The largest predator of the Amazon forests. The most dangerous fish in the Amazon

1. Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
It is very unlikely that you will catch this specimen of fish, but there is always a chance. The arapaima, also known as the pirakuchu or paiche, is a huge carnivorous fish that can be found in the Amazon River and its surrounding lakes. Fortunately, this prehistoric giant fish prefers to hunt other fish and birds rather than people, and they are such effective predators that they can even live in piranha-infested waters. They usually stay close to the surface of the water because they need to take in extra oxygen through their gills. Arapaima can reach two and a half meters in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms and are the world's largest freshwater fish.

2. Tambaki (Colossoma macropomum)
Also known as Pacu, Tambaqui are the seeds and fruits that this fish eats. A member of the piranha family, the species can reach up to one meter in length and weigh up to 45 kilograms. It is probably considered the most valuable fish in the region. The fish often feeds on rubber tree seeds and is usually found in the waters near Manaus in Brazil.

4. Red Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Perhaps the best known and most dangerous sea ​​creature The Amazonian Piranha has been portrayed everywhere as one of the most dangerous fish in the popular Amazon River, but in fact this is not the case. The fish are mainly scavengers and can grow up to 30 centimeters in length. In Hollywood films they are shown to eat their prey down to the bones in a matter of minutes, in fact this is quite a rare occurrence and usually only happens when a school of fish has been starving for a very long time.

5. Armored Catfish
Characterized by bony plates covering their skin. Armored catfish, a member of the loricarid family, usually have a ventral suctermute with papillae on the lips that allow them to feed and breathe. The armored catfish is also known as the "Plec" and various varieties of armored catfish can be found in the Amazon region. Fish can eat wood, but they cannot digest it and excrete undigested pieces of wood as waste.

6. Electric eel (Electrophorus electricus)
Despite its name, the electric eel is not actually an eel, it is a fish. The electric eel can reach about two and a half meters in length and weigh about 22-23 kilograms. Adult electric eels deliver a shock that can reach 650 volts. This is quite enough to cause very severe damage to a person in the water, up to and including instant death. Usually lives at depth, in dirty soil. After its death, the eel can contain a strong electrical discharge for another 8 hours. Therefore, local residents living on the banks of the Amazon always try to avoid this type of fish.

7. Pancake ramps
The fish literally resembles pancakes. This species was discovered in 2012 in Rio Nanay near Iquitos, Peru. It is known that freshwater stingrays grow to approximately 450 kilograms and have more than 40 various types many of which are constantly found in the Amazon River.

8. Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Traditionally a saltwater fish, the Bull Shark has adapted to freshwater and is most often found in Brazil due to its proximity to the ocean. These intelligent creatures have developed special osmoregulatory kidneys that allow them to change the salinity of the water where they live. Their kidneys primarily process the vital salts they need throughout their body, allowing them to constantly move into freshwater areas.

9. Payara vampire fish (Hydrolycus scomberoides)
Payara or vampire fish can be found in most areas of the Amazon in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. Known as extremely aggressive look fish (and vampire-like!). Vampire fish are most often found in fast-moving water and rapids, which usually makes them harder to spot. The fierce predators can eat fish up to half their body size, which is usually about one meter and weighs about 18 kilograms. Its striking feature is its two front fangs.

10. Peacock Bass or Tucunar Peacock Bass (Cichla Temensis)
Tucunar Peacock Bass are native to the Rio Negro, Huatuma and Orinocoin basins of northern South America. This particular species of bass is also known as: Spotted Pavon, Spotted Peacock, or Painted Pavon. This is a very large South American cichlid and a very valuable fish. Reaches almost 1 meter in length and weighs more than 12 kg. Peacock bass are most often found in rapids and calm waters of moderate depth. They feed only on small fish, especially threadfin shad, mosquitoes, tilapia and blue fungus.

