Ministry of Education of Ukraine

on the topic "Animals South America»

Performed:

7th grade student

Shostak A.I.

Checked:

Donetsk 2004

PLANTS AND ANIMALS The natural world of South America is one of the richest on the planet. At least 44,000 can be found in the Amazon Basin different types plants, 2,500 species of river fish and 1,500 species of birds. In the jungle there are huge sciences that feed on birds, and mammals such as armadillos and sloths. The rivers of South America are home to sea cows, freshwater dolphins, giant catfish and electric eels. Thousands of species of forest insects have not yet been studied.
Alnacas and vicuñas from the camelid family are found in the Andes. The steppes of Pamna are inhabited by a large running nandu bird, or the American ostrich. In colder areas on the southern fringes of the continent, penguins and seals are common. On the Galapagos Islands, lying in the Pacific Ocean west of the coast of Ecuador, there are such rare representatives of the animal world as the famous giant tortoises.
Fertile soils nourish the rich vegetable world continent. South America is the birthplace of prickly araucaria, rubber, potatoes and many domestic plants (for example, monstera).
The nature of South America is under threat of destruction. As people cut down forests, many species of forest animals and priceless plants that have not adapted to new living conditions disappear without a trace.

TAPIRLAIN
(Tapirus terrestris)

Mammals / Artiodactyls / Tapirs / Tapirs
Mammalia / Perissodactyla / Tapiridae / Tapirus terrestris

· The species TAPIR PLAIN is listed in the International Red Book

THE PLAIN TAPIR (Tapirus terrestris) is the best known and most widely distributed of other tapir species. He is relatively small in stature, his body length is about 2 m, the height at the withers is about 1 m, and his weight is 200 kg. dark brown short hair cover the entire body. Starting between the ears, a standing stiff mane stretches along the entire neck. The plain tapir lives in the forests of South America, from the Amazon basin to Paraguay and Northern Argentina. The tapir is a solitary, cautious inhabitant of the rainforest. He avoids open spaces, but is very attached to water. Where he is not disturbed, the tapir feeds at any time of the day, except for the hot midday hours, which he spends in the water. Bathing tapirs are easy to find along the trails and a lot of droppings on the shore and shallow water. In the water, tapirs not only escape the heat, but also get rid of blood-sucking arthropods. They walk along the same paths, which are laid in dense thickets in the form of tunnels, more often along rivers and streams. Along these paths, on the foliage and grass, a mass of ticks and ground leeches accumulate, lying in wait for the victim, so a person should not use these paths. Fleeing from the attack, the tapir (and its main enemy is the jaguar) abandons the path, breaks through dense thorny bushes with extraordinary speed. The plain tapir feeds on young leaves of shrubs and trees, swamp, water and meadow grasses, as well as fruits and fruits, grabbing the leaves with a moving trunk. If the tapir cannot get a tasty branch, he stands on his hind legs, leaning on the trunk with his front legs. The tapir's trunk is unusually mobile; he is constantly stretching and retracting, feeling all objects. The tip of the trunk with a snout similar to a button is equipped with sensitive hard hair - vibrissae - and serves as an organ of touch. Like all forest animals, the tapir has a good sense of smell and hearing, but poor eyesight. Near human settlements, tapir raids fields and plantations of corn, sugar cane, mango, cocoa. Females become sexually mature at the 3-4th year of life; males, probably a year later. The sexual cycle occurs every 50-60 days throughout the year, and the cub (always one) can be born in any month. Pregnancy lasts 390-400 days, and the female brings offspring, on average every 15 months. Animals are usually excited before mating; the male, looking for a female, makes a short coughing sound or a sharp drawn-out whistle. Like all tapirs, the striped-spotted cub walks with its mother for a long time. He suckles his mother when she lies on her side like a piglet and sleeps lying next to her mother. She does not let the cub go far from her, calling him as soon as he runs two or three steps to the side. With age, the young tapir becomes very mobile, runs around the mother, jumps, shakes his head. Locals hunt the lowland tapir for meat and skin. In case of danger, tapirs try to hide in the water, where the natives catch up with them in boats and, as soon as the animals emerge, kill them with spears or knives. In the villages one can often see tapir cubs taken from dead mothers. They quickly become tame, take a pacifier with milk, and at the age of a few weeks they eat boiled vegetables and porridge well. Later, tapirs feed on leaves and grass, and are especially fond of leaves and young ears of corn. Village kids ride hand tapirs on horseback. It is said that the colonists in the last century successfully plowed by harnessing hand tapirs to the plow. In captivity, tapirs have lived up to 30 years.

JAGUAR
(Panthera onca)

Mammals / Carnivores / Felines / JAGUAR
Mammalia / Carnivora / Felidae / Panthera onca

· The Jaguar species is listed in the International Red Book

JAGUAR (Panthera onca) is a representative of a group of large cats in the fauna of North and South America. It is somewhat larger than a leopard: the body is 150-180 cm, the tail is 70-91 cm, and the weight is 68-136 kg. The body of the jaguar is more stocky, massive, the tail and legs are relatively shorter than those of the leopard, and it looks more like a tiger. The jaguar is distributed throughout almost all of South and Central America and in the south of North America. For him, dense tropical forests are most characteristic, to a lesser extent - arid thickets of shrubs. Sometimes jaguars appear even in the pampas. They lead a wandering life and often overcome wide rivers, as they swim excellently, and most importantly, willingly. Jaguars prey on deer, peccaries, agoutis, and capybaras. He attacks large tapirs when they come to drink, kidnaps dogs and livestock, catches alligators, turtles, fish, and small animals. Jaguars breed all year round. Pregnancy lasts 100 - 110 days. There are up to 4 cubs in a brood. They grow quickly, but reach sexual maturity at three years.

armadillo white-bristled
(Euphractus sexcinctus)

Mammals / Teethless / Armadillos / ARMADRATE
Mammalia / Edentata / Dasypodidae / Euphractus sexcinctus

BATTLESHEETS (Euphractus sexcinctus) is distributed farthest to the north from Central Argentina to the lower reaches of the Amazon; the second inhabits Northern and Central Argertina. The white-bristle, in addition to the color of the bristles, is distinguished by a slightly larger size (its body length is 40-50 cm, tail -20-25 cm, weight - 3.5-4.5 kg) and relatively poorly developed bristly cover. These armadillos, called peludos (hairy) in Argentina, are best known because they dig numerous temporary burrows in the savannah and often emerge from their burrows during the day, even in bright sunshine. If the ground is soft and there is no hole nearby, then in case of danger, the peludos quickly burrows in front of the pursuer. The course of an ordinary burrow does not exceed 2 m and ends with a chamber. In addition, there are many small burrows or, more precisely, deep ridges dug by the animal in search of food. Because of its burrows, peludos are a “thorn in the eye” for local gauchos (riders), as horses often fall into its burrows and break their legs. In addition, armadillos spoil crops by digging holes. In some areas, there are even bonuses for the destruction of peludos, and hunters kill hundreds of these animals in a few days. They hunt them by moonlight with dogs and kill them with a stick or fill their holes with water. Bristly armadillos feed on insects, worms and other invertebrates, as well as carrion. At the corpse of an animal, you can meet several animals at the same time, usually living alone. They breed twice a year. Pregnancy lasts 62-74 days. They usually bring two cubs, which the female feeds in a hole for a month.

