The most dangerous fish in the Amazon. Amazon Wildlife

The Amazon River can be called one of the wonders of the planet. In terms of fame, it rivals the Nile and Ganges. Unique ecosystem of the longest water artery on earth attracts lovers of 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 is incredibly important 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 the Amazon has the greatest diversity of 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 play a very important role in Globe. They are a huge source of oxygen. In addition, scaffolding maintains the required level 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 known species in the world.

The forests contain palm trees, myrtle, laurel, begonias, and mangroves. And fruits include pineapples, bananas, guavas, mangoes, oranges, and fig trees. Wet tropical forests The Amazon can be considered the world's genetic pool. Even in small areas the species diversity is amazing. 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 of the plant world 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 is a giant plant, the leaves of which 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 are white, 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, the spider monkey, the 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 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

Rainforests are not only incredible 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. Weight itself big fish amounted to 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, he is included in the list of the most large 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 spotted poison dart frog incredibly dangerous for 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 the largest felines in the Western Hemisphere. Males weigh on average up to one hundred kilograms. The animal 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 feed mostly on 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 incredible sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Each fish reaches thirty centimeters and weighs about a kilogram. Piranhas are characterized by a gregarious lifestyle. Large groups they swim in search of food, devouring everything that comes 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

In ancient times, the Indians 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, is worthy of such a title.