IN South America Spread over nine countries, the Amazon rainforest is 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 the most 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 with 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, native to South America, is the region's top predator. 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 even pierce 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. Talking about appearance, they have a silver body covered in red spots that serve as camouflage in murky water. 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. In addition, females 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 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 compared 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 in 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 raptor found in the Amazon rainforest, and is also one of the largest existing eagle species 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 is a vast ecosystem that provides habitat for such strange and beautiful creatures as the jaguar, the poison dart frog, and helmed basilisk. But this environment is home to more than just animals that prowl, swing and slide through the trees. The murky waters of the Amazon River, the deepest river in the whole world, are home to such amazing and terrible creatures that the sight of their jaws is more terrible than some jaws floating in the marine environment.

10. Black caimans (lat. Melanosuchus niger)

Photo. Black caiman

The black caiman is like an alligator on steroids. It can grow up to six meters in size and has a larger and heavier skull than the same Nile crocodile, and in Amazonian waters it is at the top of the food chain. What this means is that they are primarily kings of rivers, eating almost anything they can get their teeth on, including groupers, piranhas, monkeys, anacondas and deer.

And, of course, they are capable of attacking people, which happens periodically. In early 2010, biologist Diis Nishimura was attacked by a caiman while cleaning fish on her houseboat, and although she managed to fight it off, she lost one of her legs. This particular caiman had been waiting for her under the houseboat for nine months, apparently waiting to strike.

9. Giant anacondas(lat. Eunectes murinus)

Photo. Green anaconda

Continuing the theme of gigantic reptiles, we should remember the largest snake in the whole world, living in the Amazon: the anaconda. Although reticulated pythons are actually considered to be long snakes, green anacondas are much heavier; females are generally larger than their male counterparts and are capable of growing up to nine meters (over 29 feet) in length, gaining 250 kilograms (550 pounds) in weight, and reaching 30 centimeters (12 inches) in diameter. Is not Poisonous snakes, but instead of venom, they rely on their enormous muscular strength to squeeze and strangle their prey, which can include capybaras, caiman, deer and even jaguar. She likes shallow water, which allows her to stealthily sneak up on her prey. As a rule, these snakes live in the tributaries of the Amazon, and not in the main channel of the river.

8. Arapaima (lat. Arapaima)

Photo. Caught arapaima

Arapaima, according to the IGFA world record, is the largest fish living in water bodies. Arapaima, also known as "pirarucu" or "paiche", are giant carnivorous fish found in the Amazon and nearby lakes. Being studded with armored scales, they do not hover and live in waters saturated with piranhas, since they are quite agile predators that eat fish and randomly passing birds. As a rule, arapaima are located near the surface because they need to breathe regular air and also obtain oxygen from the water using their gills. They make a characteristic cough when they appear on the surface. The arapaima's proximity to the surface of the water makes it vulnerable to human hunters, who can easily attack with harpoons. Some indigenous communities consume the meat and tongue of the arapaima, turning it into jewelry and other items.

They grow up to 2.6 meters in size and weigh around 90 kilograms (200 pounds). These fish are so dangerous that even their tongue is studded with teeth.

7. Giant otters (lat. Pteronura brasiliensis)

Photo. Giant otter

The name itself says it all, these animals are very large, and they are indeed very large otters. They are the longest of the 13 otter species, with adult males growing up to two meters (more than six feet) in length (from head to tail end). It is difficult to differentiate between male and female giant otters because there is no fundamental difference in head or body size. This species can produce up to nine different sounds and it can sound very loud.

Their food mainly consists of crabs and fish, which they catch in family groups from two to seven individuals, and are capable of eating up to four kilograms (nine pounds) of seafood per day. Don't be fooled by their cute faces, they are more deserving of being on this list than any other animal as they have been observed to kill and eat anacondas in groups. They are also capable of giving a serious rebuff to a caiman. One day, a family of otters was spotted eating a 1.5-metre (5-foot) caiman, which took them approximately 45 minutes. Although their numbers are declining, largely due to human activity, they are one of the most advanced predators in tropical forest Amazonia.

