at least fifteen degrees. Manatees feed only on algae, eating up to 18 kilograms per day.

Pink dolphin

Another adorable river resident is the Baby dolphin, which is born bluish-gray but gradually turns a stunning shade of pink. Adults weigh up to 250 kilograms and grow up to two meters. Dolphins feed mainly on fish, sometimes eating piranhas.

Instead of an afterword

The Indians are still in old times They called the Amazon "Parana-tago", which means "queen of rivers". It's hard to disagree with them, because this unique river with its stunningly diverse flora and fauna, in some ways dangerous and in others mysterious, worthy of such a title.