The Amazon river basin and surrounding rain forest encompasses more than 1/3 of the entire world's wildlife.

The enormous tropical forest and 2nd longest river on the planet cover an area exceeding 5,400,000 km2!!

The Amazon's rain forest has the richest biodiversity, while the river system is home to over 2,100 fish species...with more being discovered every year!

Illegal gold mining and deforestation are two destructive practices threatening the Amazon. This vast area is home to numerous native communities that rely on their surrounding environment to survive.

A true wonder of the world, the Amazon rain forest and river basin require protection, restoration, and conservation action in order to withstand aggressive human exploitation.

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The ecology and adaptations of the wildlife in the forest

Dec 1, 2011

"The Amazonas area is filled with all different types of fauna and flora. They have evolved over a very long time, continually competing for their position in the jungle and river."

The adaptations of the wildlife are amazing. It is like they have been competing for so long that their adaptations are getting better and stronger, and sometimes nastier. Many plants contain toxins to avoid being eaten by predators. Caterpillars have built up toxin resistance enabling them to eat certain plants, which in turn causes plants to build stronger toxins. Some plants have nasty spines or thorns like the 'Black palm', whose long spines stick out on all angles from the stem or trunk. You have to be very careful what you grab on to – especially if you lose your balance walking in the jungle.

Plants here are incredibly well adapted for reaching the light and utilizing other plants to do so. There are the classic examples of lianas (vines) and epiphytes (perching plants) everywhere you look. Some vines encircle trunks, slowly suffocating them over time.

The colours of the forest are beautiful, and they all have a purpose. Many insects display bright colours as warning signs, and some mimic other animals to trick their predators. Bright flowers that have bizarre shapes invite pollinating insects to spread their pollen to other plants.

Ants appear to be the kings of the jungle – not the big cats! The largest we saw were at least a centimeter long, large enough that you could see their pincers. Even the small fire ants have a nasty bite. The leaf cutter ants leave trails that could be mistaken as ones that were cleared by humans. The nests of the ants, (and also the wasps), are massive, some larger than a child. When the rain comes and the river level increases, some species of ant can even make their own raft out of themselves, transporting the colony to a new home.

Spiders have also adapted to walk on water! Flicking the odd one out of our boat, we watched it jump across the water to the safety of the bank. Many fish underneath the water are adapted for looking upwards, and spy on spiders and insects on the surface for a meal.

Even the caterpillars here are not friendly! Hairy caterpillars leave a burning trail if brushed by your arm, the hairs containing venom. Others contain nasty barbs.

The birds are the most beautiful. Their bright colours are for displays and courtship, like our beautiful orange ‘galo de serra’ which is known for its dance. We have seen the hummingbird, beating its wings several hundred times per second. Skimmers fly over the water with mouth slightly open scooping up small fish. The locals call them ‘cota de agua’ or ‘cut water’. Nests of the black and yellow cardinal birds (Japi) hang high in the trees the shape of tear drops, made from woven vegetation fibers.

In the river, Boto (river dolphins) have evolved large paddle like fins for maneuvering in the shallow waters, and necks that are not fused, allowing them to move their heads side to side. The two different species here have different feeding techniques, reducing competition between them. Vermelho searches for fish on the river bottom, while the Tucuxi goes for fast moving fish on the surface.

Giant otters, growing up to 1.9m, stay in their family groups keeping watch for any predators like the large caiman. We were lucky enough to see the otters today! Cheekily sticking their heads out of the water, and duck-diving away. They move very fluidly through the water. What a privilege to see them.

We have not been fortunate enough to see the Manatee or ‘Peixe Boi’ (meaning ‘fish cow’) and we will most likely not encounter it. The manatee, unlike the boto, is or at least used to be hunted for its meat. Being slow-moving and large, it is easy to spear. Manatees in the Amazon are now endangered, and although hunting them is now illegal, it is not policed.