Animals on the banks of the Amazon. The most dangerous river in the world. Animal world of the Amazon

River in South America. It is formed by the confluence of the Maranion and Ucayali rivers. The length from the source of the Maranion River is 6992.06 km, from the source of the Apachet River - about 7000 km, from the source of Ucayali over 7000 km. The Amazon, with its longest source, claims, along with the Nile, the status of the longest watercourse in the world, and is also the world's largest river in terms of basin area and full flow.

Length - 6,992 km
Basin area - 7,180,000 km²
They flow - Madeira, Marañon, Ucayali, Rio Negro, Xingu, Jurua, Solimões, Putumayo, Napo, Trombetas
Mouth - Atlantic Ocean

The Amazon Basin covers more than 7 million square kilometers and extends in the north from the headwaters of the Orinoco and the lands of Guyana to the edge of Mato Grosso in the south. This unique world called "Amazonia". There are exceptionally diverse animals and vegetable world. This habitat habitats of many amazing aquarium fish, and for the life of many of them, not so much large rivers are important as a great many small reservoirs - oxbow lakes, ponds and streams located in this amazing region.

According to various experts, there are from 2,500 to 4,000 species of fish in the Amazon River basin. These waters can rightly be called the kingdom of catfish; according to the most conservative estimates, there are more than 1,500 species of them - from 3-centimeter crumbs, see aquariumax.ru, to multi-meter giants.

Amazonia is a real Mecca for aquarists. The vast territory of the region, a variety of hydrochemical parameters of water, stable heat led to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna.

Animal world Amazons
The Amazon is home to a huge number of fish and other river inhabitants. Especially dangerous are the bull shark, which weighs more than 300 kilograms and reaches three meters in length, as well as piranhas. These toothy fish in just a few seconds before the skeleton can gnaw a whole horse.

But they are not the bosses in the Amazon, because caimans are a danger to all living things. This is a special kind of alligator.

Among the friendly inhabitants of the dangerous turbulent river, one can single out dolphins and beautiful ornamental fish (guppies, angelfish, swordtails), of which there are countless - more than 2500 thousand! One of the last on the planet lungfish protopters found their home in the waters of the Amazon.

Here you can see the rare arowan. This is a meter-long fish that can jump high above the water and swallow huge bugs on the fly.

There are many types of fish in the Amazon, similar to our catfish.

These are piraiba, kashara, jau, pirarara.
Like all catfish, they are caught on bottom gear, using various baits or live bait for bait.
Resembling a cross between catfish and perch, the red-tailed pirarara with a yellow stripe along its belly reaches fifty kilograms of weight.
Zhau, very similar to our catfish, also comes across a centner in weight.
Piraiba, reminiscent of outlines and characteristic dorsal fin sturgeon, grows up to one and a half hundred kilograms.

Dorado
Dorado will become a special fish for a spinner in the Amazon.
Glittering with yellow scales, like an outlandish living gold ingot, this strong predator is a worthy reward for a fisherman.
The habits of dorado are similar to our asp. The predator breaks into the flock peaceful fish and commits robbery.
The “cauldron” formed on the surface of the water serves as a target for throwing a spinner.
As a rule, the grip of a huge powerful fish follows almost immediately. But the result depends on the strength of the gear.
Very often, a thick fishing line or braid does not withstand pressure, and the dorado remains in its native element.
Fish growing up to a meter long - worthy opponent any spinner.

Paco
Often the prey of the fisherman will be pako - a fish that looks like the famous piranha, but differs in its teeth.
Paco's teeth are remarkably human-like.
A row of wide and tightly fitted one to the other - a complete likeness of a human jaw.
Paco grows larger than piranha and also reaches a meter.

