Animals
Basilisk Lizard
This fascinating reptile has the ability to run on water which is the reason why it is also recognized by the name “The Jesus Lizard”. The basilisk lizards are known to spend most of their time in the trees, and also not far from a body of water so that in the case that they become threatened they can drop out of the tree and into the water to sprint using their ability to run on water. Although they are able to run on water they also possess excellent swimming skills for the moment gravity takes over and they cannot run along the surface. |
Blue Poison Dart Frog This amphibian is a colourful frog that can be spotted throughout the amazon rainforest. The colour is not only there for the appearance of the frog, the frog uses it as a warning to predators that it’s skin is very toxic and if the predators do eat them, they will become very ill. These incredibly toxic frogs are actually only poisonous caused by their diet of ants and other sorts of insects that contain toxins in their bodies. |
Bullet Ant The bullet ant will grow up to about an inch long and has a venomous sting that shoots an agonizing pain which lasts for 12-24 hours after being stung. They get get their name from the bite they possess because of the shooting pain it gives. These ants are different from other ants for they are solitary during the day although afterwards they return back to the base of a tree at their colony. |
Macaw The macaw is one of the colourful birds with vibrant plumage belonging to the parrot family. They gather in flocks of 10-30 macaws and use their powerful squawks, screams, and calls to mark their territory. These beautiful birds have the ability to easily open nuts and seeds with their strong large beaks. |
Golden Lion Tamarin These small orange-yellow monkeys have developed their name from their impressive lion-like manes. The Golden Lion Tamarin will grow up to 6-10 inches while their tail grows 12-15 inches. The way they keep their territory known by using scent marks and songs, living in groups of 2-8 in the trees. |
Predator/Prey Relationship
Jaguars are one of the many cats to eat tortoises, and they are known to use different methods to kill prey than other animals in the cat family. Instead of attacking at the spinal cord of the animal the jaguar uses its unique excellence of jaw strength to piercing the skull and kill it, which is how jaguars are able to pierce the tortoise’s shell.
Adaptations
Toucan
There are many adaptations animals have in the amazon for example the toucans have required large bill to reach which gives them the ability to collect fruit from branches that are unable to hold their weight and they can also cut the fruit off of the trees.
Sloth
Another example is the sloths. Sloths have a behavioural adaptation where they camouflage themselves into trees because they do not move quickly to escape predators, they are able to camouflage into the trees because they possess a blue-green algae grows on their fur.
Invasive Species
Deforestation
In the Amazon Rainforest, deforestation accelerated majorly between 1991 and 2004 reaching 27, 423 km² of forest loss but has been slowing down ever since. The deforestation gets rid of trees which are the habitats of many species in the rainforest leaving them without homes and without their habitats it is creating more challenges to all the animals that are fighting for territory.
Fires
The amazon rainforest has undergone many fires which like deforestation, has been a cause of loss of trees. One example is the fire in Roraima state which destroyed 3, 800 square miles of the rainforest.
|