OTHER HUNTERS

One species of predator that must be included in this section is the harpy eagle. It is in fact the largest of all eagles. Its size would probably suggest it has huge feet and immense strength. In fact this eagle even feeds on large mammals such as monkeys and sloths! The harpy eagle has a length of 43 inches with white tipped black feathers. Due to its habitat, the tropical rainforest, the harpy eagle do not soar like many other eagles. This is because by soaring, it doesn’t help to spot its prey with due to the thick canopy. Instead, the harpy flies short distances from tree to tree. However it stills maintain its agility and gracefulness. Even though the harpy eagle is a huge bird, it is hardly spotted, partly due to its quiet nature. Breeding season is an exception though, because their shrills can be constantly heard through the forest.

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The tayra is a weasel-like carnivore found from Southern Mexico to Northern Argentina. It has a black or brown coat and a brown or grey head. On its next and breast is a patch of yellow fur. It body length is 27 inches together with a tail tat is 18.5 inches long. The tayra is a good climber and often feeds on eggs, birds and small mammals. Occasionally it feeds on fruit and honey. It is quite a social animal and live either in a group or in pairs.

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The coati, is also like the tayra, a small carnivorous mammal. However, it looks like a raccoon rather than a weasel. Coatis range from Southwestern United States to South America. The coati has an elongated body with a pointed muzzle. Coatis are reddish brown or black in colour with white patches on the chin and throat. The tail, like a raccoon’s is banded with dark rings. They are active during the day and feed on lizards, insects, birds, fruit and roots. Females live socially in groups of 4 to 20, while the males are solitary. During the mating season, the males join the group. During each birth, 2 to 6 youngsters are borne. Coatis build their nests on trees.

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The vampire bats of South America feeds mainly on blood from small wounds they make in other animals. They make these bites with a single bite, using their large canine and upper incisors that are razor sharp. Vampire bats can only take in liquid food, as their esophagus is very narrow. Their wingspan is 8 inches and can often be found in caves. Vampire bats often carry rabies, which they transmit from one animal to the other through their bites.

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Found in the tropical rainforest of Venezuela, northern Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname, the Goliath Bird-eater tarantula is the largest spider in the world. The largest recorded is a legspan of 12 inch. The spider is large and strong enough even to feed on frogs, toads, mice, lizards and snakes. It has been seen to eat a fer-de-lance snake, which is considered lethal to the natives. The natives of the rainforest worship and sometimes even eat these spiders. The Goliath birdeater is lives in burrows deep into the ground. When threatened, it is able to flick urticating hairs from its abdomen.

Caiman belongs to the phylum of Reptilia. It is similar to both the crocodile and the alligator in appearance and behaviour, but is more closely related to alligators. The 3 to 8 meters long caiman prefers freshwater and is usually found in the Ariau River, a tributary of the Rio Negro. They are meat eaters, and their diet consisting of fish, birds, turtle, mammals and reptiles.  They swim by propelling themselves using their tails and webbed feet.  

Emerald Tree Boa is a kind of well-camouflaged, non-poisonous snake living almost entirely in the trees. It usually grabs its prey by remaining quiet and inconspicuous to wait for potential victims to come close and then strikes out and catches it suddenly. It has heat sensors on top of its lips to help locate its prey.  The boa’s diet usually consists of small birds, but it also kills small rodents, such as mice or young agoutis, lizards, other snakes, etc.

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