CAIMAN CROCODILE
(Caiman crocodilus)

Reptiles or Reptiles / Crocodiles / Alligators / CAIMAN CROCODILE
Reptilia / Crocodylia / Alligatoridae / Caiman crocodilus

CAIMAN CROCODILU (Caiman crocodilus) has a relatively long muzzle narrowed in front. In adults, to accommodate large - the first and fourth - teeth of the lower jaw (in the premaxillary bone in front of the nostrils and in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe seam between the premaxillary and maxillary bones), through holes are formed. Often, on one or both sides of the skull, the outer wall of the hole at the suture of the premaxillary and maxillary bones is destroyed, forming not pits, but cuts in the edges of the upper jaw to accommodate the fourth teeth of the lower. This gives the skull an appearance common to the skulls of real crocodiles, which led to the specific name of this species. In length, the animals reach 2.4-2.6 m. The crocodile caiman is common in Central and South America: from Chiapas in the north to the mouth of the Parana in the south, in Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Guiana, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay , Argentina. On this vast territory, the caiman forms 3-5 subspecies. It is tolerant of brackish water, which allowed it to settle from the continent of America to some islands close to the mainland: Trinidad, the small islands of Gorgon and Gorgonilla off the western coast of Colombia. Crocodile caimans were sometimes found in the sea near the coast. In the distribution of these animals big role Floating islands play, formed from water hyacinths (Eichhornia) and other plants, sometimes reaching significant sizes (over 900 m²) and often floating down the river. These floating islands ("mats") provide shelter for young caimans and can carry them over long distances and into the open sea. Animals prefer calm waters and are more common in swamps and small rivers. Juveniles feed mainly on aquatic insects. Adults attack any prey they can handle. The main food consists of large water snails, freshwater crabs and fish. They reproduce during all year round, but especially intense from January to March (Colombia). For laying eggs, females build nests from rotting plants among thickets near water. The clutch consists of 15-30 eggs. Adult males occupy a certain territory and fight with males that have violated the boundaries of individual sites. The number of crocodile caimans is now greatly reduced due to intensive hunting for their skin.

Dwarf marmoset
(Cebuella pygmaea)

Mammals / Primates / Marmosets / Pygmy Marmoset
Mammalia / Primates / Callitrichidae / Cebuella pygmaea

Dwarf marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) lives in the upper reaches of the Amazon River - from the western bank of the Purus River to the foot of the Andes, it is also found on the banks of the Putumayo River in Colombia. Their fur is thick, brownish, with yellowish and greenish marks on the hair, the lower parts of the body are whitish, the tail has indistinct stripes. The face is covered. The ears are small, naked and hidden in a thick mantle. They sleep in the hollows of trees. They feed on insects, fruits, small birds and their eggs. They are difficult to observe in the wild. At the slightest approach of danger, they instantly hide in the thick of foliage. Judging by the observations, in captivity, pygmy marmosets give birth to two cubs, which stay on the body of their father for up to 6 weeks. From 8 weeks they gradually become independent and independently look for their own food. By 24 weeks they reach the size of adults.

ANACONDA
(Eunectes murinus)

Reptiles/Reptiles / Scaled / Snake-footed / ANACONDA
Reptilia / Squamata / Boidae / Eunectes murinus

ANACONDA (Eunectes murinus) the world's largest snake - inhabits the entire tropical South America east of the Cordillera and the island of Trinidad. The average size of an adult anaconda is 5-6 m, but occasionally there are individuals up to 10 m long. A unique, authentically measured specimen from Eastern Colombia reached 11 m 43 cm (we will mention, however, that this specimen could not be preserved). The main color of the body of the anaconda is grayish-green with large dark brown spots of a rounded or oblong shape, alternating in a checkerboard pattern. On the sides of the body there is a row of small light spots surrounded by a black stripe. This coloring perfectly hides the anaconda when it lurks, lying in a quiet backwater, where brown leaves and tufts of algae swim in the gray-green water. Anaconda's favorite places are low-flowing branches and backwaters, oxbow lakes and lakes, swampy lowlands in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. In such secluded corners, the anaconda, lying in the water, guards its prey of various mammals that come to the watering hole (agouti, paca, peccaries), waterfowl, sometimes turtles and young caimans. Domestic pigs, dogs, chickens, ducks also fall prey to the anaconda when they approach the water. Anaconda often crawls ashore and takes sunbaths, but does not move far from the water. She is an excellent swimmer, diver and can stay under water for a long time, while her nostrils are closed with special valves. When the reservoir dries up, the anaconda moves to the neighboring ones or goes downstream the river. During the dry period, which may occur in some areas, the anaconda burrows into the bottom silt and falls into a stupor, in which it remains until the rains resume. The process of molting at the anaconda also often takes place under water: in captivity it was necessary to observe how the snake, having plunged into the pool, rubs its belly against its bottom and gradually pulls the crawl out from itself. Anaconda is ovoviviparous, and the female brings from 28 to 42 cubs 50-80 cm long, but occasionally she can lay eggs. They do not live long in captivity - 5-6 years, the maximum life expectancy in captivity is 28 years. The main food of the anaconda is rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, but it also eats various reptiles, fish, and sometimes swallows snakes. Once a 5-meter anaconda strangled and ate a 2.5-meter dark python, which took her only 45 minutes. Contrary to the numerous "terrible" stories of "eyewitnesses", the anaconda cannot be considered dangerous for an adult. Single attacks on people are made by the anaconda, apparently by mistake, when the snake sees only a part of the human body under water, or if it seems to her that they want to attack her or take away her prey. Only the case of the death of a thirteen-year-old boy swallowed by an anaconda, cited by R. Blomberg, is quite reliable. Local hunters, as a rule, are not afraid of the anaconda and kill it whenever possible. A number of myths and superstitions that exist among Indian tribes are associated with this snake.