6. Common Vandellia (lat. Vandellia cirrhosa)

Photo. Kandiru

However, candiru prefer other fish; with the help of spines they attach themselves inside the gills of larger individuals and feed on the blood of their host.

5. Blunt sharks (lat. Carcharhinus leucas)

Photo. Snout shark

Considering that, technically, animals that live in the ocean cannot be in fresh water, this does not apply to blunt-nosed sharks, since they thrive in both sea (salt) and river (fresh) water. They were found very far in the depths of the Amazon, almost 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) from the sea. This fish has special kidneys that can recognize differences in salinity and adapt accordingly. And you definitely don’t want to meet such a fish in river water. They typically grow to a size of 3.1 meters, and these sharks have been reported to weigh 312 kilograms (690 pounds). Like many sharks, they have several rows of sharp, triangular-shaped teeth and extremely powerful jaws, capable of clenching with a force of 589 kilograms (1,300 pounds). It is also worth mentioning that this species of shark is particularly unfriendly towards humans, as it is one of the top three sharks that most often attack people (along with great whites and tiger sharks). Also given their habit of swimming near densely populated areas, this has led many experts to call them.

4. Electric eels (lat. Electrophorus electricus)

Photo. Experiments with the electric eel

In fact, the electric eel is much closer to catfish than to eels, but you probably don't want to be near one to find out. Reaching a size of 2.5 meters (8 feet), they are capable of generating discharges of electricity using special cells called electrocytes located on their sides. These electrical discharges can reach up to 600 volts, this discharge is enough to cause a horse to give way and fall. While shock alone is not enough to kill the average healthy person, multiple shocks can cause the heart and lungs to collapse, and shock is usually what causes people to drown. That's why .

Most of the disappearances reported in the Amazon have been linked to eels, which put their victims into a state of shock and leave them to drown in the river. Fortunately for us, this type of eel tends to adhere to a diet consisting of amphibians, fish, small mammals and birds. They find their prey by emitting small 10-volt electrical discharges from their electrocytes, after which they stun or kill them.

3. Common piranhas(lat. Pygocentrus nattereri)

Photo. Piranha

This is the true horror of the Amazon River, this animal is so feared that it has inspired many dubious Hollywood films. But in fact, the common (red-bellied) piranha feeds on carrion. But this does not mean that they are not capable of attacking living beings; after all, it is worth considering that they are capable of growing in lengths in excess of 30 centimeters (12 inches) and swimming in large groups. Like all piranhas, red-bellied piranhas have incredibly sharp teeth, lined up in a single row on each of their powerful lower and upper jaws. These teeth compress with great force, which is why they are ideal weapons for tearing and eating flesh. Their fearsome reputation is largely fueled by rumors of their "mad feast", where a group of piranhas gather around an unlucky victim and devour him to the bone in a matter of minutes. Such attacks rarely occur and are usually the result of starvation or provocation.

2. Payara (vampire fish, lat. Hydrolycus armatus)

Photo. Payara teeth

Anything called a “vampire fish” is automatically associated with a scary animal, and the payara is no exception. These fish are incredibly ferocious predators, capable of eating fish up to half their size. Considering that they can reach up to 1.3 meters (four feet) in length, this does not mean that this is the limit. They mainly like to eat piranhas, which may give you some insight into how tough these sharp-toothed beasts can be. They get their name from the two fangs that grow from the lower jaw and they are capable of growing up to 14 centimeters (six inches) in length. The fish use them to literally impale their prey, and then viciously tear them to pieces. In fact, their fangs are so large that they have special holes in the upper jaw designed to prevent themselves from being pierced.

This voracious carnivore is fast and aggressive. They usually small fish left in the mouth, and then skillfully maneuvering they begin to swallow. However, if the prey is too large, payaras may cut it into smaller pieces first and then swallow it.

1. Pacu (lat. Colossoma macropomum)

Photo. Paku teeth

Certainly more dangerous to males than females, this animal is the pacu, which is larger than its closest relative, the piranha, and is known for its distinctive human-like teeth. They are very similar to piranhas, but are flatter, more strong teeth designed to be crushed, and one fisherman reportedly died after having his testicles bitten off.

