Home to hundreds of thousands of species of fauna and the largest rainforest in the world, South America is a continent with diverse natural and climatic zones - from glaciers to deserts. Animal and consists of a huge variety of unique animals, some of which have evolved in relative isolation. Only a few million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama was formed, providing a small migration corridor for South and North American animals. Below is a list and a brief description of bright representatives of the fauna of South America, sorted into the following groups: mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects and fish.

These animals have a shell, which consists of stripes. The number of stripes depends on the type of animal. Although the stripes are as hard as fingernails, the carapace is flexible, with softer skin that expands and contracts between the stripes. Armadillos also have long claws for digging and searching for food. Their favorite food is termites and ants.

otters

Otters are the only serious swimmers in the mustelid family. They spend most of their lives in the water, so well adapted for this. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are ideal for diving and swimming. Otters also have long, slightly flattened tails that move from side to side to help them swim. The hind legs are used as a rudder to steer the body in the water.

giant anteater

The name is associated with the favorite food of this animal - ants. It has an elongated muzzle that resembles a pipe. This unique animal of South America is the largest of the edentulous order. A giant anteater is similar in size to a golden retriever, but thick and bushy hair makes it appearance more massive.

The gray hairs of the anteater feel like straw to the touch and are especially long on the tail (up to 40 centimeters). It has a stripe of white, tan, or gray that starts on the chest and extends to the middle of the back. Below this stripe is a dark collar. The hairy and fluffy tail is often used as a blanket or umbrella. The elongated head and nose of the giant anteater are excellent for catching ants and termites.

Mountain lion

This wild cat is from the cat family (Felidae), has several names: mountain lion, puma, cougar. But no matter what you call it, it is still the same animal, the largest in the subfamily of small cats. (felinae). So why does the cougar have so many names? The fact is that they have a wide range of habitats, and people from different countries gave them different names.

Early Spanish explorers of the Americas called it Leon(lion) and gato monte(mountain cat), hence the name "mountain lion". "Puma" - this name came from the Incas. The word "cougar" comes from an old South American word cuguacuarana, which was shortened to the name cougar. All of these names are considered correct, but puma is generally preferred by scientists. In Southern California, they are commonly referred to as mountain lions.

Guanaco

Pelicans

Pelicans are fairly easy to identify, as they are the only birds that have a pouch under their beaks used to catch fish. Pelicans are large birds with short legs and are quite clumsy on land. Thanks to their webbed feet, they are excellent swimmers. Birds use their beaks to coat their feathers with waterproof oil from a gland at the base of their tails.

Pelicans are great fliers, however, in the absence of wind, flying can be a challenge for these birds. To get enough speed to take off, the pelican must run through the water, flapping its large wings and swinging its legs.

The species is found in South America Pelecanus thagus, which until 2007 was considered a subspecies of the American brown pelican. It prefers rocky coasts, as opposed to trees. The population size is about 500 thousand individuals.

parrots

Currently, there are up to 350 species of parrots. Despite the fact that the species are very different from each other in many ways, all parrots have a curved beak, a special structure of fingers, eat nuts, seeds, fruits and insects. Parrots have thick, strong beaks that are ideal for crushing tough nuts and seeds.

IN South America there are parrots from the subfamily real parrots (Psittacinae).

South American harpy

The South American harpy is a legendary bird, although few have seen it in wild nature. This dark gray bird of prey has a very distinctive appearance. When the bird senses a threat, the feathers on the top of its head rise up to form a collar in the form of "horns". Small gray feathers form a disc around the head, which improves the bird's hearing, similar to owls.

Like most species of hawks, the female "harpy" is almost twice as large as the male. The legs of the South American harpy can be as thick as the wrist. small child, and the curved back claws are larger than those of a grizzly bear, at about 13 centimeters long. The harpy is not the largest bird of prey on the continent (the title belongs to the Andean condor), but they are still quite heavy and powerful creatures.

