Welcome to the Amazon. Enjoy your stay!
Learn more about:
Geography
History
Climate
Flora
Fauna
diversity
forest
water
problems
Culture
The
River
Pollution
Deforestation
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| Fauna - Life in the
Water |
Life in the water is pretty
similar to life on land. Water bodies are their own ecosystems and, like in the forest,
animals must compete with each other to survive. However, different types of animals will
be seen at different types of water bodies. Along the Amazon River and its tributaries
exist many types of fish including the infamous piranhas. These rivers carry many
freshwater fish because all the water that the rivers drain from the Amazon Basin are
carrying rainwater. These fish are targets or many animals such as hawks, anacondas,
dolphins, otters, alligators (caiman), and piranhas.
Although the Amazon River is known notoriously for its piranhas, there are other dangers
that lurk in the river and its tributaries. Snakes such as the anaconda can grow to
be very large and are capable of suffocating victims as large as human and swallowing them
whole. Another hazard in the waters is a small catfish called candiru. These fish are
about 2 cm long and are the only vertebrate parasites. They can attack other fish, mammals
such as dolphins, manatees, and humans, and other animals. Frogs exist along the banks of
freshwater lakes. Many of these frogs are poisonous and are capable of crippling even the
largest animals.
Besides fish, snakes, and amphibians, mammals exist in the water too. Pink dolphins are
known to scour the Amazon River looking for food. Otters live more closer to slow moving
rives and manatees (sea cows) live in open lakes in groups looking for vegetation to feed
on. |
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