Mainland South America is located in six climatic zones. Tropical and subequatorial zones prevail, the average annual temperature on the mainland is about thirty degrees Celsius, and the climate is rather humid. All this contributes to the development of the unique flora and fauna of South America.
The flora and fauna of the South American continent is amazing and diverse.
During the Cretaceous, when the mainland of Gondwana disintegrated, South America for some time became an island and a special fauna formed here, where notungulates prevailed. Notungulata translated from latin - southern ungulates. When the isthmus formed between South and North America, the influx of North American animals led to the partial extinction of the local fauna. This is a mixture of fauna of both Americas, paleontologists called the "Great American Exchange."
In modern South America, a large number of animal species live:
- Mammals
- Reptiles.
- Birds.
- Amphibians.
- Insects.
- Fish.
Some representatives of these species exist only in South America.
In the animal world of South America there is a wide variety of feline families.
Leopard belongs to the big cat family. Leopard is a large and graceful cat. Leopard’s body is light slim and muscular with a very long tail. The leopard's weight reaches sixty kilograms, the length of the body without a tail reaches up to two meters, while the tail reaches a length of up to one hundred and ten centimeters.
The color of the leopard's coat is yellow with black spots forming a rosette with a yellow core. Each leopard has its own individual spot arrangement, akin to human fingerprints. Leopard hunting alone sneaking up on the victim or waiting for her in ambush. Usually preys on an antelope, but can use rodents and monkeys as food. May attack livestock. The female carries the cubs for three months and gives birth to two or three kittens; upon reaching two and a half years, the kittens become independent.
Outwardly, the ocelot resembles a leopard, but is much smaller in size, rather comparable to a leopard cub. Ocelot prefers to live in a tropical jungle. During the day, ocelots prefer to sleep in trees, hiding in hollows, and go hunting at night. Ocelot prey are birds and small mammals, sometimes ocelots catch snakes. They live and hunt alone. A female ocelot carries babies for 2.5 months and gives birth to one or two kittens, which feed on mother’s milk for about seven weeks, and at two years old ocelots begin independent life.
Pampas cat.
Pampassa cat, in contrast to the ocelot, prefers to live on the plains and in rare forests, among shrubs, grasses and deserts. This cat is sometimes called the “Herbal Cat”. In size it is a relatively large animal, weighing from five to twelve kilograms and a length of about eighty centimeters.
It hunts, as a rule, at night. Pampas cat prey - small rodents, large insects and birds. In appearance resembles domestic cats, it pretty dense beast with short legs, dense gray-yellow coat. The color of the cat is complemented by brown spots throughout the body and brown or red rings on the fluffy tail. Sometimes cats with a uniform color are found.
Kittens Pampass cat hatches two and a half months and gives birth to two or three cubs. Independent cubs become at the age of six months, and mature by two years.
Chilean cat.
Chilean cat prefers to live in mixed and coniferous forests. This is a small animal the size of a domestic cat. By color sand cats with black spots that merge into dark stripes. This color masks a cat well in the forest, which accompanies a successful hunt. Chilean cat hunts small rodents, birds, lizards and insects.
Animals of south america
There are many unusual animals in the plant and animal world of South America.
Alpaca is a cloven-hoofed pet. Alpaca has been breeding since ancient times. They are grown mainly for hair cuttingwhich is very much appreciated in the world. Alpaca wool is similar to sheep’s, but lighter. Clothes, bedspreads, warm blankets and blankets are made from alpaca wool. These are peaceful, friendly animals. They are inquisitive and fearful.
Capybara.
In another way, a capybara is called a capybara. Capybara is a rodent, the largest in the world. The capybara has a large, heavy body, the height at the withers is about sixty centimeters, and the weight can reach up to sixty kilograms. In appearance capybara is very similar on a guinea pig, only significantly exceeds its size. On the body of the capybara is a stiff, shaggy and long coat of a reddish-brown color. The back has a darker color than a light belly. Paws are short with membranes on the fingers and powerful, short claws. Capybara is quite good-natured, phlegmatic. It feeds on plant foods.
Armadillo.
Perhaps the most amazing beast in the world is an armadillo. The entire body of the armadillo is covered with a shell of hard bone plates. The weight of the battleship reaches sixty kilograms, the body length of about one meter. They live, as a rule, alone, eat termites and ants. The armadillo's stomach, like the shell, is sent out by bone plates, which improves digestion of food. The female carries a pregnancy from several weeks to several months, the cubs are born sighted and always of the same sex.