Insects

butterflies

There are about 165,000 known species butterflies found on every continent except Antarctica, and these insects come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The largest species can reach 30 centimeters in diameter, while the smallest are no larger than a match head.

The best-known butterflies of South America are diurnal butterflies of the genus Morpho ( Morpho), butterflies of the genus Greta (greta).

Hercules beetle

This species is one of the largest beetles on the planet. The body length of an adult varies from 80 to 170 mm. The body is covered with short hairs. The elytra of the beetle is yellow-olive. There are horns on the head and pronotum.

Ants

Ants are one of the most common insects on earth and their contribution to the ecosystem is essential.

One of the brightest inhabitants of the mainland is a large tropical ant paraponera clavata, which has a very strong poison, surpassing in strength the poison of any wasps and bees. Body length 18-25 mm, brown-black color.

arachnids

Spiders

Spiders have a bad reputation and inspire fear in many people. But only a few species are dangerous to humans, and bite if they feel danger. Spiders are not classified as insects due to certain anatomical differences. For example, spiders have two main body parts: the transferred part is called the cephalothorax, and the back is the undivided belly; Insects have three body parts: head, thorax and belly. Spiders have eight legs, while insects have six.

Spiders-tarantulas from the family Theraphosidae are one of the largest spiders in the world. They are found not only in South America, but also on other continents with the exception of Antarctica. Their diet is quite varied and contrary to their name, they do not always eat bird meat. All species have poison, but in varying amounts. The poison is not lethal to an adult and healthy person, which cannot be said about small children and people who are sensitive to it.

scorpions

Scorpions belong to the order of arthropods. They prefer hot climatic conditions and lead a terrestrial lifestyle. There are about 1750 species of scorpions, but only 50 are dangerous to humans due to their venom. Six pairs of limbs are attached to the cephalothorax, four of which are designed for locomotion.

These are viviparous animals, they pass life cycle without metamorphosis. Scorpions are nocturnal and are able to run fast. The diet consists of insects and arachnids. The venom of most species is harmless, but some individuals are dangerous and can cause lethal outcome, especially for children.

In South America, scorpions from the following families are found: Buthidae, Chactidae, Scorpionidae, Euscorpidae, Hemiscorpiidae, Bothriuridae.

Fishes

Arapaima

Arapaima is considered one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, with a body length of about 2 meters. The body of the fish is long and slightly flattened, covered with scales. It is common in the Amazon River. The diet consists of fish, small animals and birds.

common piranha

The common piranha is a type of fish that has gained a reputation dangerous predator for people and animals. The body length varies from 10 to 15 cm, and the weight is within 1 kg. This fish is characterized by flat and sharp teeth with which they bite into their prey. They have a very sensitive sense of smell, thanks to which piranhas can recognize blood from a great distance. Their diet consists of fish and birds.

flathead catfish

The flathead catfish is another species of ray-finned fish found only in the freshwater rivers of South America. It can reach a body length of about 1.8 m and a weight of 80 kg. These colorful catfish have a brownish back and orange-red dorsal and caudal fins. There are antennae on the upper and lower jaws. These fish are capable of making sounds that propagate up to 100 meters.

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South America is rich in a variety of plant and animal species. This is primarily due to the fact that here most of the territory is occupied by rainforests, in which in small areas you can find a great variety of diverse life forms, many of which are not yet known to scientists. Except for the boundless rainforest, in South America there are steppes, which are called pampas, coniferous and deciduous forests. All of them are located to the south, in a more temperate climate.

The main part of the tropical forests of South America is located in the Amazon basin, for which this region was called the Amazon. Scientists believe that the Amazonian forests are the "lungs" of the planet. Indeed, they absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide and release a lot of oxygen, maintaining the balance of these gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

The climate of the tropical forests is warm and humid. It's never winter here. All this contributes to the rapid development of life. Plants use every centimeter of space to gain a foothold and make their way to the sun. Many of them have adapted to live on big trees using their trunk and branches as soil. This allows them to be closer to the light. Many insects live in these forests, among which you can find huge beetles and butterflies. Because of the bright light and a lot of light reflections, birds, butterflies and even flies had to “dress up” in incredibly colorful and bright outfits.