Dangerous fish living in the Amazon

Piranha
This gluttonous and bloodthirsty fish belongs to the cyprinid species of the Pyrinidae family. Piranha sizes rarely exceed 30 cm. However, these medium-sized fish can sometimes be more dangerous than a huge caiman or giant anaconda.

electric eel
However, not only the sharp spikes of the stingray and the teeth of the piranha lie in wait for the fisherman or traveler in the waters of the Amazon. Very in an unusual way defense and attack owns electric eel. In the body of an eel there is a special organ "battery" capable of generating electricity. In the back of the body of the eel is the negative part of the charge, and in the front is positive. This fish also has another weak electrical organ that sends out weak discharges that help the fish navigate and identify prey or danger. Then he uses a powerful discharge to silence the victim or scare the enemy away. If an eel is 1 meter long, the electric shock it gives out can be about 650 volts.

Stingray
The danger of this fish lies in its tail equipped with a poisonous spike. This fish can often lie on the bottom under a thin layer of sand, waiting for prey. If it is disturbed by a person or a large animal, then the fish beats with its tail armed with a poisonous spike and the poison from it penetrates the wound, bringing great suffering to the victim.

vampire fish
This fish belongs to the mackerel fish family, lives in the rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is believed because of its impressive sharp teeth, reaching a length of 15 cm, dangerous predator capable of inflicting serious injury to a person or animal.

Amazon is the most big river on planet Earth, its waters and coastal areas are home to a huge number of different animals. There are both small and beautiful birds, and deadly snakes, wild cats. Some animals are dangerous to humans, but get along well with each other. We present you the ten most common and terrifying animals of the Amazon.

Jaguar

piranhas

Spotted dart frog

electric eel

bull shark

Anaconda

black caiman

Arapaima

brazilian otter

The Amazon rainforest is a vast ecosystem that is home to such strange and amazing creatures like the jaguar, poison dart frogs and basilisks. However, the forest is not only the habitat of those creatures that prowl, run or crawl in its wilds. In the depths of the Amazon River, the largest river in the world, live so amazing and scary creatures that, by comparison, Jaws feels like a pleasant and relaxing swim in the ocean.

10. Black Caiman

Basically, the black caiman is an alligator on steroids. Black caimans can grow up to six meters in length, have larger and heavier skulls than Nile crocodiles, and are top predators in the waters of the Amazon River. This means they are basically kings of the river, eating anything they can get their hands on, including piranhas, monkeys, freshwater perches, deer and anacondas.

Oh yes, it is worth noting that they readily attack people. In 2010, a biologist named Deise Nishimura was attacked by a black caiman while she was cleaning fish in her houseboat. Despite the fact that she managed to fight him off, the black caiman took one of her legs with him. This caiman lived under her houseboat for eight months, apparently waiting for a convenient opportunity to attack.

9. Anaconda (Green Anaconda)


Continuing the theme of giant reptiles, we present to your attention the most large snake in the world, living in the Amazon River - anaconda. While reticulated pythons can be longer in length, anacondas are much heavier. Female anacondas are usually larger than males and can weigh up to 250 kilograms. The body length of the anaconda can be about 9 meters, and the body diameter can reach 30 centimeters. They are not venomous, but use their formidable muscular strength to constrict and suffocate their prey, which include capybaras, deer, caimans, and even jaguars. Preferring shallow waters that allow them to sneak up on their prey, they tend not to live in the Amazon River itself, but in its branches.

8. Arapaima


Arapaima, also known as puraruku or paiche, is a giant predatory fish that lives in the Amazon and adjacent lakes. Equipped with armored scales, they swim without much fear in piranha-infested waters, and are themselves quite effective predators, feeding on fish and the occasional bird. Arapaima prefer to stay close to the surface, because in addition to the oxygen they get from the water through their gills, they still need to take breaths of air when rising to the surface of the water. Appearing on the surface, they make a characteristic sound, similar to a cough. Their body length can reach 2.7 meters, and weight 90 kilograms. These fish are so ferocious that they even have teeth on their tongues.