South America, spread over nine countries, is home to the Amazon Rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world. It covers an area of ​​55 square kilometers and contains a wealth of biodiversity, including species that have not yet been fully studied. The Amazon River flows through the forest and supports thriving animal and plant life. These forests are known as the "lungs of the Earth" because they absorb greatest number carbon dioxide on the ground and release oxygen. These forests are also home to some of the most dangerous animals known to man. Here's our list of the 15 most dangerous animals tropical forests Amazons. This is an Alligator found in the Amazon, which is one of the largest species in the world. This Amazonian tropical animal is a very skilled hunter and kills its prey by approaching it from under the water and then crushing it with its powerful jaws. He then drags the catch underwater until it suffocates. It kills everything from small fish, otters, dogs and deer to jaguars and other caimans. Caimans can grow up to 6 meters in length. The black caiman's body is covered with hard scales that act as armor, however the color can vary between olive green, grey, brown or black. The species has bony ridges above the eyes. They have excellent hearing and vision and are equipped strong teeth used for crushing food. You can also read about
This animal is not actually an eel, but a fish that looks like an eel. It has three organs that can generate five times more electricity than a normal plug point. This makes it one of the. It uses this electricity to shock and immobilize its prey before eating it whole. It also releases electricity as a method of defense to scare off an attacker. People are usually attacked by eels if they are accidentally stepped on. Most deaths are not due to shock itself, but due to subsequent paralysis and drowning. This method of killing its prey has earned the eel a place on this list of the ten most dangerous animals of the Amazon rainforest. The species has about 6,000 cells to produce electrocytes, and can generate 600 volts of power, which is about 5 times stronger than the electricity generated in a standard electrical outlet. The shock can knock a horse down instantly. It can kill a person in two or three hits, but people come into contact with eels very often. The species can live 15 years in the wild and 22 years in captivity.
This large cat comes from South America is the main predator of the region. Jaguar lives alone large areas, similar to leopards or tigers in India, and hunts small land animals. It rarely comes into contact with people, and when it does, it is usually because it is trying to attack livestock. Although it rarely attacks, this cat is a dangerous animal due to its speed, stealth, strong jaw and sharp teeth that can pierce even turtle shells and the human skull. However, their numbers are declining due to habitat loss and hunting. It is also considered one of the strongest animals on planet Earth. Jaguars love to eat monkeys, crocodiles, deer, sloths, fish, frogs and anything else they can catch. Jaguars are solitary animals that love to live and hunt alone, however, this does not apply during mating season.
The most dangerous of all species, the red-bellied piranha is a scavenger and usually eats dead animals. It is only known to attack live animals if it feels threatened or if there is little food in the area. People have been attacked by piranhas, but these attacks do not result in death, only injury due to the fish's sharp teeth. Piranhas exhibit cannibalism and are known to eat other members of their species. It is also one of the deadliest fish in the world. Speaking of appearance, they have a silver body covered with red spots that serve as camouflage in murky waters. The pointed and sharp teeth of the piranha are arranged in one row and bite through the silver hook. The piranha's jaw bone is the strongest and can crush human hand in 5-10 seconds. Local residents use piranha teeth to make weapons and other tools. Like sharks, piranhas are also equipped with a special organ that can sense blood in the water. They live up to 25 years in the wild and 10-20 years in captivity.
This Amazon rainforest animal is a brightly colored frog that secretes poison from glands on its skin. This poison is very toxic and causes heart failure if it enters the body during large quantities. Golden poison dart frog is a rare species, but, because it can kill twenty adults. Some tribes in the Amazon rainforest are known to use the poison of this frog to coat the tips of their arrows used to hunt other animals. Due to the depletion of rainforests, poison frogs are endangered, and the blue poison dart frog is endangered due to its popularity in animal markets.
This shark is one of the three most dangerous species sharks and often attacks people who violate its territory. She lives in troubled waters rivers and hunts other aquatic animals such as fish, dolphins, and snakes. Since she swims in the shallows, dirty water, people can't see it, and if they get too close, the shark attacks them. A shark bite can be fatal because it drags its victims into the water and they either drown or die due to loss of blood. The species can grow up to 2.1 meters in length, however, females have been seen growing to an average of 2.4 meters in length and weighing 130 kg. Males are smaller compared to females and weigh around 94 kg. They are a type of shark that can grow in salty and fresh water. The bull shark can switch between salt water and fresh water and vice versa. The bull shark will be able to survive even if the water level is only 60 cm, and this is why they often come into contact with people. Additionally, female bull sharks prefer to give birth in shallow water because this will prevent larger sharks from eating their babies.
One of the largest snakes in the world, the green anaconda can grow up to 9 meters in length - twice the size of a giraffe. They live in water and can silently sneak up on prey and strike it with force, squeezing it with their powerful body until it suffocates and dies. They then swallow the prey whole. They usually hunt wild boar, deer, capybaras, and sometimes jaguars and people. You can also read about the most. Anaconda is a non-venomous snake. They spend most of their time alone, but males seek females to mate between April and May. Sometimes several species of male green anaconda will pursue the same female. This phenomenon is known as "breeding balls", where dozens of males are wrapped around one female and all try to mate. Sometimes green anacondas engage in behavior where female green anacondas eat smaller males.
It’s not for nothing that this animal was included in the list, because the spider has one of the deadliest poisons in the world. This is a ground spider that hunts at night. It can sting people who venture too close, and the venom causes severe pain and can eventually cause paralysis. Spider with the most deadly poison in the world it is distributed along the entire perimeter of the jungle. However, during the daytime they hide under rocks and in crevices, in places that are dark and damp. Additionally, they are mostly visible where people have untouched items, clothes they are not wearing, or piles of wood or any items stored in a closet or garage, so people need to be careful. One of the most aggressive types of spiders will fight other spiders for territory if the population in the area is high.
As the name suggests, this centipede is a giant – it grows up to 30 centimeters. It is an experienced predator that kills small animals such as spiders, mice, small birds, bats, lizards and snakes. It is not poisonous, but hunts by wrapping itself around its prey and eating it as it slowly dies. Although it cannot kill people, the bite causes severe pain, fever and weakness. However, it is a ferocious and dangerous animal of the Amazon rainforest. This species has powerful jaws that can very easily bite through skin and inject very painful venom. Speaking of appearance, the entire body is divided into 23 parts, each with its own pair of legs. Amazonian giant centipedes do not breathe through their mouths, instead they have small holes in the side of each segment that allow them to take in oxygen to keep them alive. They are one of the fastest runners because they are almost blind and love to eat insects, tarantulas, small lizards, frogs, small birds, small snakes, rodents and even bats. The species is widespread throughout South America and several Caribbean islands. This is one of the.
This tiny ant—which grows to about 2 centimeters—gets its name from its ant, which is likened to a bullet. It also injects venom into the bite site and can kill small animals. These ants hunt in groups and can paralyze or kill large animals with many bites. The bite is not fatal to humans, but causes severe pain and can lead to temporary paralysis of the area around the bite. They have the most painful insect bites in the world and its bite contains a neurotoxin. It is located on the abdomen of the ant. They mainly nest in bushes, trees and in the ground.
This poisonous species The vipers have mostly been spotted off the coast of São Paulo state, Brazil. It can be recognized by the light yellowish-brown color of its underside and the shape of its head, characteristic of the genus Bothrops. The species can grow to a length of 70 cm, however it sometimes also reaches 118 cm. There are various color combinations, such as a pale yellowish-brown base color that is covered by a series of spots that may be triangular or quadrangular.
It is the most powerful predator found in the Amazon rainforest, and is also one of the largest existing species eagles in the world. This species is primarily found in the tropical lowland rainforests of Central America. Additionally, in Brazil, the harpy eagle is also known as the royal-hawk. The harpy eagle is national bird Panama and is depicted on the coat of arms of Panama.
Bats, however, vampire bats have even more interesting feature, they are mammals that can only survive on blood. In addition, these species live in places of complete darkness, usually in caves, old wells, hollow trees and buildings. Nocturnal creatures are most active in the early nights. The only species of bat that can "adopt" another young bat, if something happens to her mother.

