Animals
The amazing animal world of the Amazon
Not only is the river amazing, but its unique flora and fauna, too. The territory with a dense net of bends, curves, and oxbows together with climate changes (from tropical showers to ardent heat) creates a perfect environment for the most diverse and colorful ichthyofauna on Earth. Ichthyologists have numbered about 2,500 species of fish, which is one third of the entire variety of our freshwater fish kingdom. One of the factors producing such diversity is the difference in the chemical composition of water in the numerous rivers that head from the areas with very distinct conditions. They vary in chemical composition: some of them are less or more acidic; some are pure and crystal clear, and some, on the contrary, are completely turbid.
Among the most extraordinary species of the Amazon are arapaima, one of the world’s largest freshwater fish that is 5 meters (16 ft) long and can weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 lb); an electric eel that grows up to 2 meters (6 ft) and can knock a person off his feet with a 300 V shock; huge river skate with deadly spike on its tail; dangerous river shark and the notorious small piranha that terrifies the locals who often say that one big alligator is not as bad as three little piranhas. Indeed, the piranha can sense their prey from a long distance, oriented by water flow; and the shoal of these fish with their razor-sharp teeth can turn a large animal into a skeleton just in a matter of minutes.
However, the most famous species found in the Amazon’s waters is a gigantic river boa that can sometimes reach the length of 12 meters (40ft). Its standard prey includes tapirs’ cubs and little wild hogs (peccary), but unwary hunters and even jaguars, the most dangerous predators of the Amazon, can be also “crushed” by its strangle while crossing the river.
There Amazon is also a home to quite a number of animals that have placed themselves on record. Fore example, the giant capybara, an animal from rodent family but reaching the size of a large dog. Besides, there are tiny marmosets, the smallest monkeys that weigh less than 100 grams (3.5 oz). Of note are the howler monkeys, which make the selva resound with their morning and evening choruses that would overtop the roars of a lion or a tiger. And, of course, let’s not forget about the tiny and colorful hummingbirds that rather resemble sparkling gemstones scattered over the forest’s green than bird species.
But beyond all doubt, the most extraordinary and fascinating mammal of the Amazon River recently found in its tributaries is the pink dolphin.
Plant life of Amazonia
Plant life of Amazonia is equally complex and diverse. Here you will find the papaya with its delicious fruit; varied palm trees; trees that are valued for their beautiful wood; chinchona tree and its precious rind; or hevea, the major source of rubber in the modern world. On the mirror-like surface of the tranquil oxbow lakes and bayous of the countless arms of the Amazon River you can see the biggest water lily on the planet, Victoria regia. Its leaves, up to 1.5 meters (5 ft) long, are similar to a huge green pan that can hold the weight of a 12-year-old.
The Amazon River Basin is called “the green lungs of the planet” for a reason; these vast tropical rainforests are the main producer of the world’s amount of oxygen. Unfortunately, the civilization is actively moving further into the Amazonian selva, and the extent of such invasion is terrifying: 4 square kilometers (14 square miles) of the Amazonian jungles disappear every hour; moreover, the speed of the land reclamation accelerates within each year.
Anaconda
The anaconda is appalling on its own. Just picture a giant snake with thick body that reaches 11 meters (36 ft). The dreadful scene eliminates any desire to meet anaconda in the jungles. But to tell the truth, the stories about its cruelty are a little exaggerated. There have been cases when anaconda killed people but the human deaths from this snake are less frequent than those from other species.
The largest snake on the planet is found in tropical South America and Trinidad. Among its favorite places are rivers, oxbows, lakes and marsh areas of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers.
The olive-colored snake has alternating oval-shaped black spots and light spots encircled in the black lines on the sides. The irises are dark and nearly invisible. Such camouflage helps anacondas to hide in the water undetected. Their main weapons are stealth and the element of surprise. Anacondas are much more likely to eat fish, various mammals that come to the water, aquatic birds, and occasionally turtles and caimans. A 5-meter Anaconda was known for killing and eating a 2.5 meter python; the whole process took only 45 minutes.
Anacondas are rather slow-moving snakes. They spend most of their time underwater, sticking their head out on the surface now and then to look for the prey. Mostly they just swim along with the current looking for the shoals of fish
Sometimes they start hunting poultry and domestic animals, especially chickens, ducks and pigs.
Occasionally anaconda gets out of the water to lie on the old tree trunks, stones and hot sand, luxuriating in the sunshine. But it never goes too far from the water. Anaconda is a great swimmer and diver; besides, it can stay underwater for a long period of time. During the drought period anaconda burrows into silt and remains motionless until the rain season starts or till the basin is filled with water again.
Anaconda is a live-bearing animal; at a time a female gives birth up to 30 babies, although only a small part of them survives. When not in captivity, little anacondas get into the water as soon as they are born but they keep together for quite a long period of time.
Anacondas are short livers, about 5-7 years, but in captivity they can live up to 20 years.
Local people hardly are afraid of anacondas but yet take heed when near them and try to bother the enormous reptiles as little as possible. Nevertheless, there have been single cases when people were attacked by these snakes.
There was an incident when anaconda swallowed a 13-year-old boy. He went to the forest with his father to pick some wild fruit. They got out of the boat on the sandy beach. The father went into the jungles while the boy stayed near the boat. At that moment a huge anaconda coiled her large, powerful body around the boy’s body. When the father ran back on hearing his son’s screaming he found nobody. The next day people found the remains of the boy in the bushes; anaconda didn’t digest them and spat out.