7. Brazilian otter (Giant Otter)


Brazilian otters are the largest freshwater otters. Brazilian otters have the longest body length of the mustelid family, and adult males can grow up to two meters when measured from head to tail. Their diet mainly consists of fish and crabs, which they hunt in family groups of three to eight individuals. They can eat up to four kilograms of seafood per day. However, many people find them cute, but don't let their cuteness fool you, they're just as harmless as the other creatures on this list. There have been cases where groups of Brazilian otters have killed and eaten adult anacondas. They can also kill the caiman with ease. During the observation of one of the groups of Brazilian otters, it was noticed that they killed and ate a one and a half meter caiman in 45 minutes. Although their numbers are declining rapidly, in particular due to human interference, they are considered among the most strong predators the Amazon rainforest, hence their unofficial nickname "river wolves".

5 Bull Sharks


Although bull sharks tend to live in salty waters ocean, they feel great in fresh waters. There were cases when they swam so far along the Amazon River that they were seen in the city of Iquitos (Iquitos) in Peru, almost 4,000 kilometers from the sea. Their specific kidneys sense changes in salt levels in the water and adapt accordingly. And you definitely wouldn't want to meet one of them in the river. These sharks often grow up to 3.3 meters in length, and the weight of especially large individuals caught by fishermen reached 312 kilograms. Like other sharks, bull sharks have several rows of sharp, triangular teeth and incredibly strong jaws, providing a bite force of 589 kilograms. They are also not averse to eating humans, and it is this type of shark that most often attacks people (second and third places are occupied by tiger and great white sharks, respectively). The above characteristics, combined with the fact that these sharks prefer to live near densely populated areas, have led to the fact that many experts consider them to be the most dangerous sharks in the world.

4 Electric Eels


Electric eels are actually more closely related to catfish than to other eels, but you probably don't want to get close enough to see for yourself. They grow up to 2.5 meters in length and can generate electrical discharges with the help of special electrical organs located along their sides. These discharges can reach 600 volts, five times the power of an average American outlet, and enough to knock a horse down. Although a single shock is not enough to kill a healthy adult, repeated shocks can lead to heart or respiratory failure, and cases of people losing consciousness and drowning after the attack electric eel are not so rare. Many of the reported disappearances near the Amazon River have been linked to eel attacks that stunned people with electricity and left them drowning in the river's waters. Luckily for our species, although eels are carnivores, they tend to eat a diet of fish, amphibians, birds, and small mammals. They detect prey by sending out small, 10-volt shocks with their electrical organs, and when they find it, they kill it by releasing strong shocks.

3 Common Piranhas (Red-Bellied Piranhas)


The quintessential horror of the Amazon River, so frightening that it inspired a number of controversial Hollywood films, the common piranha is actually a scavenger first and foremost. However, this does not mean that piranhas do not attack healthy creatures. They can grow up to 30 centimeters in length and usually swim in large groups, so they pose a significant threat to most animals. Like all types of piranhas, common piranhas have incredibly sharp teeth that are arranged in a row on the top and mandible these fish. These teeth interlock completely, making them the ideal tool for ripping and tearing the victim's flesh. Their intimidating reputation mainly comes from "fever-eating", when a whole group of piranhas surround an unfortunate victim and eat their flesh to the bone in a few minutes. Such attacks are usually the result of a long hunger or provocation.

2. Mackerel Hydrolic (Payara / Vampire Fish)


Despite their diminutive name, hydrolic mackerels are ferocious predators capable of catching and devouring fish half their size. own body. Given that their body length can reach 1.2 meters, this is quite an impressive feat. Most of their diet consists of piranhas, which should give you some idea of ​​just how ferocious these fanged fiends can be. From their lower jaw grow two fangs that can grow up to 15 centimeters in length. They use these fangs to literally impale a victim on them after they rush at it. In fact, their fangs are so big that they have special holes in their upper jaw to prevent them from piercing themselves with their fangs.

1. Brown pacu (Pacu)


One creature that lives in the Amazon River is much scarier for men than for women. The brown pacu is a much larger relative of the piranha, well known for its distinctive human-like teeth. Unlike many of the other creatures on this list, pacu are actually omnivores and most of their diet consists of fruits and nuts. Unfortunately, for some pacu, "nuts" are not just things that fall from trees. Yes, you understood correctly. There have been several cases of pacu being bitten off the testicles of male swimmers. In Papua New Guinea, several men have died after a pacu mistook their genitals for easy prey. Oh yeah, don't worry if you can't get to the Amazon to see these male-defying monsters - they've already begun to spread across Europe.

