Species of Interest

1.  Birds

• Harpy Eagle - largest BOP (bird of prey) in western hemisphere
• Caracara (falcon)
• Macaws - Scarlet, Hyacinth, Blue and Gold. Sites report 17-19 species.
• Hoatzin (aka stinkbird)
• Common Potoos (BIG eyes/nocturnal, related to nightjars)
• Inca Tern 
• Black Capped Donacobius - the only member of its genus. Family placement remains undecided.  Ornithologists disagree as to its closest relations
• Toucan, Keel-Billed 
• Wattled Jacana 
• Oriole Blackbird
• Green Ibis
• White Headed Marsh Tyrant (flycatcher)
• over 1,200 species in Amazon 

2.  Mammals

• Carnivores 
• Jaguar (3rd largest feline in the word, after tiger and lion), 120-345 lbs.
• Cougar (4th largest feline), 60-220 lbs. 
• Ocelot (aka dwarf leopard) 14-40 lbs.
• Giant Anteater - edentulous (toothless)
• Kinkajou - nocturnal relative of raccoon long prehensile tail
• Coatimundi - diurnal relative of raccoon 
• Pink River Dolphins (aka Boto) - nearly blind, uses echoloation
• Gray River Dolphin
• Bats - many species.  Bats' claim to fame is they are the only mammal capable of flight.
• Humans - estimated 400-500 indenous Amazonian Indian tribes.  About 50 tribes have no contact with outside world.
• Omnivores
• Peccary (Like a pig. Straight, short tusks)
• Armadillo
• Marmoset/Tamarin (over 30 species in Amazon)
• Herbivores
• Capybara - largest rodent in the world
• Sloth, Three-Toed (6 species in the world: 4 three-toed and 2 two toed)
• Squirrel Monkey - most commonly seen, diurnal, occurring troops of up to 100
• Howler Monkey
• Spider Monkey
• Uakari - red faced and bald primate.  Its 4 species are only in Amazon.

3.  Reptiles

• Green Anaconda - largest snake in the world (up to 550 lbs.), 20-30+ feet long, non-venomous (constrictor), lifespan: 10 years.
• Viviparous (live-birthing).  Only 30% of the world's snakes are viviparous.  The rest are oviparous (egg-laying).
• In 2009, a fossil of a 43 - 49 ft (2,500 lbs) boa constrictor was found in Colombia.  It was thought to have lived 50-60 million years ago.  Scientists named it Titanoboa.
• Black Caiman - largest predator in Amazon.  9-20 ft long.  800-2,400 lbs.
• Bushmaster - largest pit viper (up to 10 ft) 
• Jesus Christ Lizard/Basilisk - walks on water

Paul Rosalie & Anaconda (borrowed photo from Paul's book)

Sketch by Paul Rosalie of Anaconda in Madre de Dios. Photo borrowed from Paul's book

4.  Invertebrates

• over 2.5 million species of insects in Amazon.  
• Note: This figure varies widely among many sites, some scientific, some not.  Brittanica puts it at 8,000.  Wikipedia says 30 million, Paul Rosolie, Mongabay and Softschool.com say 2.5 million.  Most agree more are being discovered, and many have yet to be classified.
• 650 species of beetles and 80 kinds of ants have been found on ONE tree!
• 30% of Amazon biomass... is ants!
• Giant Blue Morpho butterfly - 6.5" wingspan
• Leaf Eater Ants

5.  Fish 

• Piranha
• Some are vegetarians, most are omnivorous.  
• Of the twenty species, only four are carnivorous, and these are usually found in eastern Brazil.
• Electric Eel - 8 feet, 60 pounds.  
• Actually not an eel at all; but a knife fish.  
• Human deaths by these are extremely rare; but the voltage can arrest the heart.
• Air breather, must surface ever 15 minutes.  Lacks lungs, and gills are largely unused.  Special patches of vascular tissue in mouth absorbs oxygen from the air.
• Recent study revealed electric eels send small shocks into the water and wait.  The would-be prey's response to the 'test' shock reveals to the eel the prey's presence and location! 
• Candiru (aka toothpick or vampire fish), parasitic freshwater catfish. Rumors of entering humans' urethra
• Pirarucu - world's largest freshwater fish

6.  Amphibians

• Poison Dart Frog
• Penis Snake - not a snake; but a limbless, lungless amphibian.  6 found in the Madiera River in 2012.  Previously thought to be extinct.

7.  Plants - 40,000 species - - 16,000 of which are trees
8.  Viruses:  Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Rabies (Vampire bats)
9.  Parasites:  Bot Fly, Malaria

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

Link to next blog post:  Journey to Peru