HUMMINGBRI-SAPFO
(Sappho sparganura)

Birds / Long-winged / Hummingbird / Hummingbird-Sappho
Aves / Macrochires / Trochilidae / Sappho sparganura

Hummingbird Sappho (Sappho sparganura) is native to southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. It adheres to the dry, open landscape of the foothills and high plateaus of the Bolivian Andes. The head and front of her body are brilliant green, her back is purple-violet, her long forked tail is red with black tips on each feather. When a bird flies up with great ease, its "burning" tail gives the impression of a comet's trail. Due to excessive persecution, this bird has now become very rare.

CONDOR
(Vultur gryphus)

Birds / Birds of prey diurnal / American vultures / CONDOR
Aves / Falconiformes / Cathartidae / Vultur gryphus

· The species CONDOR is listed in the International Red Book

CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) is a huge bird: the length of the male is about 1.15 m, the wingspan is up to 2.75 m. The female condor is somewhat smaller. The color of adult condor birds is black with a white collar of leaf-shaped feathers. Secondary feathers with wide white edges, humerals white with black bases. The bare skin of the head and throat is blackish-gray, the neck and goiter are red. The legs of the condor are dark grey. The rainbow is red. The beak is black with a yellow tip. Males have a comb on the cere (females do not have it). Young condors are brown in color, their heads are covered with down. The condor is distributed in South America from Venezuela and Colombia to the southern tip of the mainland (Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego) and the Falkland Islands. In the northern part of the breeding range, the condor inhabits a high belt of mountains at an altitude of 3000-5000 m, sometimes flies even higher (in Chimborazo it was noted at an altitude of more than 7000 m). In the southern part of the nesting area, the condor is found both in the foothills and on the plains. During nesting time, the condor keeps in separate pairs, at other times of the year it leads a flock of life. The condor nests on the rocks, sometimes arranging a small litter of twigs. There are 2 eggs in the clutch. The female incubates for 54-55 days. The development of young condors is slow, they apparently reach sexual maturity (full dress) only at the age of six. Condor feeds mainly on carrion, decomposed to varying degrees. Occasionally, condors also attack live animals (newborn or weakened vigonians, calves and lambs).

VICUNA
(Lama vicugna)

Mammals / Calluses / Camelids / VICUNA
Mammalia / Tylopoda / Camelidae / Lama vicugna

· The VICUNA species is listed in the International Red Book

Vicuña (Lama vicugna) is a species of wild llamas. It is smaller than a guanaco: body length 125-190 food, height - 70-110 cm and weight - 40-50 kg. Her head is shorter, but her ears are longer. The coat is brighter, reddish; it is longer than that of the guanaco; it forms a dewlap 20-35 cm long on the neck and chest. The chestnuts on the legs are hidden by hair. The border between dark and light coat color is not pronounced. Vicuna is common only in the Andean highlands. Like the guanaco, it keeps in family herds of 5-15 females with young ones, led by an adult male. Single males form temporary, easily disintegrating groups of 20-30 animals. The rut of the vicuña is from April to June. Pregnancy lasts 10-11 months. Previously, the Incas used to drive them into corrals every year. a large number of vicuñas, their wool was sheared and then released into the wild. Now the Indians also sometimes drive a herd of vicunas into pens near rocky cliffs, shear them and release them, but the number of vicunas has drastically decreased, and such cases are now rare. At a research farm in Cusco, Peru, at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level, work is underway to domesticate and breed vicuñas. Currently, no more than 5,000 vicuñas have survived in Peru, and about 1,000 heads in Bolivia, and this species is under protection. All types of wild and domestic humpless camels live well in zoos up to 20-25 years old, breed and produce fertile hybrids. The vicuña is more difficult to keep than others and rarely crosses with other forms.

Sloth family
(Bradypodidae)

Mammals / Teeth / Sloths /
Mammalia / Edentata / Bradypodidae /

Sloth family (Bradypodidae) Sloths are purely arboreal animals that feed on leaves and spend their entire lives in trees in a suspended position with their backs down. In this regard, 3 fingers on the hind and 2 or 3 fingers on the front paws, together with powerful curved claws, form, as it were, hooks with which animals hang or move slowly. Unlike all other animals, their hair has a pile directed not to the belly, but to the ridge, so that rainwater easily rolls off the body. The only way these harmless animals protect themselves is to go unnoticed, which is the reason for their extreme slowness. Among the foliage of trees in the tropical rainforest, these animals are really completely invisible, which is facilitated by the greenish tint of their long, coarse hair. This green coloration of gray-brown wool depends on blue-green microscopic algae (Trichophilus and Cyanoderma) that settle in the longitudinal and transverse grooves of sloths' hair. On the body of these animals, another cohabitant spends almost all his life - a special kind of moth butterfly, which lays its eggs in the sloth's fur.

The internal organs of the sloth, due to the constant position of the animal with its back down, are also located unusually for mammals. The liver is turned to the back, covered by the stomach and does not come into contact with the abdominal wall; the spleen and pancreas do not lie on the left, but on the right. The bladder is very large and almost touches the diaphragm, the trachea makes two bends, etc. Sloths feed on leaves, young shoots, flowers and fruits of trees, which they cut off with hard lips covered with keratinized skin. In exceptional cases, when there is no food, sloths move to neighboring trees along the ground. But on earth they are completely helpless. Lying with their limbs stretched out to the sides, they look for something to catch on with their claws, and move several meters with difficulty.

Sloths sleep for 15 hours a day, sometimes gathering several animals together in a fork of branches, and then they surprisingly resemble an armful of hay. Their breathing and blood circulation are very slow, and the body temperature can drop to 24-33 °. They defecate very rarely, about once a week, usually after rain, and for this they go down to the base of the tree in a group. Sloths are resistant to hunger and suffer such injuries from which other animals die. Though heavily hunted for their lamb-like meat, their skins for saddles, and their curved claws for necklaces, sloths have survived in many areas of South and Central America where other mammals have long been extirpated. .

My mother is a biology teacher at school. As a child, instead of fairy tales, she told me about the amazing animals that inhabit our planet. Most of all I remember the stories about the fauna of South America.

What is South America famous for?