The slowest beast on the planet, therefore, fully lives up to its name. It lives mainly on trees, for the purposes of natural needs, it rarely descends to the ground. Since it is easy prey for predators, the main time of life holds in the crowns of trees. Swims well. The coat is thick and long gray-brown with a green tint. It looks like a monkey, the sloth has long limbs and a relatively small head. Sloths feed on plant foods, lizards and insects. They live alone. The female carries a pregnancy of six to twelve months. The weight of an adult can reach nine kilograms, and height up to sixty centimeters.
Funny, smart and frisky monkey. Capuchin owes its name to the monks from the order of capuchins, since the color of its wool is surprisingly similar to the colors of the clothes of the monks of this order. Capuchins are small weigh up to five kilograms and about fifty centimeters tall. These monkeys are very emotional, quickly change their mood and even know how to cry. They eat fruits, can profit from lizards and insects. Capuchins live in groups, however, capuchins can be kept at home.
Fish and birds of South America
There are a lot of exotic birds in South America, here are some of them:
- Ara parrot.
- Andean Condor.
- Frigate and other birds.
Ara parrot.
Red Macaw is the most beautiful bird. It has a bright, contrasting plumage. Lives in tropical, moist forests of South America. Ara parrots have a good memory and able to imitate human speech. They feed on plants, sometimes they raid farmers' plantations. They are the subject of hunting of the Indians. They are caught because of bright feathers and tasty meat. Female parrot lay two or three eggs and hatch them for about a month.
Andean Condor.
The name shows that this bird lives in the Andes, comes from a family of vultures and feeds on carrion. Located on the verge of destruction.
Frigates are inhabitants of the sky. They spend most of their lives in flight. On the ground, they are clumsy and cannot swim at all, while they fly over water and eat fish. A frigate can take off only from trees.
Piranha predatory fish lives in the waters of the Amazon River and other rivers. May be a threat to humans. The body length of piranha is about thirty centimeters, in rare cases, reaches eighty centimeters. Males have a dark blue color of scales, females are dark purple. Piranha loves warm, fresh, plant-rich water. They are constantly looking for food. They attack fish, animals, and even their relatives. Sharp teeth in a closed state resemble a closed zipper. Piranha itself can be prey to turtles, caimans, snakes and birds.
Plants and animals of South America have a great variety and bright colors. Unusual mammals, birds, fish and insects, all this makes up the unique wildlife of South America. The favorable climate of this continent promotes the reproduction of animals in South America and a large number of diverse vegetation of the jungle.
South America is the fourth largest continent; it lies in the southern hemisphere. Five climatic zones determine the characteristics of the flora and fauna: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate, most of the continent is characterized by a warm climate.
Plant and animal worlds are very rich, many species are found exclusively here. South America is a record holder in many respects, the longest and deepest river in the world flows in the Amazon, the longest mountain range of the Andes is located, the largest mountain lake Titicaca is located, it is the rainiest continent on earth. All this significantly influenced the development of wildlife.
The nature of the different countries of South America:
Flora of South America
The plant world of South America is rightfully considered the main wealth of the mainland. Plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, corn, chocolate tree, rubber tree were discovered here.
The humid tropical forests of the northern part of the continent still amaze with the richness of species, and today scientists continue to discover new plant species here. In these forests there are different types of palm trees, melon tree. There are 750 species of trees and 1,500 species of flowers per 10 square kilometers of this forest.
The forest is so dense that it is extremely difficult to move along it, and creepers make movement difficult. A typical plant for the rainforest is ceiba. Forest in this part of the mainland can reach a height of more than 100 meters and is distributed over 12 levels!
To the south of the selva there are variable-humid forests and savannahs, where the Quebracho tree grows, which is famous for very hard and very heavy wood, valuable and expensive raw materials. In the savannas, small forests are replaced by thickets of cereals, shrubs, and hard grasses.
Further south are the pampas - the South American steppes. Here you can find many types of herbs, common for Eurasia: feather grass, bearded, fescue. The soil here is quite fertile, since there is less rainfall and it is not washed out. Shrubs and small trees grow among the grasses.
The south of the mainland is a desert, the climate there is more severe, and therefore the vegetation is much poorer. Shrubs, some types of grasses and cereals grow on the stony soil of the Patagonia desert. All plants are resistant to drought and constant weathering of the soil, among them - resinous Chanyar, Chukuraga, Patagonian Fabian.