Fish expert Henrik Karl said pacu are not usually dangerous to people, but they do have a "pretty serious bite". He said: “There have been cases in other countries, such as Papau New Guinea, where some men have had their testicles bitten off. They bite because they are hungry, and the testicles are good for that. They usually eat nuts, fruits and fish, but human testicles are just a natural target."

Oh, and don't worry if you can't get to the Amazon to see these monsters, they can already be found in Europe, where they have already begun to breed.

The Amazon River, with a length of 6,762 kilometers, is the longest, widest and fastest river in the world, and although Colombia owns only a hundred kilometers of it, it has a significant influence on the natural and climatic parameters of this region. This river is home to about three thousand species of fish, among them such unusual and amazing ones as the arapaima - the largest freshwater fish, the mythical pink dolphin, the predatory piranha, the fanged payara that eats it, the electric eel, the stingray, the pacu - a fish of the piranha order with “human-like” "with teeth, the catfish, and finally, the small but insidious candiru fish.

The Orinoco River, originating in Venezuela on the border with Brazil, flows only along the eastern border Colombia, but such large Colombian rivers as Meta, Casanare, Vichada, Guaviare, Inirida, Guania, Vaupes, Apaporis and Caqueta are its tributaries. The Casiquiare River, which begins as a branch of the Orinoco, flows into the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon, thus forming a natural channel between the Orinoco and the Amazon. For this reason, some species of fish can migrate throughout the water space of both rivers.

Among the fish that live in the basins of both rivers, the most predatory and well-known are piranhas, payars, electric eels and stingrays.

Piranha is called the scourge of Orinoquia and the Amazon. And if all the inhabitants of the selva are afraid of it, then payara, a large predatory fish, living in some rivers of the Orinoco River basin.

Payara or Sabertooth Tetra is a species of relatively little-known fish.
It can reach a length of 117 cm and weigh 17.8 kg. Ichthyophage, eats many piranhas.
The most notable features of the payara are the two pairs of fangs that are found in its lower jaw. A couple of them are visible, but the second is in the jaw when folded and is invisible in photographs. Larger specimens have fangs that reach 10–15 centimeters (4–6 inches), earning the fish the nickname “vampire fish.”
Payaira feeds on almost any fish that is smaller in size, including piranhas and their own kind.

Piranhas- small, on average up to 30 cm in length, fish inhabiting the rivers of South America. Young piranhas are silver-blue in color, with dark speckles, but with age they darken and acquire a black mourning color. Despite their small stature, piranhas are one of the most voracious fish. The razor-sharp teeth of a piranha, when it closes its jaws, are adjacent to each other like a folded lock of fingers. It can easily bite a stick or finger with its teeth.

Shepherds driving herds across rivers where piranhas live have to give up one of the animals. And while the predators are dealing with the prey, away from this place the entire herd is safely transported to the other side. Wild animals turned out to be no less smart than people. In order to drink water or cross a river where piranhas are found, they begin to attract the attention of predators with the noise or splashing of water. And when a flock of piranhas rush towards the noise, the animals move along the shore to a safe place, where they quickly drink or cross the river.

The quarrelsome nature of piranhas makes them often quarrel and attack each other.
Piranhas attack everything Living being that were within their reach: large fish, domestic and wild animals in the river, humans. The alligator is trying to get out of their way.

Piranhas react to the smell of blood. As soon as a wounded animal enters the water where piranhas live, the fish, excited by the smell of blood, attack the victim. It only takes piranhas three minutes to leave the naked skeleton of a tapir. Moreover, if the animal does not smell of blood, the piranha will not be interested in it. Therefore, they can be considered orderlies who exterminate sick and wounded animals. Piranhas also feed on carrion, cleaning the river bottom. There are about 400 species of piranha in the Amazon. Among them there are also peaceful vegetarians, and not all predators are so aggressive. Oddly enough, piranhas - caring parents and drive everyone away from their home.