Unfortunately, America's rainforests are being mercilessly destroyed for valuable timber. By cutting down trees, people destroy the habitat for millions of other plants and animals. Clearings leave the land bare, and stormy torrents wash the soil into rivers. This leads to the fact that in the next hundreds of years the restoration of tropical forests becomes almost impossible.

Jaguar is the most large predator South America. The body length of jaguars is up to 2 m, and the mass reaches 130 kg. This is a close relative of the African leopard, only stronger and more densely built.

Before intensive human use of tropical forests, jaguars lived in the territory from Argentina to the United States. Now these are rare animals and are found only in remote forest places.

Jaguars try to stick to forest waters, they are excellent swimmers and climb trees. Like most big cats, he lives and hunts alone. The prey is guarded and rushed at it from an ambush. They catch ungulates, monkeys, large rodents - capybaras, without abandoning the monkeys that have descended to the ground.

Males and females come together only during the breeding season. After mating, the male immediately disappears, leaving the female to take care of the offspring. Previously, jaguars were distributed throughout South America, now their range is limited to dense impenetrable forests and national parks.

Armadillos are peculiar mammals, they can be found only on the American continent. The smallest of the armadillos is the small frilled, or Argentine shield-bearer, the body length is not more than 12-15 cm. The giant armadillo, the largest of the armadillos, reaches a length of more than 1 m and weighs about 50 kg.

These animals got their name for the bony shell, which is laid in their skin and serves as a passive defense tool against predators. From above, the bone plates of the shell are covered with a horny substance. Armadillos have little wool, only rare tufts can be seen on the belly and between the plates. Therefore, there are no armadillos in the cold regions of the continent; they are heat-loving animals.

The nine-banded armadillo is quite common in America. Its dimensions are small, the body length reaches half a meter, and the weight is 5-8 kg. Armadillos have long claws, 3-4 cm, so when walking, the front paws rest on their tips. They run fast enough.

Armadillos are excellent diggers. In case of danger, they quickly, in a few minutes, dig a hole and hide underground. It is difficult for a predator to grab them by their protected back. When attacked, armadillos try to hide first, usually quickly burrowing into the ground. But in extreme cases, they roll up into a tight ball, so that the whole body is protected by a shell.

Armadillos live in burrows and are active at night. Their food is varied: frogs, lizards, juicy fruits and mushrooms, but termites are their favorite. With the help of long claws, it easily destroys termite mounds.

Having few enemies, armadillos are not too sensitive to danger. So, they often get out on the highway at night and do not run away even in the headlights, for which they often pay with their lives.

giant anteater

In the tropical part of Central and South America, peculiar mammals live - anteaters. The largest among them is the giant anteater.

In these animals, the anterior part of the head is disproportionately elongated and looks like a tube. The mouth is so small that only a thin one can fit through it, long tongue. Giant anteaters have a huge flat tail, with which they cover themselves like a blanket while resting. The length of such a blanket is almost a meter, and the width is 80 cm.

Anteaters live in forests and savannas. Most time they wander in search of food, mainly ants and termites. The main tool for the extraction of insects is the tongue - a kind of trapping organ. It is wetted with sticky saliva and pulled out of the mouth like a string, more than 60 cm. Such a tongue allows the anteater to reach the most secluded places of the ant dwelling. To destroy impregnable termite mounds, anteaters use powerful forepaws armed with claws. Even jaguars fear these claws. In the event of an attack by a predator, the anteater is able to inflict terrible, non-healing wounds on it. Only young, inexperienced jaguars risk attacking a large anteater.

The female anteater gives birth to only one cub, which she carries on her back.