Fauna of South America
The animal world, like vegetation, is distinguished by its enormous wealth; many species are still not described and not qualified. The richest region is the Amazonian Selva. It is here that such amazing animals as sloths, the smallest hummingbird birds in the world, a huge number of amphibians, including poisonous frogs, reptiles, including huge anacondas, the world's largest rodent capybara, tapirs, jaguars, and river dolphins are found. At night in the forest, a wild ocelot cat hunts, resembling a leopard, but found only in America.
According to scientists, 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and an unknown number of species of insects and invertebrates live in the selva. The water world of the Amazon is also rich, its most famous representative is the predatory fish piranha. Other famous predators are crocodiles and caimans.
The savannahs of South America also have rich fauna. Armadillos are found here, amazing animals covered with plates - “armor”. Other animals that can be found only here are anteaters, Onda ostriches, spectacled bear, cougar, kinkaju.
In the pampas of this continent there are deer and llamas who live in open spaces, and who can find here the grass that they feed on. The Andes have their own special inhabitants - llamas and alpacas, whose thick coat saves them from high mountain cold.
In the deserts of Patagonia, where only stiff grasses and small shrubs grow on stony soil, small animals, insects, and various species of rodents live mainly.
South America includes the Pacific Galapogos Islands, which are home to amazing turtles, the largest members of the family on earth.
My mother is a biology teacher at school. In her childhood, 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 famous for South America
This continent is located in five climatic zones. Because of this, the animal and plant world is diverse. South America can be called a champion, because here:
- the longest river in the world is the Amazon;
- the largest mountain lake;
- most precipitation falls;
- the longest mountains.
Many can not imagine their life without potatoes, and after all, it was found in South America. Even on the continent were discovered tomatoes, chocolate tree, corn.
What kind of 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 can not be found in zoos.
In America, you can meet the largest rodent in the world. Its weight can reach up to sixty kilograms. They are called capybaras, and at first they were mistaken for pigs.
Also on the continent is the largest species of turtles and crocodiles. Orinok crocodile can reach up to five meters in length. An elephant turtle can weigh up to two hundred kilograms and live up to a hundred years. There were cases when in captivity the tortoise survived to 170 years of age.
What animals should be wary
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. Firstly, they say that anacondas can reach 20 meters in length. Secondly, among local residents there are rumors about anaconda-cannibals.
There are piranhas in the Amazon. This fish is considered very dangerous to humans. Due to her subtle scent, she can smell blood at a great distance.
Dangerous cats are also found on the continent. Cougars and cheetahs often cause fear in the locals.
The largest tarantula spiders live in South America.
Ministry of Education of Ukraine
on the theme "Animals of South America"
Performed:
Grade 7-B student
Shostak A.I.
Checked:
Donetsk 2004
PLANTS AND ANIMALS The natural world of South America is one of the richest on the planet. In the Amazon, at least 44,000 different plant species, 2,500 species of river fish and 1,500 species of birds can be found. The jungle is home to vast sciences that feed on birds, and mammals such as armadillos and sloths. The rivers of South America are inhabited by sea cows, freshwater dolphins, giant catfish and electric eels. Thousands of species of forest insects have not yet been studied.
In the Andes there are alnaki and vicunas from the camelidae family. In the steppes of Pamna there is a large running bird, Nanda, or American ostrich. In colder areas on the southern outskirts of the continent, penguins and seals are common. On the Galapagos Islands, lying in the Pacific Ocean west of the shores of Ecuador, there are such rare representatives of the animal world as the famous giant turtles.
Fertile soils nourish the rich flora of the continent. South America is the birthplace of prickly araucaria, rubber-bearing plants, potatoes and many domestic plants (e.g. monsters).
The nature of South America is in danger 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.
