Throughout history, the strangest animals of the Amazon have always been interesting to humans and still are. Evolution and adaptation to difficult environmental conditions has caused some Amazonian animals to have strange and unique characteristics. These animals have adapted in extraordinary ways to survive in an environment full of giant predators, poisonous insects and dangerous plants. From vampire fish to pink dolphins, each of these creatures has its own world.
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most mysterious and amazing regions on earth, covering an area of 5.5 million square kilometers, containing 10% of all known species on earth! The biodiversity of this area is so vast that scientists believe that many of its creatures still remain unknown. Next, we get to know 15 of the strangest animals in the Amazon.
1. Candiru Fish
Candiro fish, also known as toothpick fish or vampire fish, is one of the famous parasites of the Amazon. This small fish lives in freshwater by feeding on the blood of larger fish. Although there are many rumors about the attacks of this fish on humans, research has shown that most of these stories are myths. However, the Candiro is still known as one of the strangest animals in the Amazon and has a special place in the world of strange Amazonian creatures due to its parasitic life and unusual behavior.
2. Potoo
One of the strangest Amazonian animals that is very hard to find is the puto. This superbly camouflaged nocturnal bird spends most of the day perched on broken branches, its feathers matching the bark perfectly. Potos hunt insects with large eyes and large mouths, and their characteristic sound heard at night is similar to “po-TOO po-TOO”.
3. Glass Frog
The name Glass Frog is borrowed from the semi-transparent skin of the animal! This transparency is such that the internal organs of the frog can be seen from under the skin and helps to avoid the danger of being caught. The glass frog is bright green in color and lives mostly in trees. Another strange feature of this animal is its relationship with children; They are known to eat their own babies, which is rare!
Read more: The strangest animals in the world
4. Jesus Lizard
The Jesus lizard is one of the strangest creatures of the Amazon, famous for its incredible ability to run on water. This lizard, when escaping from predators, can run up to 20 meters on the surface of the water! Interestingly, to do this, it opens its toes to create more surface area and generate enough force to stay afloat with quick foot movements. Of course, this extraordinary ability is not only due to the animal’s physical shape, but its high speed and agility are also effective. Jesus lizard lives in hot and humid areas and near water.
5. Capybara
The world’s largest herbivorous rodents and social creatures are two distinct characteristics of capybara. This huge animal can weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kg) and generally lives in groups (sometimes up to a hundred individuals) with its own species. Since capybaras are skilled swimmers and always have a peaceful and calm demeanor, most other animals ride on them, and for this reason they are called “the rocking chair” of nature.
6. Arapaima
Arapaima is a type of fish that holds the record for the largest freshwater fish in South America with a length of more than 2.5 meters and a weight of more than 100 kilograms. In addition to having gills, Arapaima must come to the surface of the water every 5 to 15 minutes to breathe air. This fish has a special value in many native Amazon communities; Its hard and bony scales are used as a nail file and its tongue because of its medicinal properties; For example, when the tongue of this fish is mixed with guarana, it is said to be useful in killing intestinal worms.
7. Electric Eel
As you can guess from the name of this creature, the electric eel is one of the strangest creatures of the Amazon, which is known to produce electric shocks of up to 600 volts! It is interesting to know that this creature is not actually an eel, but belongs to the family of a type of fish. The electric shock of this fish is strong enough to knock down even a horse. The reproductive behavior of this creature is also interesting; In the dry season, males make a nest of their saliva and females lay eggs in it. The number of children of a male eel can reach up to 3,000, which contributes to the biodiversity and survival of this species.
8. Pink Dolphin
The pink dolphin or buto is one of the symbols of this great Amazon river, and its distinctive pink color is probably due to the blood capillaries near the surface of the skin. In addition to its attractive appearance, the pink dolphin also plays an important role in local culture; Many legends are told about it, including its transformation into a beautiful young man and the seduction of local women at sunset.
Read more: Getting to know the Amazon forest
9. Tarantula
Tarantulas are one of the biggest and scariest spiders in the world and among the strangest animals in the Amazon. Although their appearance looks very scary and strange with their furry legs and large body, the most strange thing about them is their mating type. For mating, the male tarantula spins a silk thread on the ground and releases his semen on it. He then absorbs this liquid into his organs to transfer it to the female when she meets him. After mating, the male quickly runs away to avoid being attacked or even eaten by the female!
10. Hoatzin
If you have traveled to the Amazon and while walking through the jungle you smell a foul smell similar to cow dung, know that the Huatzin bird is probably near you. This bird, whose food is tree leaves, with its unique digestive system, emits a very bad smell from Huatzin. The strange appearance of this bird and its digestive system have led some scientists to consider it a living dinosaur. The hoatzin is also one of the few birds in the world that has a clear connection to the evolution of reptiles. Regarding their lifestyle, it should be said that they fly very little and spend most of their time on trees near water.
11. Piranha
Piranhas are one of the most famous fish in the Amazon, known mostly for their sharp teeth similar to sharks and their special hunting behavior. Of course, although piranhas have been introduced as dangerous fish, their diet consists mostly of small fish, seeds and insects, and they do not usually attack humans. Most piranha attacks on mammals or larger animals occur when they are already dead or dying.
12. Decoy Building Spider
About 5mm long, this amazing spider uses dead leaves and garbage to build a larger spider inside its web! The Decoy Building Spider was first discovered at the Tambopata Research Center and appears to have been previously unknown. Collecting dead leaves and insects, this artist spider creates a large image of itself that acts as a defense mechanism and its size scares away predators. The most interesting part of the story is here! He then acts as a puppeteer from his mannequin and pulls his strings to make this self-portrait dance.
final word
The rainforest, as one of the richest biomes in the world, has given us a long list of the most exotic animals in the Amazon. These animals with their special characteristics have not only brought us a world of biological wonders, but also show the power of adapting to very harsh environments. Protecting this ecosystem and its strange creatures is very important, because the Amazon forests are a treasure of biodiversity and play a key role in maintaining the balance of the global ecosystem.
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