Land of the Flooded Forest Flashcards
Amazon animals
loss of 1 species injures whole ecosystem
almost 1/2 of species found nowhere else
900+ bird species
fish: eat fruit, hunt in trees, at least 2,000 species, greatest diversity
pygmy marmoset: smallest monkey, found nowhere else
electric eel: 500+ volts of energy
discus fish, iridescent neon fish
emperor tamarin: eats mantises
howler monkeys: roars carry up to 2 miles; move slowly & deliberately
caboclos
Portugese/Native
poor but satisfied
houses on stilts
subsistence farming & fishing
harmony w/ nature
families often forced to move cuz of flooding
electricity & schooling uncommon , illness common
speak Portuguese
Amazon River
source = Andes Mtns, Peru
crosses borders of 6 nations & is nearly as large as contiguous US
every year, rains cause flooding
flooded forests
during wet season, waters can be 5-50 ft
waterways become natural highways
mestizos
Spanish/Native
mulatto
Euro/African
live in Carribean
rapid evaporation
normal process when rain falls on ground is accelerated
4-5 times a day, rain showers; windows used by caboclos for repairs, etc.
humid, wet envrion
canopy catches rain, high alt = rapid evap
Spaniards
brought pigs (breed fast, swim well)
Amazon piranha
“scurge of the Amazon”
razor sharp teeth
20 Amazon species
1 kind seldom kills - mostly scales & fins
fin nipping - bites rarely fatal & grow back w/in a feww weeks
Amazon stingray
ancestors lived in Pacific
millions of years ago as the Andes grew, were trapped
over time adapted to fresh water
Amazon river dolphins
salt water ancestors
poor eyesight, but flexible neck & sonar make up for it
physiological changes that changed sodium content in their bodily fluids
today, common
to harm/kill one = bad luck
Amazon water monkey
fish
feeds primarily on insects which usually fall in water - hunts by skimming surface; special eye structure allows to see above & below water
however, if bug doesn’t fall, the fish jumps out and catches it
spawns during high water, males keep eggs in mouth until babies ready; babies then feed on algae, crustaceans of insects, etc & egg sac; father doesn’t feed 3-4 weeks(lives off fat in body); when danger, babies go back to dad’s mouth
Amazon white bald uakari
80ft above flood level
extremely rare monkey
red face = health indicator esp. for malaria; the brighter the betterlacks long tail but still agile
feed in groups of 4-5
travel more than most monkeys in search of food
80%+ fruit diet
mostly fur, weigh <10 lbs
face not fully red when baby but still red
Amazon sloth
slow motion
awake abt 12 hours a day
alternately feeds & rests, usually in same tree
eats only leaves
low metabolism keeps body temp low, so needs shaggy coat to retain body heat
mossy green coat camouflages
Amazon hoatzin (“watson”)
ungainly in air
found only in flooded forests & mangrove swamps
primarily leaf eaters esp. giant Aaron plant
chicks born at onset of flood, feed on partialy digested leaves regurgitated from parents
when abt 2 weeks old, explore under attentive eye of 2/3 adults
chicks = 2 claws on wings for better grasp on branches if necessary; can also dive in water & swim away (so nest built over water)