TAPS
(Tapirus terrestris)
Mammals / Equidae / Tapirs / TAP
Mammalia / Perissodactyla / Tapiridae / Tapirus terrestris
· View TAPIR PLAIN listed in the international Red Book
TAPIR PLAIN (Tapirus terrestris) is the most famous and wider than other types of tapirs. 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 covers the whole body. Starting between the ears, a stiff, stiff mane stretches along the entire neck. Plain tapir lives in the forests of South America, from the Amazon basin to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Tapir is a solitary, cautious inhabitant of the rainforest. He avoids open spaces, but is very attached to water. Where it does not bother him, tapir feeds at any time of the day, except for the hot midday hours that it spends in the water. Swimming places for tapirs are easy to find along the trails and a lot of litter on the shore and in shallow water. In water, tapirs not only escape from the heat, but also get rid of the blood-sucking arthropods. They walk along the same paths that are laid in dense thickets in the form of tunnels, more often along rivers and streams. Along these paths on the foliage and grass accumulates a lot of ticks and ground leeches awaiting the victim, so a person should not use these paths. Fleeing the attack, the tapir (and its main enemy - the jaguar) throws the path, breaks through dense thorny bushes with extraordinary speed. Plain tapir feeds on young leaves of shrubs and trees, marsh, water and meadow herbs, as well as fruits and fruits, grabbing leaves with a moving trunk. If the tapir cannot get a tidbit, he gets up on his hind legs, leaning his fore feet on the trunk. The tapir trunk is unusually mobile; he stretches and retracts all the time, feeling all the objects. The tip of the trunk with a button-like patch is equipped with sensitive coarse hair - vibrissa - and serves as a sense of touch. Like all forest animals, tapir has a good sense of smell and hearing, but poor eyesight. Near human settlements, tapir raids fields and plantations of corn, sugarcane, 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 produces offspring, on average every 15 months. Before mating, animals are usually agitated; the male, looking for the female, makes a short coughing sound or a sharp lingering whistle. Like all tapirs, the striped-spotted cub walks with its mother for a long time. He sucks his mother when she lies on her side, like a pig, and sleeps lying next to her mother. She does not let go of the cub far away from her, calling him as soon as he runs back two or three steps to the side. With age, a young tapir becomes very mobile, runs around his mother, jumps, shakes his head. Locals prey on plain tapir for meat and skin. In danger, the tapirs try to hide in the water, where the natives catch them in boats and, as soon as the animals come up, kill them with spears or knives. In villages, you can often see young tapirs taken from murdered mothers. They quickly become tame, take a pacifier with milk, and at the age of a few weeks they eat well boiled vegetables and porridge. Later, tapirs feed on leaves and grass and especially like leaves and young ears of corn. Village kids ride hand-held tapirs on horseback. It is said that in the last century, colonists plowed with success, harnessing hand-held tapirs to a plow. In captivity, the tapirs lived to 30 years.
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JAGUAR
(Panthera onca)
Mammals / Predators / Feline / JAGUAR
Mammalia / Carnivora / Felidae / Panthera onca
· View JAGUAR 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 slightly larger than the leopard: the body is 150-180 cm, the tail is 70-91 cm, the mass is 68-136 kg. The body of the jaguar is more stocky, massive, the tail and legs are relatively shorter than that of a leopard, and rather it resembles a tiger. Jaguar is distributed almost throughout South and Central America and in the south of North America. For him, the most characteristic are dense tropical forests, to a lesser extent - arid thickets of shrubs. Sometimes jaguars appear even in pampas. They lead a wandering life and often overcome wide rivers, as they swim excellently and, most importantly, willingly. Deer, bakers, agouti, capybaras are the prey of the jaguar. He attacks large tapirs when they come to a watering place, abducts dogs and livestock, catches alligators, turtles, fish, and small animals. Jaguars breed all year round. Pregnancy lasts 100 to 110 days. In the brood, there are up to 4 cubs. They grow quickly, but reach puberty in three years.
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WHITE BRUSHNESS
(Euphractus sexcinctus)
Mammals / Nawtooths / Armadillos / WHITE BRUSHNESS
Mammalia / Edentata / Dasypodidae / Euphractus sexcinctus
WHITE-BADDEN BARNESET (Euphractus sexcinctus) is distributed farthest from the north from Middle Argentina to the lower Amazon; the second inhabits Northern and Central Argertina. In addition to the color of the bristles, the white-bristled one differs in somewhat larger sizes (the length of its body is 40–50 cm, its tail is 20–25 cm, and its mass is 3.5–4.5 kg) and its relatively poorly developed bristle cover. These armadillos, which are called peludos (hairy) in Argentina, are better known than others because they dig numerous temporary burrows in the savannah and often leave burrows during the day, even in bright sunshine. If the earth is soft and there is no hole near, then in danger, the peludos quickly buries in front of the pursuer. The course of an ordinary hole does not exceed 2 m and ends with a camera. In addition, there are many small holes or, more precisely, deep skates dug by the animal in search of food. Because of its burrows, peludos for local gaucho (riders) is a “thorn in the eye,” since horses often fall into its burrows and break their legs. In addition, digging a hole armadillos spoil crops. In some areas, even premiums for the destruction of peludos have been established, and hunters get hundreds of these animals in a few days. They hunt them in the moonlight with dogs and kill with a stick or fill holes with water. Bristled armadillos feed on insects, worms and other invertebrates, as well as carrion. In the corpse of an animal, several animals can be found at the same time, usually living alone. They breed twice a year. Pregnancy lasts 62-74 days. Usually bring two cubs, which the female feeds in the hole for a month.
