South America Animals of the Amazon Capybara Capybara

South America: Animals of the Amazon

Capybara

Capybara Largest member of the rodent family Live 8 – 10 years (12 in captivity) Herbivore 4 toes on its front feet, 3 toes on its hind feet Partially webbed feet for swimming Active in the morning and evening, rest during the day Runs like a horse, swims when threatened Low clicking sounds, whistles, grunts and weak barks.

Caiman

Caiman Swim well Nocturnal (hunt at night) Eat insects, crustaceans and mollusks when young As adults they eat fish, amphibians, reptiles, water birds and even mammals They sometimes eat other caimans. During the dry season they feed less. Smaller than the American Alligator and freshwater crocodile.

Squirrel Monkey

Squirrel Monkey Facts 10 to 14 inches, females smaller than male Similar in size to a squirrel Muscular legs to jump from tree to tree in a forest Live near rivers, prefer rainforests, middle canopy Eat insects, small birds, spiders, birds eggs, nuts, fruits, vegetables, berries, frogs, and other small animals Live in groups of 12 – 100 Live up to 20 years Urinate on hands and feet to mark territory

Howler Monkey

Howler Monkey Facts Calls can be heard 3 – 4 miles away Live in tropical forests Live in groups of about 12 Dominant male uses loud call to keep the group spaced out so they are not competing for food Male Howler monkeys are black while females are brown Herbivore, eats leaves, fruits and flowers. Sleep 15 hours a day Spend time in the canopy

Macaw

Macaw Facts Largest bird from tropical region Eat fruit, nuts, plants, insects and snails Eats red clay on the river banks, maybe to detoxify poisons from plants May mimic human speech Stays with mate for life

Jaguar

Jaguar Facts Largest cat and predator in the Western Hemisphere Lean, muscular body allows it to swim, climb and crawl They have reflecting eyes, thought to connect them to the spirit world Strong and agile Eat peccaries, caiman and deer

Rhino Beetle

Rhino Beetle Facts Start as larva and eat compost or rotting wood Called the world’s strongest animal because it can carry 850 times its own weight 300 types of Rhino Beetles The horn is used to fight off other males from feeding sites, not for defense against predators Its defense is its large size

Anaconda

Anaconda The heaviest snake in the world As long as a school bus Nocturnal Sunbathe in trees or shallows Hunt alone at the water’s edge. They wait for the prey to drink and then pull them underwater to drown them. Eat fish, reptiles, deer, peccaries and rodents

Piranha

Piranha Natives swim with them although it is not recommended to swim with an open wound because they can detect blood in small amounts Carnivorous, freshwater fish Live in the Amazonian, Guianas and Paraguayan river systems. They are known for their sharp teeth and aggressive appetite for meat.

Golden Lion Tamarin

Golden Lion Tamarin A Golden Lion Tamarin is a small monkey. Covered with orange fur Not a relative of the lion Lives in trees Omnivore – eats fruit, insects, and some small lizards and birds Predators are wild cats, birds of prey, and snakes

Harpy Eagle Carnivore – eats monkeys, sloths, iguanas, snakes Live in tropical rainforests at an average altitude of 3, 000 feet Nests in trees like kapok and Brazil nut trees A female lays 2 eggs Predators are jaguars and ocelots

Amazon Pink River Dolphin Lives in the fresh water of the Amazon River Color: pink, pale blue, or albino white Use echolocation to find their way (not eyes) Eat crabs, catfish, shellfish, crustaceans, small river fish and turtles Can move head 180 degrees Often swim upside down

Poison Dart Frog Found in trees and under leaves, logs, and rocks Warn predators with brilliant colors and patterns Eat invertebrates like ants which build up really strong poisons in the frogs Hunters tip arrows in the frog’s poison At risk due to deforestation

Sloth Live high up in rain forest trees Very slow-moving Spend most of life hanging upside down from tree branches Size of cat with thick brown fur Fur is coated with green algae for camouflage Herbivores – eat a variety of plants Low metabolism, low body temperature to keep food and water needs to a minimum

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