Amazon Rainforest: Overview Of Endemic Species

Glass Frog

The Glass Frog is also known as the “see-through frog”. Their skin is translucent like glass, which is where they get their name from. Their skin is so clear that you can see their heart and organs. Glass Frogs like tropical and warm climates. There isn’t only one type of Glass Frog, there is about 60 different types of them.

Scarlet Macaw

The Scarlet Macaw is a colorful and large bird from the parrot family. They like humid environments, places like the Amazon Rainforest. The Scarlet Macaw is native to humid evergreen forests in American tropics. All male and female Scarlet Macaws are alike, accept that young birds have dark eyes and adults have light yellow eyes. They make squawks and screams that are throaty.

Jaguar

The Jaguar is found in places like Central and South America, from Mexico to places in Argentina. In Brazil, the best time to visit Jaguars is in the dry season (April to November). Jaguars look the same as Leopards, but you can’t get confused by them (in the wild) because they are the only big cats in the wild in South America. The spots of Jaguars resemble roses. Leopards also have roses, also known as rosettes, but they are different than the ones with Jaguars because Jaguars have rosettes inside another rosette.

Howler Monkey

Howler Monkeys are the loudest of Monkeys. This loud noise is to let others know where their territory is and to stay away from them. After one group calls out, another group does to answer. You can see this is where they get their name from. They don’t move very far each day, eating at the top of their forest. Howler Monkeys have tails that can grip.

Caiman

Caiman are found in freshwater canals and lakes and they extend to 5 ft. in length. The Common caiman is a species in Florida but most live in the south eastern part of the state. Caimans are native to Central and South America ( the Amazon Rainforest) and there development in the south eastern part of Florida may remain there because they do not like cold temperatures. This animal looks a lot like the American Crocodile and a little like the American Alligator. There colors are also similar.

Rubber Tree

The rubber tree is a South American tropical tree from the Spurge family. This tree replaced the rubber plant in the 20th century as the main source for natural rubber. This tree has soft wood, long branches, and a large area of bark. Latex (milky liquid that oozes from any wound to the tree bark) can be concentrated to produce dipped goods. Latex contains about 30% of rubber.

Banana Tree

These plants are very tropical. But the hardy banana can take winter down to a -20 degrees. This tree can grow in all 50 states. These trees may give a tropical feeling, but they don’t produce fruit. Although, you can still plant this tree anywhere, like your yard. In the warmer months, it will start to grow 2 feet a week.

Heliconia Flower

There are 40 different species of the Heliconia. The leaves are shaped like paddles and they’re related to the banana family. Heliconia Flowers are also known as “lobster claws” or “parrot flowers” because of their bracts (modified leaves). Their leaves come in different types of colors like orange red, pink, green, and all the other colors. These colors can come in combinations as well.

Monkey Brush Vine

We consider the Monkey brush Vine one of the most exotic flowers in the Amazon. The Monkey Brush Vine is a parasite, so it can grow on other plants or trees, and also by themselves. It is found everywhere, along the Kabalebo river. The best part about this plant is when it blossoms. When in blossom, the flower buds start to burst open, giving it the brush appearance.

Passion Fruit Flower

The passion-flower climbs up to 3 to 9 m high, with pink and white flowers. There is a yellow, edible fruit on it. The highly perfumed ones are usually eaten as dessert fruits, called the giant granadilla. The purple granadilla, the yellow granadilla, and the passion-flower itself are grown in tropicals areas in americas for their fruit. The passion-flower blossom is often used to symbolize events in the last hours of Christ.

Giant Water Lilies

The Giant Water Lily entranced the minds of royals back then. Native to South America, the Lily will not grow outside of its home. The liked them, so they tried to grow them in England. Unfortunately, the Lilies did not grow on the journey there. In, 1849, a botanist named Joseph Paxton finally succeeded by growing the plant somewhere else than its home and named it after Queen Victoria. Ever since that success, the royal gardens have grown the Lilies ever since.

Leaf-Mimic Katydid

Katydids are known for their large hind legs and thread-like antennae. Wing forms varies widely among Katydids. Katydids are poor fliers. Many species do not fly, only flutter to leap. Katydids hear by using a structure that is located in the foreleg.

Jewel Caterpillar

The Jewel Caterpillar has a beautiful and translucent skin and texture. Scientists know little about their caterpillar stage. The entire body looks like glass, accept the protuberances, which appear orange-reddish. The protuberances are detachable and break off easily when it comes to contact. Maggots can enter the caterpillar’s belly and stay in there forever until they kill the beautiful caterpillar.

Longhorned Beetles

These beetles occur throughout the world but are common in the tropics. Many of these adult beetles visit flowers and have yellow, black, and orange coloration patterns which make them look like wasps. The longhorned beetles are divided into several subfamilies. Because of their boring habits of wood, these insects are serious pests on timber and pulpwood trees.

Bullet Ant

The bullet ant is a tropical rainforest ant. It is named after its painful sting. It is compared to being shot by a bullet. In Venezuela, they call the ant the “24-hour ant” because its sting can last a whole day. Bullet Ants eat nectar and arthropods.

Jumping Sticks

This insect resembles the twigs that it lives with. It uses these twigs for camouflage. One interesting fact about them is they can reproduce without males. A good thing about them is that they are defenseless and they aren’t venomous. They still will use whatever they have to use defend themselves from their attackers.

Resources

1. https://www.coolkidfacts.com/glass-frog-facts/
2. https://www.trails.com/list_11191_animals-that-live-amazon-rainforest.html
3. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/facts-about-jaguars/
4. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/howler-monkey/#howlermonkey-tree-closeup.jpg
5. https://www.rainforestcruises.com/jungle-blog/coolest-plants-in-the-amazon
6. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/american-crocodile/caiman/
7. https://www.britannica.com/plant/rubber-treehttps://www.fast-growing-trees.com/collections/banana-trees