Paku- this time the fish is more amazing than scary. Although it still evokes a kind of mystical horror. And this fish is amazing in that it has teeth that are, to be sure, “human.”

When such a fish was caught recently in Chelyabinsk region(someone must have played with an exotic animal and released it into a Russian reservoir), the entire Runet started talking about the mutant fish. Although it was just Amazonian fish Paca, which is caught in Colombia almost industrial scale and deliver to big cities— Bogota, Medellin, etc. Its meat is very tasty.
This fish is a herbivore, although it is very similar to a piranha. The black pacu is the largest fish of the piranha family. The maximum size is 70 cm. The body of fish of this family is high, laterally compressed.

Aravana- a predatory, rather large fish - one of the most ancient fish on earth. It lives in the northern part of South America and the Amazon basin, preferring dead branches of rivers with stagnant water. These fish often live in large schools and devour any aquatic life. On average, its length is 90-120 cm. Despite the fact that Aravans look majestic and even a little aggressive, they are actually very timid. They feed on insects and their larvae, fish that are smaller than them and can eat their own fry. Aravans mature at the age of 4-6 years. Males are brighter and slimmer than females. In addition, they have an elongated anal fin and a more powerful lower jaw with a noticeably protruding edge.

Aravan spawning is seasonal and portioned. Marriage ceremonies take place near the bottom. During the dance, the male knocks out “giant” eggs from the female’s abdomen (its diameter reaches 16 millimeters), fertilizes it and takes it into his mouth for subsequent incubation. The seven-centimeter juvenile emerges from the pharyngeal confinement into the wild after 50-60 days, maintaining a pendulous appearance for the first ten days. yolk sac. However, this does not prevent them from hunting other people’s juveniles and insects.
Aravans are excellent jumpers. They are able to jump out of the water up to 2 meters.
Several legends are associated with this fish, one of which says that the meat of this fish should not be eaten by pregnant women, because it will bring misfortune to the unborn child. Otherwise, it is a commercial fish.
Another legend claims that keeping this fish in an aquarium will bring good luck in business and prosperity. For this reason, it has become fashionable to keep these giants in aquariums. The arawana was first brought to Russia only in 1979 in single copies. Nowadays it can be found quite often among aquarists who have large aquariums.

Graceful arawans have several types of colors - silver and black arowans are found in the Amazon basin. Blacks live in the Rio Negro River basin, which is a tributary of the Amazon. Asian and African Aravans have very beautiful colors.

Arapaima(Pirarucu) is the largest freshwater fish on our planet and lives mainly in the reservoirs of South America (Amazon, Orinoco). Sometimes, some specimens exceed 3 meters in length. Upon reaching 1.5 meters in size, arapaima develop a very bright, interesting color. The front half of the body is yellow-green, and the back half is bright beet red.

By the breeding season, usually in April or May, the arapaima moves to shallow places with clean water and sandy bottom. In such places, with the help of fins, the arapaima digs a nest with a diameter of about 50 cm and a depth of about 15 cm. There are cases when the arapaima uses the same nest for several years. Like most large fish, arapaima grows very quickly.
What is very interesting is that it is a lungfish that can breathe atmospheric air, similar to labyrinth fish.
The fish is rare, listed in the International Red Book.

Amazon river dolphin, buto or inia - the largest species river dolphins, the length of adult individuals can reach 2.5 and weigh more than 200 kg. Dolphins are born dark in color, but lighten as they age and are therefore often called pink. By their nature, ini are playful and curious, they lend themselves well to taming, but they are difficult to train and they are quite aggressive, so these dolphins are usually not kept in aquariums. Interestingly, inias disperse the piranhas that infest these waters, so swimmers feel safe in such company, and fishermen follow them to find schools of fish.