In 1983 in Morocco there was a dreadful anaconda’s attack on the villagers. One Amerindian from the mission took his wife to the bird hunting along the river. He shot a duck, and it fell on the beach. Hurrying to get it, the hunter was abruptly captured by a large anaconda. Being unarmed, he shouted to his wife so she would fetch a big knife. Just as the woman approached him, the snake got hold of her, too. Fortunately, the Amerindian managed to free his hand and stab a snake several times. Weakened anaconda eventually released the people and crept away.
Anaconda doesn’t eat humans’ meat, so people don’t interest it as a potential meal. All the cases of attacks happened only because the snake got mistaken. When a person is in water, for example, anaconda can only see his legs and can take him for an animal. In most cases, even if it swallows a human, it will not digest him and will spit him out after a while. Anaconda might also attack if it thinks that it’s being threatened or its prey might be taken away.
There is no need to have a panic fear of these big snakes, but, like aborigines, you should treat them with respect and cautiousness.
About jaguar
This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it is usually larger and of sturdier build and its behavioral and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the tiger. For example, climbing the trees and swimming are not the problem for this animal, although jaguar prefers hunting on the ground. It has a big head with strong jaws and huge paws. Jaguar can be easily taken for leopard. The two animals can be distinguished by their rosettes: the rosettes on a jaguar's coat are larger, fewer in number, usually darker, and have thicker lines and small spots in the middle that the leopard lacks. Jaguar is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming. Jaguar likes to lie on a floating log and sometimes forgets that the current can lead it into the ocean.
Jaguar is hard to spot but much easier to hear. He roars like lion and can rumble and purr. Its voice can sound like hoarse barking cough or like a noise of the tree that is being sawed up. It is still unclear what each of these sounds means. Jaguar’s meowing is associated with love play. Broken, synchronized with breathing snarl indicates a territorial argument. Jaguar is a real warrior. Nothing is saved from its strong jaws, large leaps, heavy weight and exceptionally powerful fangs and claws. Jaguar can take down a prey that weighs 250-300 kilograms (550-660 lb). A wonderful sight and exceptional hearing are good bonuses to the qualities mentioned above.
A short and stocky limb structure makes the jaguar adept at climbing, crawling and swimming. The head is robust and the jaw extremely powerful, which brings it closer to the tiger, rather than a leopard; although jaguar’s coat resembles the latter. The length of the animal can be up to 1.85 meters (5.3–6 ft); its tail may add a further 75 centimeters (30 inches). It stands about 68–76 centimeters (27–30 inches) tall at the shoulders. The weight can be up to 160 kilograms (350 lb). Females are typically 20% smaller than males. Typical lifespan in the wild is estimated at around 10 years; in captivity, the jaguar lives up to 25 years. 50% of deaths occur till the age of 2.
Subspecies
Panthera onca onca, can be found in the rainforests of the Amazon;
Panthera onca arizonensis, in Mexico;
Panthera onca centralis, in Central America;
Panthera onca goldmani, in Mexico and Belize;
Panthera onca hernandesii, in Mexico;
Panthera onca palustris, in South Brazil;
Panthera onca paraguensis, in Paraguay;
Panthera onca peruvianus, in Peru and Ecuador;
Panthera onca veracrucis, in Texas.
Recent studies have also failed to find evidence for well defined subspecies. Earlier eight subspecies were recognized based on their size. The smallest jaguars are found in Honduras and Guatemala; the biggest ones are in Brazil in the region of Mato Grosso (state on the border with Bolivia); what’s more, the length of the cat varies from 1.6 to 2.4 meters (5.3–8 ft), one third of the overall length is tail. The base coat of the jaguar is generally a tawny yellow, but can range to reddish-brown and black. The cat is covered in rosettes for camouflage in its jungle habitat. The spots vary over individual coats and between individual jaguars: rosettes may include one or several dots, and the shape of the dots varies. The spots on the head and neck are generally solid, as are those on the tail, where they may merge to form a band. The underbelly, throat and outer surface of the legs and lower flanks are white. The jaguar has rounded ears, almost black, with the yellow spot in the center. A condition known as melanism occurs in the species. Jaguars with melanism appear entirely black, like panthers, although the size detects their species.
The gestation period lasts 13 weeks; females give birth to one or up to four cubs. The coat of the cub is alike their parents’ but the color is less bright and glossy; the spots are solid black.
The jaguar can often be seen in the zoos. If trained while they’re little, jaguars can be more or less domesticated.
The habitat
Currently jaguar’s habitat is on the latitude 35°N, although this number is rather notional since the jaguar has been nearly extinct in the US states of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas all the way to the latitude 40°S (Chile and Argentina), i.e. its present range is smaller than that of a puma.
The jaguars are found in dry grassland terrain, open woodland and swamp forests (where they often get rickets due to the dampness). Their present range extends from Mexico to Argentina. Their habitat is wet rainforests and scrubs that can reach up to 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) high.
Hunting
The jaguar is not afraid of water; on the contrary, it likes water and is a good swimmer. That’s why the water and lake animals, such as capybaras, turtles and fish often end up being jaguar’s meal. It is especially skilled at catching fish, which it does by flipping the fish out onto the riverbank with its paw. People have witnessed how the jaguar caught fish with its huge paws right out of the water. The diet of this cat includes a large variety of species, even tapirs. This natural-born predator can get monkeys on the very tops of the trees or when they come to the watering place. The jaguar is active both during the day and night but the peak activity is around twilight. They often burry their prey first, and then come back and eat it.
Even though there are many stories about jaguar’s uncontrollable thirst of killing, they often appear to be just stories. The jaguar is not as terrifying as it is presented and the “natural-born killer” would better suit a man himself.
Hunting jaguar is strictly prohibited everywhere except for French Guiana that keeps ignoring the convention on protecting the endangered species!