The Amazon rainforest has long been known as the most dangerous place, 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 they're 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 most large 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. The length of these creepy fish is almost three meters and weighs 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 waters. 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 underwater inhabitants 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

A 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 Amazon Rain Forest is a vast ecosystem that provides habitat for creatures as strange and wonderful as the jaguar. poison frog and Jesus lizard. But the Amazon is home to more than just those animals that simply wander, swing and slide in the trees. In the depths of the Amazon River, itself big river In the world, there are living creatures that are so amazing and so terrifying that sometimes they seem even scarier than the creepy sea inhabitants.

Black Cayman

The black caiman looks like an alligator on steroids. They can grow up to six meters long, with larger, heavier skulls than Nile crocodiles, and are the top predator in Amazonian waters. This means they are kings of the river and eat almost anything, including piranha, monkeys, deer and anaconda. And yes, they often attack people. In 2010, a biologist named Dace Nishimura was attacked by a caiman while cleaning fish on her houseboat. while she managed to fight him off, he took one of her legs with him. This particular caiman had been living under her houseboat for eight months, apparently waiting for the chance to attack.

Green Anaconda
Continuing the theme of giant reptiles - the most big snake in the world lives in the Amazon: anaconda. While pythons are actually longer, the green anaconda is much heavier; females are larger than males and can reach 250 kilograms, grow to nine meters in length and reach 30 centimeters in diameter. They are not venomous, but instead use their muscles to constrict and strangle their prey, which includes capybara, deer, caiman, and even jaguars. Preferring shallower waters that allow them to sneak toward prey, anacondas tend to live in the branches of the Amazon rather than the river itself.

Arapaima
Arapaima are giant carnivorous fish that live in the Amazon and surrounding lakes. Encased in an armored casing, they don't have to worry about living in piranha-infested waters, as they are quite efficient predators themselves, feeding on fish and the occasional bird. Arapaima tend to stay close to the surface because they must inhale air in addition to the oxygen received through their gills. They make a distinctive coughing sound when they emerge to grab air. They can reach 2.7 meters in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms. These fish are so dangerous that even their tongues have teeth.

Giant otter
Giant otters are the longest members of the weasel family, with adult males reaching up to two meters from head to tail. Their diet primarily consists of fish and crabs, which they hunt in family groups from three to eight participants, and they can eat up to four kilograms of seafood per day. Their cute looks are deceiving as they are more than a match for the other animals on this list and are capable of hunting even an anaconda. Under certain conditions, they can easily protect themselves from caiman. One family of otters was seen devouring a 1.5m caiman, which took approximately 45 minutes. While their numbers are declining mainly due to human intervention, they are among the most dangerous predators in the Amazon rain forest, earning the local name “river wolves.”