Amazonian manatee— in total, scientists distinguish three types of manatees: Amazonian, American and African. All of them are members of the genus Sirenia.
It is believed that the first person to call manatees sirens was Christopher Columbus. “I observed three sea maidens,” he wrote quite seriously in the ship’s log, “but they were not as beautiful as they are painted.” Columbus had no doubt that the creatures he encountered in the waters Caribbean Sea, were sea maidens, or, in other words, sirens. The great navigator actually saw manatees.

It is difficult to imagine how one could mistake these heavy, wrinkled, and even bristly muzzles of bluish-gray shades for beauties, but the myth that appeared about three thousand years ago has happily survived to this day. The legend is so rooted in literature and in sea ​​stories that the genus of manatees and their relatives dugongs was named Sirenia by biologists.
In the evolutionary series, mammals manatees (sirens) are placed between cetaceans and pinnipeds. A long time ago, the ancestors of manatees lived on land, grazed on the banks of reservoirs, where there was a lot of lush grass, and often found themselves in the water in search of food, and then moved there altogether. Manatees have retained some characteristics of land animals.

They have lungs and limbs transformed into flippers. However, on land these seven hundred kilogram giants are completely helpless. They cannot move even by crawling, as seals or sea otters do. On the other hand, manatees, unlike whales, are able to get out of the shallows into the open sea.

They breathe infrequently. They come to the surface for a new breath of air no more often than after 10-15 minutes, and even less often during sleep.

The female manatee gives birth to her cubs in the water. The male does not abandon the female after the birth of the cub. Manatees are very caring parents. The mother feeds the only cub with milk and allows it to ride on itself when it gets tired.

Lomantines are curious, trusting and not aggressive, although in case of danger they are able to stand up for themselves. They are strict vegetarians and eat huge amounts of algae in shallow waters. One animal eats at least 40-50 kilograms of algae per day. The gluttony of manatees makes them useful to humans.

Many river beds, canals and irrigation systems are heavily overgrown with algae, which leads to failures in the operation of irrigation systems and water pipelines of hydroelectric power plants. Manatees came to help in eliminating this problem, and with pleasure and great appetite they perform their duties. A grazing manatee uses its flippers like a man uses his hands. Perhaps this is precisely why the myth of the sea maidens arose...

Electric eel- the most dangerous fish of all electric fish. In terms of the number of human casualties, it is even ahead of the legendary piranha. This eel (by the way, it has nothing to do with ordinary eels) is capable of emitting powerful electric charge. If you take a young eel in your hands, you feel a slight tingling sensation, and this, taking into account the fact that the babies are only a few days old and are only 2-3 cm in size. It is easy to imagine what sensations you will get if you touch a two-meter eel. A person in such close contact receives a shock of 600 V and can die from it. The electric eel sends powerful force waves up to 150 times a day. But the strangest thing is that, despite such weapons, the eel feeds mainly on small fish.
To kill a fish, the electric eel only needs to shudder and release a current. The victim dies instantly. The eel grabs it from the bottom, always from the head, and then, sinking to the bottom, digests the prey for several minutes.

Electric eels live in the rivers of South America and are found in large numbers in the waters of the Amazon. In those places where the eel lives, there is often a great lack of oxygen. Therefore, the electric eel has developed a behavioral feature. Eels stay under water for about 2 hours, and then swim to the surface and breathe there for 10 minutes, whereas ordinary fish only need to surface for a few seconds.
Electric eels - large fish, similar to huge thick worms: an adult can reach a length of up to 3 meters and weigh up to 40 kilograms. The body is elongated, slightly flattened laterally. The skin is bare and not covered with scales. The fins are very developed, with their help the electric eel is able to easily move in all directions. Adult electric eels are brown in color, with the undersides of the head and throat being bright orange. The coloring of young individuals is paler.