Maned wolves have a thin body and long legs, its weight reaches 25 kg. Being tall, they can look out for prey in the pampas and coastal lowlands where they live. Maned wolves feed on small mammals, insects, birds, plants, and fruits. They live alone, meeting only during mating. The female usually gives birth to three or four cubs and raises them herself. The beautiful and unusual maned wolf with its red fur, black muzzle, mane and paws has been nicknamed the fox on stilts, and it really looks more like a fox.

The economic development of the areas where they live and the intensive hunting of wolves have led to a sharp reduction in their numbers. For the past hundred years they have been constantly pushed further and further west.

Tapir

Tapirs are unusual animals. They are heavy, densely built, with short, thick legs and a small trunk. Outwardly, they resemble pigs, but they are larger. The body weight of tapirs reaches 300 kg. Tapirs are related to horses and rhinos. They belong to the order of equids.

The lowland tapir lives in the swampy forests and scrublands of South America. Its body is painted dark brown. Young tapirs have a yellow or reddish body with bright white stripes or spots. Such motley coloration makes them invisible to predators.

Tapirs are exclusively herbivorous. They spend the whole night eating a variety of plants, mainly aquatic ones. They are excellent swimmers, and in order to get the tasty parts of some plants, they are able to dive to a considerable depth. They live alone or in pairs, trying not to go to the neighbors' plot.

Tapirs are easy to train and do well in captivity.

In the Andes, from the foothills to the borders of eternal snows, passing at an altitude of 5 km, llamas live. These are pets. Local Indians tamed llamas long before the arrival of the Spaniards in South America. They use them as beasts of burden and for meat and wool. Lamas are very hardy: laden with luggage weighing tens of kilograms, they are able to walk for many kilometers without rest. In addition, they run great, on the mountain plains reaching speeds of up to 50 km / h.

The ancestors of llamas are wild guanacos, which are still found in the Andes. Guanacos are unpretentious, they feed on grass and mosses, they can even drink salt water. A favorite pastime of guanacos is swimming in mountain streams. They are happy to lie or stand in a cold stream for hours. And swim with great willingness and very well.

The Indians also domesticated alpacas, which are very similar to llamas, only smaller in size and have a thicker and longer coat. They probably also came from guanacos. Llamas, alpacas and guanacos are relatives of camels and belong to the callous-footed order. They easily interbreed with each other and give numerous offspring.

Vicuña lives in the most severe hard-to-reach high-altitude (over 4000 m) regions of the Andes. It belongs to the camel family and is perfectly adapted to life at high altitude. Thick fur reliably protects her from the freezing cold, and in very rarefied air she breathes easily due to the fact that her blood tends to be well filled with oxygen.

Vicuñas live in groups consisting of one male, several females and their cubs. The remaining males gather in independent groups of bachelors. Vicuñas feed on grass and lichen.

capybara

The capybara, or capybara, is the largest of all rodents that exist on earth. Her body reaches more than a meter in length, and she weighs about 60 kg. The capybara lives, as a rule, not far from the water: in swampy areas, in the coastal regions of rivers, in the forests and plains of South America - from Panama to Argentina.

During the dry season, capybaras gather in groups of 100 or more individuals near water bodies. Usually they live in small families (from 10 to 40 animals), consisting of dominant males and females with cubs. The rest of the males live separately and often fall prey to jaguars and anacondas. Capybaras are often attacked by predators, lying in wait near or inside water bodies where capybaras come to drink. Animals feed on grass and aquatic plants.

coata

Many different monkeys live in tall trees in the tropical forests of South America. Most often found koats. With strong tails, they cling to branches, jumping from one tree to another. There are four types of these monkeys. Most of them are black or dark brown.

They mainly feed on fruits, seeds, flowers, but they can also eat insects and bird eggs. Koats live in rather large communities, which are often divided into smaller groups. These monkeys are very mobile, they are dexterous acrobats and are among the most common species of monkeys in South America.

