Dangerous animals from the Amazon

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 3 August 2021
Update Date: 1 November 2024
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10 MOST DANGEROUS ANIMALS OF AMAZON RAINFORESTS!
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The Amazon is the most extensive tropical jungle in the world, being in 9 South American countries. In the Amazon jungle it is possible to find an abundant fauna and flora, which is why it is considered a natural sanctuary of many very peculiar species. It is estimated that in Amazon live more than 1500 species of animals, many of them in danger of extinction.

Each animal draws attention for particular reasons, whether for beauty, behavior or rarity.Some Amazonian species are recognized and feared for their power and danger. It is worth noting that no animal is cruel by nature, as is still heard in some situations. They simply have a hunting and defense mechanism that can make them potentially lethal to humans and other individuals who threaten their well-being or invade their territory. In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will summarize some trivia about the 11 dangerous animals of the Amazon.


Banana Spider (Phoneutria nigriventer)

This species of spider belongs to the family of Ctenidae and is considered, by many experts, as one of the most dangerous and lethal spiders in the world. While it is true that this mated species Phoneutria phera, which also inhabits the jungles of South America, has a more toxic venom, it is also true that banana spiders are the protagonists. the greatest number of bites in humans. This is due not only to the more aggressive character but also to synanthropic habits. They usually live in banana plantations and can be found in ports and in the middle of the city, which is why they are in frequent contact with human beings, especially with agricultural workers.

It is a spider of large size and imposing appearance, whose adult specimens usually occupy the entire surface of the palm of an adult person. They have two large frontal eyes and two small eyes located on either side of their thick, furry legs. The long and strong tusks draw attention and allow you to easily inoculate the venom to defend or immobilize the prey.


Tityus Scorpions

In South America there are more than 100 species of scorpion belonging to the genus Tityus. Although only 6 of these species are poisonous, their bites kill about 30 human lives every year only in the north of Brazil, therefore, they form part of the list of dangerous animals in the Amazon and poisonous as well. These frequent attacks are justified by the great adaptation of scorpions in urban areas, making contact with people practically daily.

the scorpions Tityus Poisons have a powerful venom in the bulbous gland, which they can inoculate through a curved stinger in their tail. Once injected into another person's body, the neurotoxic substances in the venom cause paralysis almost instantly and can lead to a heart attack or respiratory attack. It is a defense mechanism but also a powerful hunting tool.


Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

The famous green anaconda is a constrictor snake endemic to Amazonian rivers, composing the family of boas. This is a species of snake known as one of the heaviest, since a specimen of this type of snake can reach weigh 220 kg, there is controversy about whether or not it is the biggest of them. That's because the cross-linked python (Python reticulatus) usually has a few centimeters more than the green anaconda, despite the body weight being much smaller.

Despite the bad reputation achieved in most of the films that bear their name, the green anacondas hardly attack humans, since people are not part of the trophic chain. I mean, green anaconda don't attack humans for food. The green anaconda's rare attacks on people are defensive when the animal feels threatened in some way. In reality, snakes generally have a more relaxed personality than an aggressive one. If they can escape or hide to save energy and avoid a confrontation, they certainly will.

Discover the most venomous snakes in Brazil in this PeritoAnimal article.

Cai Alligator (Melanosuchus niger)

Another one on the list of dangerous animals in the Amazon is the alligator-açu. It's kind of the genus Melanosuchus who survived. The body can measure up to 6 meters in width and has an almost always uniform black color, being among the largest crocodiles in the world. Besides being an excellent swimmer, the alligator-açu is also a relentless and very intelligent hunter., with very powerful jaws. Food ranges from small mammals, birds and fish to large animals such as deer, monkeys, capybaras and wild boar.

Why (Electrophorus electricus)

Electric eels have many names in popular culture. Many people confuse them with aquatic snakes, but eels are a species of fish that belongs to the family Gymnotidae. In fact, it is a unique species of its genus, with more particular characteristics.

Without a doubt, the most recognized, and also most feared, characteristic of these eels is the ability to transmit electrical currents from the inside of the body to the outside. This is possible because the organism of these eels have a set of very special cells that allow them to emit powerful electrical discharges of up to 600 W (a voltage higher than any outlet you have in your house) and, for this reason, they consider themselves one of the animals dangerous from the Amazon. Eels use this particular ability to defend themselves, to hunt prey and also to communicate with other eels.

Northern Jararaca (Bothrops atrox)

Among the most venomous snakes in the Amazon, you should find the Northern Jararaca, a species that has carried out a large number of lethal attacks on humans. These alarming amounts of human bites are explained not only by the snake's reactive personality, but also by its great adaptation to inhabited areas. Despite living naturally in the woods, these snakes are used to finding a lot of food around cities and population, as human waste tends to attract rats, lizards, birds and so on.