This continent is located in as many as five climatic zones. Because of this, the animal and plant life here is diverse. South America can be called a champion, because here:

• the most long river in the world - the Amazon;
• the largest mountain lake;
• the most precipitation falls;
• the longest mountains.

Many cannot imagine their life without potatoes, and in fact it was found in South America. Even on the continent, tomatoes, a chocolate tree, and corn were discovered.

What animals can be found in South America

The fauna in South America is very rich. On the continent you can find species that do not live anywhere else. There are freshwater dolphins in the Amazon. They live only three years in captivity and do not breed, so they are not found in zoos.

In America, you can meet the world's largest rodent. Its weight can reach up to sixty kilograms. They are called capybaras and at first they were mistaken for pigs.

The continent is also home to the largest species of turtles and crocodiles. The Orinoco crocodile can reach up to five meters in length. An elephant tortoise can weigh up to two hundred kilograms and live up to a hundred years. There were cases when in captivity the turtle lived up to 170 years of age.

What animals should be afraid

In addition to completely harmless animals, dangerous predators live in South America. The most famous is the anaconda. There are many legends about this species. First, they say that anacondas can reach 20 meters in length. Secondly, among the locals there are rumors about man-eating anacondas.

There are piranhas in the Amazon. This fish is considered very dangerous for humans. Because of her subtle sense of smell, she can smell blood from a great distance.

Dangerous cats are also found on the continent. Cougars and cheetahs often instill fear in the locals.

The largest tarantulas live in South America.

The main area of ​​the vast territory of the mainland of South America extends in the equatorial - tropical latitudes, therefore, it does not feel a lack of sunlight, although the climate of this part of the world is not at all as hot as African.

This is the wettest continent on the planet, and there are many natural reasons for this. The pressure difference between warm land and the ocean environment, currents off the coast of the mainland; mountain range Andes, stretching across a huge part of its territory, blocking the path of western winds and contributing to increased humidity and significant precipitation.

The climate of South America is extremely diverse, because this continent extends through six climatic zones: from subequatorial to temperate. Along with areas of fertile nature, there are areas known for mild winters and cool summers, but famous for frequent rains and winds.

In the center of the mainland, precipitation is much less. And the highlands are distinguished by clean, dry air, but a harsh climate, where the bulk of heavenly moisture falls, even in the summer months, in the form of snow, and the weather is capricious, constantly changing during the day.

A person does not survive well in such places. Naturally, the vicissitudes of the weather affect other organisms that live there.

It is not surprising that with these natural features, the world of fauna is incredibly diverse and rich. List of animals of South America very extensive and impressive with its individual bright features organic life in the area. It includes many beautiful and rare species of creatures that amaze with their fantastic originality.

What animals are in South America live? Most of them have adapted perfectly to existence in harsh conditions, because some of them have to endure the discomfort of tropical rains and survive in the highlands, get used to the peculiarities of shrouds and sub equatorial forests.

The fauna of this continent is amazing. Here are just some of its representatives, the diversity of which can be seen on photos of South American animals.

Sloths

Interesting mammals - the inhabitants of the forests are known to the whole world as very slow creatures. Peculiar animals are closely related to armadillos and anteaters, but outwardly they have little resemblance to them.

The number of sloth species included in the number animals endemic to South America, only about five. They unite in two families: two-toed and three-toed sloths, quite similar to each other. They are half a meter tall and weigh about 5 kg.

They resemble an awkward monkey in external features, and their thick shaggy hair looks like a haystack. It's curious that internal organs These animals differ in structure from other mammals. They lack hearing and vision acuity, teeth are underdeveloped, and the brain is rather primitive.

Pictured is an animal sloth

armadillos

Animal world South America would be greatly impoverished without mammals. These are the most unusual animals of the edentulous - a detachment to which sloths are also included.

The animals are dressed by nature in something similar to chain mail, as if chained in armor, girded with hoops consisting of bone plates. They have teeth, but they are very small.

Their eyesight is not well developed, but their sense of smell and hearing are quite sharp. When feeding, such animals capture food with a sticky tongue, and are able to dig into loose earth in the blink of an eye.

Pictured is an armadillo

Ant-eater

Scroll animal names of south america would not be complete without such an amazing creation as . This is an ancient outlandish mammal that existed in the early Miocene.

These representatives of the fauna inhabit the territories of shrouds and moist forests also live in swampy areas. They are divided by scientists into three genera, differing in weight and size.

Representatives of the genus of giants have a mass of up to 40 kg. They, as well as members of the genus of large anteaters, spend their lives on the ground and cannot climb trees. Unlike relatives, pygmy anteaters skillfully move along trunks and branches with the help of clawed paws and a tenacious tail.

Anteaters do not have teeth, and they spend their lives in search of termite mounds and anthills, absorbing their inhabitants with a sticky tongue, sticking their long nose into the dwelling of insects. Anteater is able to eat several tens of thousands of termites per day.

Pictured is an anteater animal

Jaguar

Among animal forests of south america, dangerous predator killing one jump is . It is in his dexterous, lightning-fast ability to kill his victims that the meaning of the name of this beast, translated from the language of the indigenous inhabitants of the continent, lies.

The predator is also found in shrouds and belongs to the genus Panther, reaches a weight of just under 100 kg, has a spotted color like a leopard, and has a long tail.

Such animals live in the north and in the central part of America, but are found in Argentina and Brazil. And in El Salvador and Uruguay some time ago they were completely exterminated.

Pictured is a jaguar

Mirikin monkey

American monkeys are endemic, and differ from relatives living on other continents by a wide partition separating the nostrils of these animals, for which they are called broad-nosed by many zoologists.

Mirikina, otherwise called durukuli, belongs to this type of creatures inhabiting mountain forests. These creatures, having a height of about 30 cm, are notable for the fact that, unlike others, they lead an owl lifestyle: they hunt at night, seeing perfectly and orienting themselves in the dark, and sleep during the day.

They jump like acrobats, eat small birds, insects, frogs, fruits and drink nectar. They know how to make a huge number of interesting sounds: they bark like a dog, meow; roar like jaguars; chirping and chirping like birds, filling the darkness of the night with diabolical concerts.

Mirikin monkey

titi monkey

It is not known exactly how many species of such monkeys exist in South America, since they have taken root in impenetrable forests, whose wilds cannot be fully explored.

Titi resemble mirikin in appearance, but have long claws. During the hunt, they guard their prey on the bough of a tree, picking up their arms and legs together, lowering their long tail down. But at the right moment, in the blink of an eye, they deftly grab their victims, whether it be a bird flying in the air or a living creature running along the ground.