Bull shark
Marine animals that typically live in the ocean bull sharks are at home in fresh water. They were found deep in the Amazon, in Peru, which is almost 4,000 kilometers from the sea. They have special kidneys that can sense changes in salinity surrounding water and adapt accordingly. And you don't want to meet one of them in the river. They tend to reach 3.3 meters in length and weigh up to 312 kilograms. Like all other sharks, they have several rows of sharp, triangular teeth and very strong jaws with a bite force of 589 kilograms. They are also quite partial to humans, being one of the most frequently attacked humans (along with tiger sharks and great whites). Combined with the habit of living close to dense populated areas, this has led many experts to label bull sharks the most dangerous sharks in the world.

Electric eel
Electric eels are actually more closely related to catfish than simple eels. They can grow to 2.5 meters long and can generate charges of electricity from specialized cells called electrocytes. These shocks can reach up to 600 volts, which is enough to knock a horse off its feet. While shock alone is not enough to kill a healthy adult, shocks electric eel may cause breathing or heart problems and the person may drown. Many of the disappearances reported in the region have been attributed to eels that shocked their victims and left them drowning in the river. Luckily for us, eels tend to feed on fish, birds and small mammals. They locate their prey by sending out small, 10-volt blasts before killing them with larger blasts.

Piranhas
Most dangerous predator The Amazon River, about which they even make horror films. The red-bellied piranha is primarily a scavenger. But that doesn't mean they won't attack healthy creatures, given that they can grow to over 30 centimeters and swim in large groups. Piranhas have incredibly sharp teeth, with one row on each of their strong upper and lower jaws. These teeth grip with tremendous force, making them ideal for tearing and tearing the flesh of their prey. Their fearsome reputation mainly comes from tales of their frantic attacks, where groups of piranhas attack their unlucky prey and tear them to shreds within minutes. These attacks are rare and usually result from starvation, or provocation.

Payara, vampire fish
Any creature with the name “vampire fish” should automatically be considered scary, and the payara is no exception. They are absolutely ferocious predators, capable of devouring fish up to half their own body size. Considering they can grow up to 1.2 meters long, this is no mean feat. A significant portion of their diet is made up of piranha, which should give you some idea of ​​how dangerous these villains can be. They get their name from the two fangs that grow from their lower jaw, reaching 15 centimeters in length. Payaras use their fangs to literally impale their prey after a lightning-fast strike. Their fangs are so large that vampire fish have special holes in their upper jaw to avoid impaling themselves.

Paku
Another inhabitant of the Amazon, which can be much more dangerous for men than for women. The pacu is a much larger relative of the piranha, known for its distinctive sharp teeth. Unlike most of the creatures on this list, the pacu is actually omnivorous, with the majority of its diet consisting of fruits and nuts. Unfortunately for some pacu, "nuts" can mean more than just what falls from the trees. Yes, that's right: Puck has sometimes had the testicles of male swimmers bitten off in Papua New Guinea after the fish apparently mistook their genitals for a snack. And don't worry that you can't head to the Amazon to see these monsters, because they're already spreading to Europe.

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 are common piranha, they would hardly want to know about the giant ancestor of the piranha - 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 the abundant vegetation of tropical forests, including fruits, tree bark, and 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 than in open areas, and impenetrable areas of the rainforest can become last hope for these cats. Jaguar is a superpredator, being on top 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 comically long snout - thanks to which he is able to sneak into narrow insect holes, as well as a long bushy 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 when European settlers arrived 600 years ago. The golden marmoset weighs no more than one kilogram and has an amazing appearance: thick, silky, bright red fur, as well as a dark face and large brown eyes.

The distinctive color of this primate probably depends on a combination of intense sunlight and the abundance of carotenoids contained in its diet.

Black caiman

It is the largest and most dangerous reptile in the Amazon. 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. The brighter the color of 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, the tropical forests of 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.