The most interesting thing about the structure of electric eels is its electrical organs, which occupy more than 2/3 of the body length. The positive pole of this “battery” lies in the front of the eel’s body, and the negative pole lies in the back. The highest discharge voltage, according to observations in aquariums, can reach 650 V, but usually it is less, and in fish one meter long it does not exceed 350 V. This power is enough to light 5 light bulbs. The main electrical organs are used by the eel to protect itself from enemies and to paralyze prey. There is another additional electrical organ, but the field produced by it plays the role of a locator: with the help of interference arising within this field, the eel receives information about obstacles on the way or the approach of potential prey. The frequency of these location discharges is very small and practically imperceptible to humans.

The discharge itself, which is produced by electric eels, is not fatal to humans, but it is still very dangerous. If you get an electric shock while underwater, you can easily lose consciousness.

The electric eel is aggressive. Can attack without warning, even if there is no threat to him. If something living comes within its range force field, then the eel will not hide or swim away. It is better for the person himself to swim to the side if an electric eel appears on the way. You should not swim to this fish at a distance of less than 3 meters; this is precisely the main radius of action of the meter-long eel’s field.

Stingtail- another dangerous fish of the Amazon.
The sandbank, where the bottom is clearly visible, seems safe. But under a thin layer of sand rests a flat river stingray, Araya, painted to match the color of the bottom, as the Brazilians call it. An alarmed stingray beats its tail, in the middle of which two jagged poisonous stilettos stick out. Poison flows down a groove into the spines from a special gland, so the wound inflicted by the stingray is very painful. Having been hit by stilettos, a person jumps out of the water, spurred on by unbearable pain, like a fiery whip. And he immediately falls on the sand, bleeding and losing consciousness. Wounds from poisoned stingray stilettos are said to be mostly fatal.
The Amazon Indians use the large and strong spine of the stingray as an arrowhead. River stingrays, unlike their closest relatives, sea stingrays, are typical freshwater animals inhabiting the rivers of the Amazon basin. Apart from the Amazon, they are not found in any other rivers, but only in the seas. Amazon stingrays belong to the class of cartilaginous fish, to the order Stingrays, to the family of river stingrays.

Kandiru, or carnero - tiny, worm-like. Its length is 7-15 centimeters, and its thickness is only a few millimeters (in addition to that, it is also half transparent). In the blink of an eye, the candiru climbs into the natural openings on the body of a bathing person and bites into their walls from the inside. It is impossible to remove it without surgery.
The author of the book "In the Amazon Jungle" Elgot Landge, who lived twelve, full of adventures, months in the Amazon forests, says that the forest inhabitants, out of fear of the candiru, became accustomed to bathing only in special baths. They build a boardwalk low above the water. A window is cut in the middle - through it the bather scoops up water with a nut shell and, after carefully examining it, pours it on himself.
Tropical fish - the common Vandellia or Candiru (Latin Vandellia cirrhosa), (English Candiru) lives in the Amazon basin and terrifies the local population. This is a small catfish, although some species reach 15 cm.

Aspred catfish They live only in the Amazon, preferring brackish water near the mouth. Externally, the catfish resembles a tadpole - a wide head devoid of gill covers, a wide and flat chest and a long thin body. Aspredo are very caring parents - after fertilization, the female literally rubs the eggs into her belly. The eggs adhere to the spongy skin, and then grow into it and feed, connecting with the mother’s blood vessels. Having hatched, the fry leave the mother's belly.

American scalefish(from the order of bipulmonates) - another one interesting fish Amazon basin. It lives in small swampy and drying up reservoirs of the Amazon basin and belongs to the order of the horn-toothed family of the Lepidoptera family. Lungfish are a very ancient species of fish. The first lungfish appeared about 380 million years ago and are considered the most ancient fish on the planet. For a long time, such fish were known only from fossilized remains found by archaeologists. Only in 1835 was it discovered that the Protoptera fish, which lives in African waters, is a lungfish.
In fact, six species of this group of fish have survived to this day, and the American lakefish (from the order Dipulmonata) is one of them.
Modern lungfishes are fish that live in fresh water. Main feature which is that in addition to gills, like all ordinary fish, they also have real lungs (a modified swim bladder), with the help of which they can successfully breathe atmospheric air. This is where their name comes from.
The American lepidosiren or lepidosiren is the only lungfish found in South America. The length of its body reaches 1.2 m. Lepidosirens usually live in temporary reservoirs, which are filled with water only during periods of heavy rains and floods.