Pictured is a titi monkey

saki

These monkeys live in the forests of the interior regions of the continent. They spend their lives on the tops of trees, especially in areas of the Amazon that are flooded for a long time, as they cannot tolerate dampness.

They jump on the branches very dexterously and far, and walk on the ground on their hind legs, helping themselves to maintain balance with their front legs. Zookeepers, watching these, noticed their habit of rubbing their own wool with pieces of lemon. And they drink, licking water from their hands.

white-faced saki

wakari monkey

Close relatives of the saki, living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, are known for the shortest tail among the monkeys of the continent. These peculiar creatures, classified as endangered species and rare animals of south america, have red faces and a bald forehead, and with their lost and sad expression, they look like an aged, confused person in life.

However, appearances are deceiving, because the nature of these creatures is cheerful and cheerful. But when they get nervous, they smack their lips noisily and shake with all their might the bough they are on.

uakari monkey

Howler

South American harpy bird

Titicaca whistler frog

Otherwise, this creature is called the scrotum because of the flabbiness of its skin, hanging in folds. She uses her bizarre skin for breathing, as her lungs are small in volume.

This is the most big frog in the world, found in the waters of the Andes and on Lake Titicaca. Individual specimens grow up to half a meter and weigh about a kilogram. The color of the back of such creatures is dark brown or olive, often with light spots, the belly is lighter, creamy gray.

Titicaca whistler frog

American manatee

A large mammal that inhabits the shallow waters of the Atlantic coast. Able to live also in fresh water. The average length is three or more meters, the weight in some cases reaches 600 kg.

These creatures are painted in a rough gray color, and their forelimbs resemble flippers. They eat plant foods. They have poor eyesight, and communicate by touching their muzzles.

American manatee

Amazonian inia dolphin

The largest of. His body weight can be estimated at 200 kg. These creatures are painted in dark tones, and sometimes have a reddish skin tone.

They have small eyes and a curved beak covered with tin bristles. In captivity, they live no more than three years and are difficult to train. They have poor eyesight, but a developed system of echolocation.

river dolphin inia

piranha fish

This aquatic creature, famous for its lightning-fast attacks, has received the title of the most voracious fish of the continent. Having a height of no more than 30 cm, she ruthlessly and brazenly attacks animals and does not disdain to eat carrion.

The shape of the body has the form of a rhombus, compressed from the sides. Usually the color is silver-gray. There are also herbivorous species of these fish that feed on vegetation, seeds and nuts.

Pictured is a piranha fish

Giant arapaima fish

According to scientists, the appearance of this ancient fish, a living fossil, has remained unchanged for millions of centuries. Separate individuals, as they say locals continent, reach four meters in length, and weight is estimated at 200 kg. True, ordinary specimens are more modest in size, but it is a valuable commercial one.

Giant arapaima fish

electric eel

The most dangerous large fish, weighing up to 40 kg, found in the shallow rivers of the continent and has enough human victims on its account.

Capable of emitting an electric charge of high power, but feeds only on small fish. It has an elongated body and smooth, scaly skin. The color of the fish is orange or brown.

Electric eel fish

Agrias claudina butterfly

most beautiful rainforest with a span, saturated with colors, bright wings of 8 cm. The shape and combination of shades depends on the subspecies of the described insects, of which there are about ten. It is not easy to see a butterfly, as they are rare. Even harder to capture such beauty.

Agrias claudina butterfly

Butterfly nymphalida

With wide wings of medium size, bright and variegated colors. The lower part usually merges with environment against the background of dry leaves. These insects actively pollinate flowering plants. Their caterpillars feed on grasses and leaves.

Butterfly nymphalida

Endemics of South America Pampa (steppe) SELVA patagonia Savannah and woodlands (campos)

Endemics -

(from Greek éndemos - local), species, genera, families

plants and animals, limited in their

spread over a relatively small area

Vegetable world

Animal world

Victoria amazonica

Paraguayan tea

Orchids…

Hummingbird…

Anaconda

capybara

Armadillo - giant

• The sheet maintains loading to 50 kg.
• Flower diameter 40 cm.
• The color of the petals varies from white to purple-dark.

VICTORIA AMAZONIAN

• Evergreen tree height 6-16 m.
• Forms thickets, which are now significantly exterminated.
• A tonic drink, mate, is prepared from leaves and young shoots.

PARAGUAN TEA (MATE)

Masdevalia Veycha

Masdevalia crimson

Dracula vampire

cinchona tree hevea tree MONKEY TOY weight - 50-70g and up to 30 cm in length.

• The slowest mammal
• Sleeps, hanging on a branch upside down.
• On the limbs are sickle-shaped claws.
• Can go a long time without food

Lives in the Amazon rainforest

• Lives in the Amazon rainforest
• Up to two meters long.
• It has a shell of horny shields.
• Feeds on carrion.

BATTLESHIP GIANT

Most large rodent on the ground

CAPIBARA

Distribution area

Water boa, the most big snake on the ground. Reaches a length of 10-11 m

ANACONDA

BLACK CAIMAN

Distribution area

Morfida Elena

Endemic upper river. Amazons (Peru).

Sailboat Orellana

Endemic upper river. Amazons (Peru). The species was named by the English naturalist Hewitson in honor of the Spanish conquistador Orellana.

Sardanapalus

Rare endemic of the middle Amazon. Named by the famous English naturalist Henry Bates in honor of the last Assyrian king Sardanapal.

AMAZON BUTTERFLIES

hummingbird

• The smallest bird on Earth, slightly larger than a bumblebee.
• Makes 500 swings per minute (like an insect).
• Doesn't sit on a flower.

• Almost does not fly, most of the time keeps on the trees.
• chicks have two fingers at the ends of the wings.
• It feeds on leaves and fruits like a ruminant.
• National bird of Guyana

Distribution area

Reflection

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FOR ATTENTION!

ENDEMICS OF SOUTH AMERICA.

2. Like Australia, South America stands out among the continents with the originality of the organic world. Long-term isolation from other continents contributed to the formation of a rich and largely endemic organic world in South America.

The flora of South America is represented by a wide variety of endemic plants. Let's get acquainted with some of them.

3. Amazonian Victoria is common in the river basin. The Amazon in Brazil and Bolivia is also found in the rivers of Guyana that flow into the Caribbean Sea.

The locals called this aquatic plant "apona", which in their language means "frying pan for birds." Yes, this flower is indeed somewhat reminiscent of this kitchen utensil.

