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| There are a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians in the Amazon Rain Forest. A few of these are anacondas, many types of turtles and lizards, giant iguanas, the common constrictor, the horned palm viper, and many types of brightly colored tree frogs. Many of these are deadly and poisonous. |
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| The many poisonous frogs in the Amazon Rain Forest are called "dart poison", or "arrow poison". They earned these names from the Indians that live in the rain forest. They dipped their arrows and darts into the frog`s poison and used them for hunting. Unlike most reptiles, this poison is on the frog`s skin, not in its mouth. |
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| Other dangerous, or poisonous, animals in the Amazon Rain Forest are alligators and snakes. Some of the dangerous snakes are anacondas, pythons, and the most feared fer-de-lance. This snakes bite can be deadly. It can also reach up to seven feet long, making it look even tougher. It lives on or near the forest floor, and hides among leaves, tree roots, and buttresses. So it is very hard to see. While the fer-de-lance is known for its' poison, anacondas and pythons are known for their size. They can grow over thirty feet in length! Since they are so big, anacondas and pythons eat whatever they can wrap around and crush. Some of the animals they eat are pigs, tapirs, birds and crocodiles. Some other deadly reptiles of the Amazon are crocodiles, alligators and caimans, a close relative of the crocodile. This animal was very plentiful in the Amazon until the 1960`s, when people in England and the United States wanted its skin. After that, it became almost extinct. |
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| An interesting lizard in the Amazon Rain Forest is the basilisk. It can use its tail as a fifth leg and run with it. It also has big back feet so that it won`t sink on water. With its big feet it can run on water to escape danger or catch prey. Since this lizard can run on water, it has earned the name Jesus Christ Lizard. |
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| There are many kinds of fish in the Amazon River. A few of these are piranhas, stingrays, 500 species of catfish, electric eels that can make electric charges of several hundred volts, and the very rare pink dolphin. The river is also home to turtles that can weigh 150 pounds! Piranhas, deadly fish that swim in the Amazon River, are sometimes called the cannibal fish. Piranhas travel in schools of hundreds, and can reduce a 700 pound animal to a skeleton in a matter of minutes. |
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| These are only a few of the fish, reptiles, and amphibians in the Amazon Rain Forest and river. There are thousands of species that were not mentioned in this report. |
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| By Austin |
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