There is no place like this anywhere on Earth. Here the surprising is common. Fish jump out of the water for prey, and cats swim. This place is beautiful and cruel. This - wild nature Amazons.

Amazon River Basin

Amazon river - largest river on the planet.

Her pool is natural natural environment. A tenth of all animals and plants live here. This mysterious region reveals its secrets, but the Amazon is changing rapidly and this threatens the extinction of many species. It is necessary to learn as much as possible about this amazing, unique and rich world before it is too late.

Wonderful inhabitants of the unique animal world of the Amazon River

One of higher species food chain is the jaguar. A male jaguar reaches 2 meters in length and weighs 150 kilograms. Its powerful jaws and fangs easily crush the skull of its prey. Unlike other cats, which avoid water, it has adapted to swim while hunting for prey. The jaguar is one of the top predators, but its life is not easy. Because of its fur color, it attracts the interest of hunters. In the 60s of the last century, hunters killed about 15 thousand individuals annually; today, trade in jaguar fur is prohibited, but the threat remains.

The freshwater manatee is a rare mammal found exclusively in the Amazon basin. It is curious that manatees are a subtropical species of animals and, despite their impressive size, do not have significant reserves subcutaneous fat. Therefore, they can only survive in warm water, at least 15 degrees Celsius.

Here, in a rich environment, the struggle for survival is quite brutal. Some animals adapt to get food where their rivals do not even expect. Thus, the Silver Aravana is a fish that has adapted to hunt both underwater and on the surface. As soon as Aravana notices signs of movement on the surface of the water, it jumps out to grab its prey. She can jump into the air 2 meters from the surface of the water. This gives her an undeniable advantage.

Among other amazing inhabitants great river– pink dolphins(inii). The cubs are born bluish-gray, but as they age they acquire a fantastic pink color. Adults reach almost 2 meters in length and weigh up to 250 kg. They feed on fish, and are not averse to eating piranhas. Like all dolphins, Amazonian dolphins are very intelligent, care for wounded comrades and hunt cooperatively, sometimes cooperating with other species of animals, such as giant otters, to hunt.

The tree crowns of the Amazon forest reach a height of 50 meters. Many of their inhabitants remain a mystery. But when scientists get here, they manage to discover something new. Each time they discover new species of primates. Howler monkeys are arboreal monkeys and rarely come down to the ground. They live in small close-knit groups, and the cubs are cared for not only by their natural mothers, but also by other females in the group. The basis of howler monkeys' diet is leaves.

Tapir walks along small rivers and puddles. The tapir has lived on Earth for thirty million years. Its closest relative is the mammoth. Despite the lack of explicit external resemblance, tapirs are genetically closer to mammoths than even elephants. The long, slightly downward-curving nose of the tapir is a reduced trunk, inherited from mammoths.

The Amazon basin is also home to the largest rodent on Earth - the charming capybara, better known as the capybara. The languid gaze of her almond-shaped eyes can melt any heart. The capybara's closest relatives are chinchillas and guinea pigs, with which, as befits relatives, they are very similar in habits and appearance. In essence, the capybara is guinea pig, only very big.

At the top of a very tall Deuterix tree, the largest bird on the planet, the Harpy, nests. The giant Harpy eagle can easily snatch prey right from a branch. The wingspan of this bird reaches 2 meters.

In addition to animals in this part of the planet there are also many amazing plants. For example, the Psychotria flower, its flowers resemble human lips. Or the strongest tree in the world, Quebracho.

The valuable wood of Deuterix is ​​sought after by lumberjacks. Today, almost 20% of the Amazon forests have already been cleared, which threatens the lives of not only the large Harpy birds but also all life on Earth. After all, forests are the lungs of our planet, and its destruction leads to a large amount of carbon dioxide.