The diameter of its sheet can reach 2 meters, while it can withstand a load weighing up to 50 kilograms. Thanks to these achievements, the water lily Victoria - regia was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as "the largest flowering plant on earth."

The underside of the leaf is completely covered with sharp and long spines that protect the leaf from herbivorous fish and other aquatic animals. The underside of a Victoria amazonian leaf is dark purple or brownish red.

The plant has small holes through which all excess moisture leaves the leaf surface. Victoria herself has long cord-like roots.

Its flower is placed under water and appears on the surface only once a year - during flowering, which lasts only 2-3 days. At this time, a large water lily flower appears in all its glory. The flower blooms only at night, and at dawn it collects all its petals and goes under water. On the first day of flowering, the flower opens petals of a pale white color. The next day they already have a soft pink hue, and on their last evening the flower becomes dark crimson or purple. After that, he falls under the water and does not appear again. Under water, a large fruit begins to form, containing small black seeds. Local Indians use them to prepare a very unusual dish that tastes like roasted corn.

4. Paraguayan tea - evergreen tree height 6-16 m. In the wild, distributed in South America between 12 and 33 ° south latitude at an altitude of 500-900 m above sea level, forms thickets, which are now significantly exterminated. From the leaves and young shoots of Paraguayan tea, a tonic drink is prepared - mate, for which it is cultivated.

To make a drink, crushed mate leaves are poured into hot water. Drinking mate turns into a very solemn ritual.

Paraguayan tea is served as follows: in a special round cup made of a small thin-walled gourd, beautifully painted, yerba powder is poured, boiling water is poured and a silver tube (bombije) with a spatula-shaped strainer is inserted (widened ending with small holes through which the powder does not penetrate) . The drink is ready, it is not mixed with a straw, the yerba floats in boiling water in the form of a thick green slurry. Mate is not drunk in sips, but sucked with pleasure. There is a custom to drink a drink in turn. The gourd cup goes around in circles until someone thanks the owner. It is recommended to drink slowly, but not more than a minute (squeeze 2-3 sips of a hot drink, such is politeness).

The effect of Paraguayan tea on the body is much more beneficial than that of Chinese tea. About half of the caffeine in yerba is in a bound state, resulting in a mild effect; the use of Paraguayan tea improves the functioning of the heart and stomach, dilates blood vessels, strengthens memory and the nervous system.

According to some, drinking mate promotes normal digestion and proper metabolism and serves as a source of peace of mind and vitality. According to others, this is the greatest evil, a bad habit, a waste of time, a breeding ground for diseases (note that a silver drinking straw is recommended).

5. Forests in river valleys that are flooded for a short time are also characterized by a significant number of vines and epiphytic plants, among which the most beautiful are orchids with their bizarre, diverse and brightly colored flowers.

2. The very rich and peculiar fauna of South America is distinguished by a large number of endemics: sloths, anteaters, armadillos, broad-nosed monkeys, puma, jaguar, peccary, coypu, capybara, chinchillas, "tenacious bear", etc.

6. Perhaps the most striking example of the influence of the environment on an animal is sloths - representatives of one of the three families of the edentulous order, endemic and characteristic of South America. Like many monkeys, sloths very rarely descend to the ground and constantly hang, clinging to a tree branch with all four paws, belly up and back down. In their coarse, long, dirty-ashy hair, directed from the belly to the back, humid air algae settle in the gilea, giving the animals a greenish color. Sloths feed on leaves and fruits, moving extremely slowly from branch to branch and for a long time, doing without food at all.

7. Another representative of the edentulous is also terrestrial - a giant armadillo, reaching a length with a tail of almost two meters. Usually, these only owners of a bone shell on Earth prefer open spaces, but the giant armadillo lives precisely in the thicket of the Amazonian hylae.

8. Capybara is the largest rodent on Earth. Body length 1 - 1.8 m, weighing up to 70 kg. Always stays close to water; lives in swamps, on the banks of flowing reservoirs. At the first sign of danger, the animal immediately dives under the water. It can stay there for about a minute. It is found in the northern regions of South America, mainly in the Amazon and the Andes.

9. Living being, intending to escape from the persecution of predators in the water, unpleasant encounters with the anaconda await.

10. Among the trunks carried by the Amazonian rivers, it is not always possible to quickly distinguish the backs of caimans, characteristic only of South America, or alligators.

11. Perhaps more dangerous than crocodiles is a small (up to 30-40 cm) fish - piranha (or piranha). A flock of these voracious toothy fish is capable of dissecting any body (including a person) to a skeleton in a very short time just as well as an anatomist.

12. The fauna of reptiles, fish and insects is diverse.

And there are a lot of birds here. No wonder South America is called the "bird continent". About a quarter of all bird species known to us live here. Half of the local bird species are endemic. These are nandu, hoatzin, toucans, hummingbirds, parrots, etc.

13. Hummingbirds - "living semi-precious stones" (or "flying jewels") weighing 2-3 g - hummingbirds are just some of the representatives of the exceptionally diverse birds of the Amazon. Hummingbirds live only in the New World, with the vast majority of species - 233 - living in the tropical parts of South and Central America.

Buffon describes these birds as follows: “Of all living creatures, the hummingbird is the most beautiful in shape, the most magnificent in color. Precious stones and metals, which are artificially given their brilliance, cannot be compared with these living jewels. These little birds are an exemplary work of nature. She showered him with all the gifts that she gave to other birds individually. Ease, speed, dexterity, grace - everything became the lot of these little favorites of hers. Emeralds, rubies, topazes sparkle on their clothes, which never get dirty or dusty, because in their entire aerial life they do not even touch the ground for a moment. They are always in the air, fluttering from flower to flower, the brilliance and freshness of which they are endowed with and the nectar of which they drink.

Hummingbirds live only in those zones of the earth where flowers are forever renewed, and those species of this family that penetrate into summer temperate zone stay there for only a short time. It seems as if they follow the sun in its forward and backward motion and on the wings of a marshmallow they march in a retinue of eternal spring.

Hummingbirds are the smallest of the birds. The largest species are no larger than a sparrow, the smallest - from a bumblebee. The beak of all species is thin, sometimes curved. With its help, birds get nectar from flowers and catch small insects. Only males are brightly colored, females and young ones have a duller greenish or brownish plumage. Only females build a nest and feed the chicks, males do not take any part in this. The nest is a dense, deep cup made of plant fibers, plant fluff, wool, moss, braided with cobwebs. Clutch 2 or, in small species, 1 egg.