Ministry of Education of Ukraine

on the theme "Animals of 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, a mass of ticks and ground leeches accumulate on foliage and grass, 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 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. An important role in the distribution of these animals is played by floating islands formed from water hyacinths (Eichhornia) and other plants, sometimes reaching considerable sizes (over 900 m²) and often floating downstream. 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 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 float on 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 swims well, dives 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 the body are brilliant green, the back is purple-violet, the 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 (near 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 annually drove a large number of vicunas into corrals, sheared their wool and then released them 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. .

South America has a length of 7500 km and includes the Andes mountain system, the Amazonian lowland between the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus, the Galapagos Islands, rivers, waterfalls.

Six in South America climatic zones. Mostly tropical climate. Favorable natural conditions have formed a rich flora and fauna on the continent! Some representatives of the flora and fauna of South America are unique and are not found anywhere else.

Freshwater poisonous and, marmoset monkeys and spider monkeys live in tropical rainforests. There are many birds on the continent, especially macaws and other colorful birds.

Rodents (tuko-tuko, marsh beaver), predators (,) settle in savannahs and steppes. Throughout South America, the pampas fox, Magellanic Fox, are common. And what are the most famous representatives fauna live on the continent?

Puma is a large predator, a representative of the cat family. The body length of the animal is 100-200 cm. Weight is 800-100 kg. Larger than a cougar, only a jaguar, a lion and a tiger.

Cat cubs are born spotted, by the first year of life the spots disappear, and the animal becomes monophonic. Cougar milk is 6 times fatter than cow milk.

This is interesting! On the plain, the cougar is capable of reaching speeds of up to 65 km / h, but it quickly gets tired and, in case of chasing it, tries to quickly climb a tree.

Cougars adapt to any natural conditions: live in mountain, coniferous, tropical forests. Their range is limited only by the lack of food and shelter. The cougar feeds exclusively on food of animal origin. The cougar's pursuit of prey in 82% ends with a positive result.

The cat is active both day and night. The time of wakefulness and hunting depends on hunger. The animal easily climbs trees and rocks in search of prey, easily climbs mountainous terrain.

Also, cougars can purr like domestic cats.

The jaguar is a predatory mammal of the panther genus. Outwardly similar to a leopard, but much larger than it.

The main habitats of the animal are tropical and mountain forests, the ocean coast (where the cat looks for turtle eggs).

This is interesting! Jaguars are able to get food in the water, and are excellent swimmers and divers.

Jaguars - do not like intrusions into personal space and are menacing to representatives of another kind of cat. Therefore, the territory per animal is from 25 to 50 square meters. km.

The diet of jaguars includes waterfowl, snakes, rodents, monkeys, possums, livestock.

Important! The jaguar is a non-aggressive animal towards humans. He can follow people in the forest out of curiosity without attacking. Although occasionally there are cases and attacks.

spectacled bear

The spectacled bear is a predatory mammal. The only representative of the bear living in South America. Height - 150-180 cm, weight - 70-140 kg.

The animal lives in the mountain forests of the Andes slope, in open meadows and savannahs.

Spectacled bears are not fully understood, as they are on the verge of extinction. It is known that the animal does not hibernate and is a herbivore - it feeds mainly on grass shoots, fruits, corn crops and rhizomes.

The spectacled bear is peaceful. Maximum - growls at an uninvited guest, and he leaves the territory.

At Darwin's fox the fur is dark gray with reddish patches on the head and muzzle. The animal does not mate with other members of its genus. It is smaller and darker colored. Its legs are shorter than those of continental species. The weight of the fox is 2-4 kg, which is significantly less than the weight of the South American fox, which weighs from 5 to 10 kg.

The Darwin fox is a typically woodland animal found in southern, temperate rainforests. Leads a solitary life. It is active primarily at dusk and before dawn. Feeds on insects, small mammals, birds, amphibians, berries and carrion.