In South America, spread over nine countries, is the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world. It covers an area of ​​55 square kilometers and contains many types of biodiversity, including species that have not yet been fully explored. The Amazon River, which flows through the forest, supports a thriving animal and plant life. These forests are known as the "lungs of the earth" because they absorb the largest number carbon dioxide on earth and release oxygen. These forests are also home to some of the most dangerous animals known to man. Here is our list of the 15 most dangerous animals rainforest 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 crawling up to it from under the water and then crushing it with its powerful jaws. He then drags the catch underwater until it suffocates. It kills all animals ranging from small fish, otters, dogs and deer to jaguars and other caimans. Caimans can grow up to 6 meters in length. The body of the black caiman is covered in 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 conventional plug-in point. This makes it one of the . It uses this electricity to shock and immobilize its prey before eating them whole. It also releases electricity as a defense method to scare away an attacker. People are usually attacked by an eel if it is 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 spot on this list of the ten most dangerous animals in the Amazon rainforest. The species has about 6,000 cells for producing electrocytes, and can generate 600 volts of power, which is about 5 times stronger than the electricity generated in a standard outlet. The shock is capable of instantly knocking a horse down. He is able to kill a person in two or three blows, but people very often come into contact with eels. The species can live 15 years in wild nature and 22 years in captivity.
This large cat is from South America is the main predator of the region. Jaguar lives alone large territories, similar to leopards or tigers in India, and preys on small land animals. He rarely interacts with people, and when he does, it's usually because he's 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 tortoise shells and human skulls. 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 they can catch. Jaguars are solitary animals that like to live and hunt alone, however, this does not apply during mating season.
The red-bellied piranha, the most dangerous of all species, is a scavenger and usually eats dead animals. It has only been known to attack live animals if it feels threatened or if there is little food in the area. Humans have been attacked by piranhas, but these attacks do not result in death, only injury due to the sharp teeth of the fish. Piranhas are cannibalistic and have been 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 a silver hook. The jawbone of a piranha is the strongest and is able to crush a human hand in 5-10 seconds. Locals 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 animal of the Amazon rainforest is a brightly colored frog that secretes poison from glands on its skin. This poison is highly toxic and causes heart failure if ingested in large amounts. The golden poison dart frog is a rare species, but because it can kill twenty adults. It is known that some tribes in tropical forests The Amazons use the frog's venom to coat the tip of their arrows used to hunt other animals. Due to the depletion of tropical forests poison frogs are endangered and the blue poison dart frog is endangered due to its popularity in the animal market.
This shark is one of the three most dangerous species sharks and often attacks people who violate its territory. She lives in muddy waters rivers and hunts other aquatic animals such as fish, dolphins, snakes. Since it swims in shallow, muddy water, people cannot see it, and if they get too close, the shark will attack them. A shark bite can be fatal because it pulls its victims into the water and they either drown or die due to blood loss. The species can grow up to 2.1 meters in length, however, females have been seen growing an average of 2.4 meters in length and weighing 130 kg. Males are smaller compared to females and weigh about 94 kg. They are one of the shark species that can grow in both salt 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, which is why they often come into contact with humans. Also, female bull sharks prefer to give birth in shallow water because this will prevent larger sharks from eating their young.
One of the most big snakes in the world, the green anaconda can grow up to 9 meters in length - twice more giraffe. They live in the water and can silently sneak up on prey and hit it with force, squeezing it with their powerful body until it suffocates and dies. They then swallow the prey whole. They usually hunt wild boars, deer, capybaras, and sometimes on jaguars and humans. You can also read about the most. Anaconda non-venomous snake. They spend most of their time alone, however males seek females to mate between April and May. Sometimes several species of male green anacondas chase the same female. This phenomenon is known as "breeding balls" where dozens of males are wrapped around one female and they all try to mate. Sometimes green anacondas are engaged when female green anacondas eat smaller males.
This animal is not in vain on the list, because the spider has one of the deadliest poisons in the world. It is a ground spider that hunts at night. It can sting people who risk getting too close, and the venom causes severe pain and can eventually cause paralysis. The spider with the deadliest venom in the world is spread all over the jungle. However, in daytime they hide under rocks and in crevices, in places that are dark and damp. Also, they are mostly seen where people have untouched items, clothes they don't wear, 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 that region 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 venomous, 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. In this species powerful jaws, which can very easily bite through the skin and inject a very painful poison. Speaking of appearance, the whole 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 widely distributed throughout South America and on several islands. Caribbean. 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 and can kill small animals. These ants hunt in groups and can paralyze or kill large animals with many bites. For humans, the bite is not fatal, 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 vipers were mainly seen off the coast of the state of São Paulo, in Brazil. It can be recognized by the light yellowish brown color of its underside and the head shape characteristic of the genus Bothrops. The species can grow to a length of 70 cm, however, it can also sometimes reach 118 cm. Various color combinations exist, such as a pale buff ground color that is overlaid with a series of spots that can be triangular or quadrangular.
It is the most powerful predator found in the Amazon rainforest and also one of the largest existing species eagles in the world. This species is mainly found in the tropical lowland rainforests of Central America. Also in Brazil, the harpy eagle is also known as the royal hawk. The harpy eagle is national bird Panama and 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 during the early nights. The only bat species that can "adopt" another young bat if something happens to her mother.

1. Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)
It is very unlikely that you will catch this specimen of fish, but there is always a chance. Arapaima, also known as pirakuchu or paixe, is a huge carnivorous fish that can be found in the Amazon River and its surrounding lakes. Fortunately, this prehistoric giant fish prefers to prey on other fish and birds rather than humans, and is such an efficient predator that it 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 largest in the world freshwater fish.

2. Tambaki (Colossoma macropomum)
Also known as paku, tambaki are the seeds and fruits that this fish feeds on. 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 feed on the seeds of the rubber tree and are commonly found in the waters near Manaus in Brazil.

4. Red Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Possibly the most famous and most dangerous sea ​​creature Amazons, the pot-bellied piranha has been depicted everywhere as one of the most dangerous fish in the popular Amazon River, this is actually not the case. The fish are mainly scavengers that can grow up to 30 centimeters in length. Hollywood movies show that they eat their prey to the bone in a matter of minutes, in fact, this is quite a rare event and usually occurs only 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 "Plek", various varieties of armored catfish can be found in the Amazon region. The fish can eat wood, but they cannot digest it and excrete undigested pieces of wood as waste.

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

7. Pancake stingrays
Fish literally resembling pancakes. This species was discovered in 2012 in Rio Nanai near Iquitos, Peru. It is known that freshwater stingrays grow up to about 450 kilograms and have over 40 different species, many of which are constantly found in the Amazon River.

8. Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
Traditionally sea ​​fish, otherwise called Bull Shark, has adapted to freshwater and is most often found in Brazil due to its proximity to the ocean. These smart creatures have developed special osmoregulatory buds that allow them to change the salinity of the water where they live. Their kidneys basically process the vital salts they need throughout their body, allowing them to constantly move to 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 for being an extremely aggressive type of fish (and looking like a vampire!). Vampire fish are most commonly found in fast moving water and rapids, which tends to make them harder to spot. Fierce predators can eat fish that are half their own body size, which are usually about one meter long and weigh about 18 kilograms. Its striking feature is its two front fangs.

10. Peacock bass or Tucunar Peacock Bass (Cichla Temensis)
Tucunar Peacock Bass is native to the Rio Negro, Watuma, and Orinocoin basins of northern South America. This special kind Basa 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 basses are most commonly found in rapids and in still waters co medium depth. They only eat small fish, especially filamentous shad, mosquitoes, tilapia and blue fungus.