The flight of a hummingbird is fast, maneuverable, they can flutter for a long time in place near a flower like a hawk moth, while a kind of buzzing is heard.

Most species live in open light places in the middle of the forest, along the edges, thickets of shrubs and in meadows, up to alpine ones, they are less common in steppes and semi-deserts.

A number of species are associated with certain plants on whose flowers they feed, and their distribution is limited. There are species that are found only on one mountain (for example, the Chimboras hummingbird, which lives only on Mount Chimborazo at an altitude of 4500 - 5000 m).

14. Of particular interest are rare hoatzins; their featherless chicks deftly climb the trunks, recreating the image of Archeopteryx. Hoatzins almost do not fly, most of the time they stay in trees and rarely descend to the ground.

Vegetable food: eats leaves and fruits, which it digests with the help of fermentation, like ruminants. From this, hoatzin has an unusually nasty, unpleasant, manure smell. Hoatzin meat has a sharp, musty smell, is inedible and is never eaten even by the natives. European settlers called, therefore, the hoatzin "stink bird". The word "hoatzin" is borrowed from the language of the Aztecs. Hoatzin - national bird Guyana.

Endemics of South America
Alpaca
Amazonian dolphin
Amazonian manatee
andean cat
giant anaconda
giant anteater
mountain viscacha
mountain tapir
two-toed sloth
degu
Dinoponera giant
Imperial tamarin
capybara
pygmy marmoset
brown-breasted myrmothera
cat otter
Geoffroy's cat
Bald uakari
Mary (rodents)
Mirikin
leaf cutter ants
ordinary coat
pampas cat
Striped possum
Securan fox
Tsenolestovye
Chilean cat
Chiloes opossum
Chinchillas
Extoxycon
South American fur seal

Animal life of the Andes

The animals of South America are striking in their diversity, as are its landscapes.

The Andes are the longest mountains on the planet, they are about 9 thousand kilometers long. These mountains are located in different zones: in the temperate, two subequatorial, equatorial, subtropical and tropical, therefore, more plants grow in the Andes and a variety of animals are found.

Deciduous and evergreen trees grow in the lower tier of the equatorial forests, and at an altitude of 2500 meters there are cinchona trees and coca bushes. Cacti and creepers grow in subtropical zones. In the Andes, there are many valuable plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, coca, cinchona trees.

The Andes are home to over 900 amphibian species, 1700 bird species and 600 mammal species, which are not found in large flocks as they are separated by densely growing trees. Bright large butterflies and large ants live in the forests. In dense forests, a large number of birds nest, the most common are parrots, in addition, there are many hummingbirds.

The Andean wildlife has been negatively impacted by human activities. Previously, many condors lived here, but today they have survived only in two places: the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Nudo de Pasto.

The condor is the largest flying bird on the West Coast. It has black shiny plumage, and a collar of white feathers is folded around the neck. A white border runs along the wings.

Female condors are much larger than males. Sexual maturity in these birds occurs at 5-6 months. They build nests on rocky cliffs, at an altitude of 3-5 thousand meters. The clutch usually contains 1-2 eggs. Among birds, condors are long-lived, as they can live for about 50 years.

The Andean condor has simultaneously become a symbol of several Latin American states: Bolivia, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. In the culture of the peoples of the Andes, these birds play an important role.

But, despite this, in the twentieth century, the number of these large birds decreased significantly, so they were included in the International Red Book. Today, condors are in the group of threatened species.

It is believed that anthropological factors have become the main reason for the degradation of condors, that is, the landscapes in which these birds lived have changed. They are also poisoned by the carcasses of animals that people shoot. Among other things, until recently, condors were specifically shot, as there was a misconception that they posed a threat to domestic animals.

To date, several countries have organized programs to breed condors in captivity, with their subsequent release into the wild.

Unusual Islands of Lake Titicaca

Unique animals live not only in the Andes, but also in the areas of Lake Titicaca. Only here you can meet the Titicaca whistler and the wingless great grebe.

The Titicaca whistler is a frog endemic to Lake Titicaca.

Lake Titicaca is unusual for its floating Uros islands. According to legend, small tribes of the Uros Indians settled on floating islands several millennia ago in order to separate from other peoples. These Indians themselves learned how to build islands from straw.

Each island of Uros is formed from several layers of dry reeds, while the lower layers are washed away over time, but the upper layers are constantly updated. The islands are springy and soft, and water seeps through the reeds in some places. The Indians build their huts and make "balsa de totora" boats, also from reeds.

The wingless grebe is a bird that visits Lake Titicaca from time to time.

To date, there are approximately 40 floating Uros islands on Lake Titicaca. Moreover, on some islands there are observation towers and even solar panels for generating energy. Excursions to these islands are very popular among tourists.

Animals endemic to South America

Pudu deer are found exclusively in South America. The growth of these deer is small - only 30-40 centimeters, the body length reaches 95 centimeters, and the weight does not exceed 10 kg. These deer have little in common with their relatives: they have short, straight horns, small oval-shaped ears with hair, and the body color is gray-brown with indistinct white spots.

Pudu deer live in impenetrable thickets, and come out to open places only at night to feed. They mainly graze on the seashore, where there is a large amount of fuchsia algae, which form the basis of the diet of deer.

In summer, these deer are extremely cautious, but in snowy winters they approach villages, where they are often attacked by dogs. Previously, pudu deer were found in abundance in Chile, Argentina and the Andes. But today there are only small populations in the coastal regions of Chile and on the Island of Chilos. Pudu are in the Red Book.

The fauna of South America has learned to survive in conditions of tropical downpours, in proximity to people, and in the high Andes. Due to the diversity of the climatic zones of South America, a unique fauna has formed here, which people are obliged to preserve and increase.

No less rich than the vegetation cover, the fauna of South America is also characterized. The modern fauna, like the flora of the mainland, was formed starting from the end of the Cretaceous period in conditions of isolation and a little changing climate. This is connected with the antiquity of the fauna and the presence in its composition of a large number of endemic forms. In addition to this, there are some common features fauna of South America with other continents of the southern hemisphere, which indicates a long-standing relationship between them. An example is marsupials, preserved only in South America and Australia.

All the monkeys of South America belong to the broad-nosed group, which is absent from the fauna of the Old World.

A feature of the fauna of South America is also the presence in its composition of three endemic families of edentulous, united in one order.

A large number of endemic species, genera and even families are found among predators, ungulates and rodents.