There are 200 animals on the island of Chiloe, and less than 50 animals on the continent. The species is classified as endangered. Destruction of forests around national park and dogs that carry infections and attack foxes are the main reasons for the low population.

The body length of an adult capybara reaches 1-1.35 m, the height at the withers is 50-60 cm. Males weigh 34-63 kg, and females 36-65.5 kg (measurements were made in Venezuelan llanos). Females are usually larger than males.

This giant rodent is a fat animal with an elongated body, covered with coarse, shaggy hair of mottled brown colors. The front paws of the capybara are longer than the hind ones, the massive rump does not have a tail, and therefore it always looks like it is about to sit down. She has large paws with wide webbed toes, and the claws on her front paws, short and blunt, surprisingly resemble miniature hooves. Her appearance is very aristocratic: her flat, broad head and blunt, almost square muzzle have a complacently patronizing expression, giving her a resemblance to a pensive lion. On the ground, the capybara moves with a characteristic shuffling gait or waddle at a gallop, while in the water it swims and dives with amazing ease and agility.

Capybara is a phlegmatic, good-natured vegetarian, devoid of bright individual traits inherent in some of his relatives, but this lack is made up for by her calm and friendly disposition.

Capybaras are social animals living in groups of 10-20 individuals. Groups consist of a dominant male, several adult females (with their own internal hierarchy), cubs and subordinate males located on the periphery of the group. 5-10% of capybaras, mostly males, live alone. The dominant male often expels competing males from the group. The drier the area, the larger the groups; in a drought, up to several hundred individuals sometimes accumulate around water bodies. A herd of capybaras, on average, occupies an area of ​​​​about 10 hectares, most of the time, however, spending on an area of ​​\u200b\u200bless than 1 hectare. The site is marked with secretions from the nasal and anal glands; there were conflicts between its permanent inhabitants and newcomers.

This is interesting! About 300 years ago Catholic Church attributed the capybara to the fish. Thus, the ban on eating capybara meat during fasting was lifted.

The maned wolf is a predatory representative of the canine family. It has an unusual appearance, more like a fox than a wolf. The animal has disproportionate body parts: the body is short - 120-130 cm, the legs are very long - 75-85 cm, high ears and a short tail. The weight of the wolf is 20-25 kg.

The animal can be found in the savannah, on grassy and shrubby plains. The diet of the animal contains food of animal and vegetable origin: small rodents, birds, reptiles, bananas, guava.

Maned wolves are monogamous: they choose a mate for life.

Geoffroy's cat is the same size as a domestic cat. Its length is 60 cm, and the length of the tail is an additional 30 cm. The main coat color is gray or yellowish-brown, with the first phenotype found mainly in the south of the range, and the second in the north. The coat is covered with small black spots. Quite often there is melanism (completely black individuals).

Geoffroy's cat lives in the southern part of the continent, its range extends from Bolivia and southern Brazil to Patagonia. Found only east of the Andes. The preferred habitat is forests and forest-steppes.

Geoffroy's prey includes hares and rodents. Since it often hunts fish in the water, it is also called the "fishing cat" in South America. In scientific terminology, however, this name refers to a different species (see fishing cat). Geoffroy's cat is active at night and sleeps in trees during the day.

A cross between a Geoffrey cat and a domestic cat is called a safari cat. However, it is known that this mixture is not so easy to obtain. Geoffroy's cat, who lived in the Hapley Zoo, killed all the male domestic cats that found themselves in her cage. All attempts to get offspring from her and a domestic cat were fruitless.

Wool of this species has long been valued in the production of fur coats. However, due to the fact that Geoffroy's cat has become extremely rare and seriously endangered in our time, it was listed in the Washington Convention for the Protection of Nature and any trade associated with it or products made from it is prohibited today. In the year before the entry into force of this convention, more than 5,000 individuals entered the market, which was one tenth of its total population.