They are large snakes that can easily reach 2 meters in width. Specimens are found in brown, greenish or gray tones, with stripes or spots. These snakes stand out for their effectiveness and enormous hunting strategy. Thanks to an organ known as loreal pits, which are located between the snout and the eyes, they are able to easily detect the body heat of warm-blooded animals. Upon identifying the presence of prey, this snake camouflages itself among the leaves, branches and other components of the path and then waits patiently until it recognizes the exact moment for a lethal attack. And they rarely make mistakes.

Amazon piranhas

The term piranha is popularly used to describe several species of carnivorous fish that inhabit the rivers of the Amazon. Piranhas, also known as "caribs" in Venezuela, belong to the vast subfamily Serrasalminae, which also comprises some species of herbivores. They are voracious predators that are characterized by their very sharp teeth and the great carnivorous appetite, being another among the dangerous animals of the Amazon. However, they are medium fish that usually measure between 15 and 25 centimeters, despite having been registered specimens with more than 35 centimeters in width. They are animals capable of devouring entire birds and mammals in a matter of minutes as they usually attack collectively, but piranhas rarely attack humans and are not as fierce as reported in the movies.

arrowhead toads

When talking about dendrobatidae they refer to a family and not just a species. the super family dendrobatidae which is family related Aromobatidae and comprises more than 180 species of anuran amphibians that are popularly known as arrowhead toads or poisonous toads. These animals are considered endemic in South America and part of Central America, mostly inhabiting the Amazon jungle. On their skin they carry a potent poison called batrachotoxin, which used to be used by Indians on arrowheads to bring about a quick death to animals they hunted for food and also to enemies who invaded their territory.

the kind of dendrobatidae considered as the most poisonous in the Amazon is the Phyllobates terribilis. These yellow-colored amphibians have small discs on their feet, so they can stand firm on the plants and branches of the humid Amazon jungle. It is estimated that a small dose of their venom can kill up to 1500 people, which is why these arrowhead frogs are among the most poisonous animals in the world.

ant-correction

The army ant is one of the dangerous animals in the Amazon, they may look small but these species of ants are relentless hunters, which have powerful and very sharp jaws. They are popularly known as soldier ants or warrior ants because of the way they attack. Marabunta legionnaires never attack alone, but rather summon a large group to shoot down prey larger than their own. Currently, this nomenclature informally designates more than 200 species belonging to different genera of the family Ants. In the Amazon jungle, the soldier ants of the subfamily predominate Ecitoninae.

Through the sting, these ants inject small doses of toxic poison that weakens and dissolves the tissues of their prey. Soon, they use the powerful jaws to dismember the slaughtered animal, allowing them to feed themselves and also their larvae. Therefore, they are known as the smallest and most voracious predators in the entire Amazon.

Unlike most ants, soldier ants do not form a nest if they do not carry their larvae and establish temporary camps where they find good food availability and safe shelter.

freshwater stingrays

Freshwater stingrays are part of the neotropical fish genus called Potamotrygon, which has 21 known species. They inhabit the entire South American continent (with the exception of Chile), the greatest diversity of species is found in the Amazon rivers. These stingrays are voracious predators that, with their mouths stuck in the mud, section worms, snails, small fish, limpets and other river animals for food.

In general, these stingrays lead a quiet life in Amazonian rivers. However, when they feel threatened, they can trigger a dangerous self-defense technique. From its muscular tail, numerous and tiny spines protrude, which are usually hidden by an epithelial sheath and are covered with a powerful venom. When the animal feels threatened or perceives a strange stimulus in its territory, the spines covered with venom stand out, the ray wags its tail and uses it as a whip to ward off possible predators. This potent poison destroys skin and muscle tissue, causing intense pain, breathing difficulties, muscle contractions and irreversible damage to vital organs such as the brain, lungs and heart. Thus, freshwater stingrays form part of the dangerous animals from the Amazon and also more poisonous.

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

One more animal on the list of dangerous animals from the Amazon the jaguar, also known as the jaguar, is the largest feline that inhabits the American continent and the third largest in the world (after only the bengal tiger and the lion). Furthermore, it is the only one of the four known species of the genus. panthera that can be found in America. Despite being considered a very representative animal of the Amazon, its total population extends from the extreme south of the United States to the north of Argentina, including much of Central and South America.

As we can imagine, it is a large carnivorous feline who stands out as an expert hunter. Food includes small and medium mammals to large reptiles. Unfortunately, it is one of the animals that is in great danger of extinction. In fact, the population was practically eliminated from the North American territory and is reduced throughout the South American territory. In recent years, the creation of National Parks in the jungle regions collaborated with the preservation of this species and for the control of sport hunting. Despite representing one of the most dangerous animals in the Amazon, it is one of the most beautiful creatures and, as we mentioned earlier, endangered due to human activity.

Learn more about forest animals in this PeritoAnimal article.