South America (together with Central America) stands out in the Neotropical region of animals and is included within its two subregions - Brazilian and Chilean-Patagonian.

Tropical rainforests are most distinctive and rich, although the animals there do not play a big role in the landscape, hiding in dense thickets or spending most of their time on tall trees. Adaptation to an arboreal way of life is one of the features of the animals of the Amazonian forests, as well as the animals of the forests of the Congo Basin in Africa or the Malay Archipelago in Asia.

IN tropical forests South America is inhabited by all American (broad-nosed) monkeys, divided into two families - marmosets and cebids. Marmoset monkeys are small. The smallest of them reach a length of no more than 15-16 cm, their limbs are equipped with claws that help them stay on tree trunks. Many cebids are characterized by a strong tail, with which they cling to tree branches and which acts as a fifth limb. Among them, a genus of howler monkeys stands out, which received its name for the ability to make far-audible cries. Spider monkeys with long, flexible limbs are widespread.

Of the representatives of the edentulous detachment, sloths live in tropical forests. (Bradypodidae). They are sedentary and spend most of their time hanging in trees, feeding on leaves and shoots. Sloths climb trees confidently, and rarely fall to the ground.

Some anteaters are also adapted to life on trees. For example, it freely climbs tamandua trees; the small anteater, which has a tenacious tail, also spends most of its time in trees. The large anteater is common in forests and savannahs and leads a terrestrial lifestyle.

Rainforest feline predators include ocelots, small jaguarundis, and large, strong jaguars. Of the predators belonging to the canine family, the little-studied forest, or bush, dog living in the rainforests of Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Guyana is interesting. To the forest animals hunting on trees belong nosoha (Nasua) and kinkajou (Potos f lavus).

Ungulates, few in South America, are represented in the forests by only a few genera. Among them - tapir (Tapirus terrestris), a small black peccary pig and small South American pointed deer.

Characteristic representatives of rodents in the forests of the Amazonian lowland and other regions of South America are tree chain-tailed porcupines koendu (Coendu), good for climbing trees. Agouti brings great harm to plantations of tropical crops. (Dasyprocta aguti), found in the forests of Brazil. Almost throughout the mainland, especially in the Amazonian forests, the capybara capybara is common. (Hydrochoerus capibara) - the largest of the rodents, whose body length reaches 120 cm.

In the forests of South and Central America, there are several species of marsupial rats, or opossums. Some of them are equipped with a tenacious tail and climb trees well.

The Amazon forests are teeming bats, among which there are species that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals.

Reptiles and amphibians are very richly represented in the forests. Of the reptiles stand out water boa anaconda (Eunectes murinos) and land boa constrictor (constrictor constrictor). Lots of poisonous snakes, lizards. There are crocodiles in the waters of the rivers. Of the amphibians, there are many frogs, some of them lead an arboreal lifestyle.

There are many different birds in the forests, especially brightly colored parrots. The largest of the parrots, the macaw, is the most typical. In addition, small parakeets and beautiful, brightly feathered green parrots are widespread. The most characteristic representatives of the avifauna of South America, in particular tropical forests, are hummingbirds. These small colorful birds that feed on the nectar of flowers are called insect birds.

Hoatzins are also found in the forests (Opisthocomus goatzin), whose chicks have claws on their wings that help them climb trees, sun herons and shuttle-billed herons, harpies are huge birds of prey that hunt young deer, monkeys and sloths.

One of the features of the tropical forests of the mainland is the abundance of insects, most of which is endemic. Day and night butterflies, various beetles, ants abound there. Many butterflies and beetles are beautifully colored. Some beetles glow so brightly at night that you can read near them. Butterflies have huge size; the largest of them - agrippa - reaches almost 30 cm in wingspan.

The fauna of the drier and open spaces of South America - savannahs, tropical woodlands, subtropical steppes - is different from that of dense forests. Of the predators, except for the jaguar, the cougar is common (found almost throughout South America and entering North America), ocelot, pampas cat. Of the predators of the canine family, the maned wrlk is characteristic of the southern part of the mainland. On the plains and in mountainous regions, the pampa fox is found almost throughout the mainland, in the extreme south - the Magellanic fox. Of the ungulates, a small pampas deer is common.

In savannahs, forests and arable land, representatives of the third American family of edentulous are found - armadillos (Dasypodidae) - animals equipped with a strong bone shell. When danger approaches, they burrow into the ground.

Of the rodents in the savannahs and steppes, there are viscacha and tuco-tuco living in the ground. The swamp beaver, or nutria, is widespread along the banks of reservoirs, the fur of which is highly valued on the world market.

Of the birds, in addition to numerous parrots and hummingbirds, there are South American ostriches Nandu (Rhea), some large birds of prey.

There are many snakes and especially lizards in the savannas and steppes.

A characteristic feature of the landscape of South America is a large number of termite mounds. Some areas of South America periodically suffer from locust invasions.

The mountain fauna of the Andes is distinguished by peculiar features. It includes many endemic animals not found in the eastern part of the mainland. Throughout the mountainous region of the Andes, South American representatives of the camelid family - llamas - are common. Two types of wild llamas are known - vigon (vicuna - Lama vicugna) and guanaco (L. guanicoe). In the past, the Indians hunted them for their meat and wool. Guanaco was found not only in the mountains, but also on the Patagonian plateau and in the Pampas. Now wild llamas are rare. The Indians in the Andes breed two domestic species of llamas - the llama itself and the alpaca. llamas (L. glama) - large and strong animals. They carry weights along difficult mountain roads, eat their milk and meat, and make coarse fabrics from wool. Alpaca { Lama pacos) bred only because of its soft coat.

There are also spectacled bears in the Andes, some marsupials. Previously, small endemic chinchilla rodents were widespread. (Chinchilla). Their soft, silky gray fur was considered one of the finest and most expensive furs. Because of this, the chinchilla is now heavily exterminated.

Birds are represented in the Andes by usually endemic mountain species of the same genera and families that are common in the east of the mainland. Of the carnivores, the condor is interesting (Vultur griphus) - the largest representative of this group.

The fauna of the volcanic Galapagos Islands is distinguished by its extraordinary originality, in which the main place belongs to large reptiles - gigantic land turtles and sea lizards (iguanas). There are also many different birds, among which there are representatives of both tropical and Antarctic avifauna (parrots and penguins brought by the cold current, cormorants, etc.). Among the few mammals are eared seals, some rodents and bats. Many animals (goats, dogs, pigs) were brought to the islands and became feral. The Galapagos Islands have been declared a nature reserve.