Nine-banded armadillo

Settles in forests and shrubs from Northern Argentina north to Mexico and west to the Andes. Over the past hundred years, it has spread from Mexico to the southern United States, reaching Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The length of its body is 40–50 cm, the tail is from 25 to 40 cm and the body weight is about 6 kg.

It digs holes in the banks of streams and rivers, always near trees and shrubs. Such a burrow is a straight passage, into which sometimes 2–3 manholes 15–20 cm in diameter and up to 7 m long lead. The nesting chamber at the end of the burrow is lined with dry leaves and grass. This litter, especially after rains, the animal often changes, throwing out the old one, so that rotten leaves accumulate at the entrance. On hot days, the armadillo leaves the burrow only in the evening; in cool weather seeks food during the day.

For the claws of armadillos, even asphalt is not a hindrance - having sensed the danger, they immediately dig up the upper solid layer of the road surface and quickly burrow under it.

Coming out of the hole, he sniffs, holding his sharp muzzle near the ground. Moving in zigzags, he travels about one kilometer per hour, stopping at every step to dig up a worm or insect, which he smells at a depth of up to 20 cm. not so easy to extract. In the hole, the armadillo is wedged by its shell and paws, and it is difficult to grab onto its slippery conical tail.

The usual enemies of the armadillo are the wolf, coyote, cougar, as well as dogs, people and cars; a lot of armadillos die at night on the roads under the wheels of cars.

Armadillos can walk underwater. They have a very low oxygen demand and can hold their breath for up to 6 minutes, keeping air in the trachea and bronchi.

The body length of the armadillo ancestors reached 3 meters. From their shell, the indigenous people of South America made roofs for huts. It turned out a kind of durable tile.

At the foot of the Andes are tropical rainforests. When climbing uphill, deciduous and coniferous forests are replaced by shrubs and herbs. Here, at an altitude of 3500-5000 m above sea level, the llama grazes - a mammal from the camelid family.

In appearance, llamas have much in common with camels. The head is small, the ears are high, pointed, the coat of medium length is soft to the touch.

The animal was tamed 4000 years ago by the Indians of the central Andes (now Peru). It is still used to this day for transporting goods in mountainous areas where no transport can climb..

Only adult males are loaded. If the load is too heavy, the llama will not budge. When trying to punish, he will spit at the drover.

Coats

Nosukha is a mammal of the raccoon family. It got its name from the mobile proboscis formed by the upper lip and elongated nose.. Body length with tail - 1-1.5 m, weight - 10-11 kg.

Nosuhi are distributed almost throughout South America. They live in tropical forests and deserts. The animal is successfully tamed by people, it can be a pet.

Russian anthropologist Stanislav Drobyshevsky called nosuh "ideal candidates for sanity" in connection with the arboreal way of life, sociality and developed limbs.

Alpaca is an artiodactyl animal of the camelid family, domesticated 6000 years ago.. Growth - up to 1 m, weight - about 70 kg.

Most of the alpacas live in the Peruvian Andes at an altitude of 4000-5000 m above sea level.

The animal has long fleece hair (15-20 cm in length on the sides). They make blankets and warm clothes from it. The valuable material has the healing properties of sheep's wool, while it is warmer in wool times.

Alpaca is inquisitive, but shy, afraid of the touch of hands. It has a peaceful disposition and never spits at people - only at each other in the struggle for food.

Crocodile is a reptile that belongs to the order of aquatic vertebrates. This is a cold-blooded animal, whose body temperature depends on the temperature of the external environment. Of the living representatives of the flora, the closest relatives of the crocodile are birds..

The length of the reptile is 2-8 m.

Crocodiles live mainly in fresh water. Most of the day is spent in the water, only in the early morning or evening they go out on land to "warm up". Crocodiles love the heat, live at a temperature of 32-35 ° C. Temperatures below 20 °C are fatal to the animal.

Crocodiles move with the help of their tail and are able to reach speeds of up to 17 km per hour.

Contrary to popular belief, not all crocodiles are dangerous to humans. Some species (such as gharials) never attack humans.

The snake is a reptile from the squamous order. Live in South America bushmaster- deadly poisonous snake, oriental rattlesnake, coral snake, flying snake, water muzzle etc.

All snakes are predators. They feed on vertebrates and invertebrates. Non-poisonous reptiles swallow their prey alive or suffocate and clench their jaws, pressing them to the ground. Poisonous - kill the victim by letting poison into her body.

In search of prey, snakes use the sense of smell: they use a forked tongue to collect particles of soil, air, water and pass them on for analysis. chemical composition into the oral cavity. This method allows you to detect prey and determine its location.

Turtle is a member of the order of reptiles. It lives in tropical and temperate climatic zones, lives in water and on land. It has a hard shell that protects the reptile from enemies, a hard beak for biting off food. Turtles have no teeth, but have hard incisors on their beaks. In predatory species, they are very sharp, so they serve as knives for cutting prey.

The size and weight of the turtle depends on the species. The largest representatives of the species are leatherback turtles. The length of their shell can reach 2.5 m, the span of the front flippers is 2.5 m, and the weight is up to 900 kg. The smallest is the Cape speckled tortoise. Her body length is 11 cm, weight is 240 g.

Lizards are reptiles from the order of reptiles. The species is distributed throughout the continent.

There are lizards with developed limbs and legless ones. Legless is very easy to confuse with snakes - only an experienced biologist can distinguish them.

Most lizards are predators: they feed on mollusks, frogs, birds and small mammals. Sometimes they attack large animals - wild pigs, deer.

Some species of lizards are herbivores (iguanas, skinks). They eat the pulp of ripe fruits, leaves, flowers.

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The nature of this continent was formed in conditions of isolation from other lands. This is due to its unusualness and richness. The flora and fauna of the mainland began its development in the Cretaceous period. The nature of the region, having ancient history and formation in conditions of isolation, has preserved many unique species, but there is also evidence that on other continents there are ancient representatives of the fauna close to specimens living in South America. This is a confirmation that, nevertheless, the isolation of the mainland was incomplete and there was a connection with other continents.

Interestingly, among the species of monkeys in South America, there are no monkeys similar to humans.

Monkey living on the mainland are broad-nosed, and their habitat is limited to tropical forests.

It is noteworthy that South America has three, unique to it, families of edentulous. Unique Species animals are found among ungulates, rodents and predators. Animal world in different parts of the mainland is different. This is primarily due to unequal natural and climatic conditions.

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Rainforest animals are adapted to life on trees. First of all, these are monkeys of two families: marmosets and capuchins. marmoset monkeys smaller and have developed limbs with long claws. Capuchin larger and they have a long strong tail, almost like a hand.

Sloths, belonging to the family of edentulous, lead a sedentary life, preferring to hang on trees and rarely go down.

Lives in savannas and forests large anteater.

Among predators, the cat family stands out. Its prominent representatives are large jaguars, ocelots and jaguarundis.

Ungulates are very few in number.

Almost throughout the mainland, you can find numerous rodents, among them marsupial rats and opossums.

Amphibians and reptiles are also widespread. In the rivers you can find crocodiles.

Parrots with bright colors, numerous birds also live in the forests of this part of the Earth.

Typical representatives of the birds of the mainland are hummingbird.

Rainforests they are simply teeming with various insects, among them you can find many unique ones.

The fauna of the open and dry spaces called savanna is different from the fauna of forests.

Here is found another representative of the edentulous - armadillo. This is the place where they live jaguars, pumas, pampas, ocelots, some types foxes. Of the ungulates can be distinguished pampas deer. live here ostriches nandu. A large number of snakes and lizards.

The mountain fauna is represented by such animals as lama. Also common are some marsupials and spectacled bear.

Of the mountain representatives of birds, of course, it stands out condor.