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Caiman Crocodile
(Caiman crocodilus)
Reptiles or reptiles / Crocodiles / Alligators / CAYMAN Crocodile
Reptilia / Crocodylia / Alligatoridae / Caiman crocodilus
Caiman crocodilus (Caiman crocodilus) has a relatively long muzzle narrowed in front. In adults, through holes are formed to accommodate large - first and fourth - teeth of the lower jaw (in the premaxilla in front of the nostrils and in the suture between the maxillary and maxillary bones). Often on one or both sides of the skull, the outer wall of the opening on the suture of the premaxillary and maxillary bones is destroyed, forming not fossae, but notches in the edges of the upper jaw to accommodate the fourth teeth of the lower. This gives the skull the appearance usual for the skulls of real crocodiles, which led to the species name of this species. Animals reach 2.4-2.6 m in length. Crocodile caiman is widespread in Central and South America: from Chiapas in the north to the mouth of 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 met in the sea near the coast. In the distribution of these animals, floating islands, formed from water hyacinths (Eichhornia) and other plants, sometimes reaching considerable sizes (over 900 m²) and often floating downstream, play an important role. These floating islands (“mats”) provide refuge for young caimans and can carry them long distances and into the open sea. Animals prefer quiet waters and are more often found in swamps and small rivers. Young individuals feed mainly on aquatic insects. Adults attack any prey that they can handle. The main food consists of large water snails, freshwater crabs and fish. Propagate throughout the year, but especially intensively from January to March (Colombia). Females for laying eggs build nests from rotting plants among thickets near water. Clutch consists of 15-30 eggs. Adult males occupy a certain territory and fight with males who have violated the boundaries of individual plots. The number of crocodile caimans has now fallen sharply due to intensive hunting for them for the sake of the skin.
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Dwarf game
(Cebuella pygmaea)
Mammals / Primates / Needle-shaped / Dwarf game
Mammalia / Primates / Callitrichidae / Cebuella pygmaea
The Dwarf Toy (Cebuella pygmaea) lives in the upper reaches of the Amazon River - from the west bank of the Purus River to the foot of the Andes, 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, on the tail are not clearly defined stripes. The face is frayed. The ears are small, bare 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 approximation of danger, they instantly hide in the thick of the foliage. Judging by the observations, in captivity dwarf marmosets give birth to two cubs, which are kept on the body of their father for up to 6 weeks. From 8 weeks they gradually become independent and independently seek food for themselves. By 24 weeks they reach the size of adults.
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ANACONDA
(Eunectes murinus)
Reptiles or Reptiles / Scaly / Snake-legged / ANACOND
Reptilia / Squamata / Boidae / Eunectes murinus
ANACONDA (Eunectes murinus) is the largest snake in the world - inhabits the whole of tropical South America east of the Cordillera and the island of Trinidad. The average size of the adult anaconda is 5-6 m, but individuals up to 10 m long are occasionally found. The unique and largest reliably measured specimen from East Colombia reached 11 m 43 cm (we recall, however, that this specimen could not be preserved). The main body color of the anaconda is grayish-green with large dark-brown spots of a round or oblong shape, alternating in a checkerboard pattern. On the sides of the body there is a series of small bright spots surrounded by a black stripe. This color perfectly conceals the anaconda when it lurks, lying in a quiet backwater, where brown leaves and bunches of algae float on gray-green water. Favorite places of anaconda are low-flowing arms and backwaters, elders 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 coming to a watering place (agouti, paka, bakers), waterfowl, sometimes turtles and young caimans. Domestic pigs, dogs, chickens, and ducks also fall victim to the anaconda when they approach water. Anaconda often crawls ashore and takes sun baths, but does not depart far from the water. She swims perfectly, dives and can be under water for a long time, while her nostrils are closed by special valves. When the reservoir dries, the anaconda moves to neighboring ones or descends downstream of the river. In the dry period, which may occur in some areas, the anaconda burrows in the bottom silt and falls into a stupor, in which it remains until the rains resume. The molting process at the anaconda also often takes place under water: in captivity it was necessary to observe how the snake, plunging into the pool, rubs its belly against its bottom and gradually pulls itself out of the crawl. The anaconda is ovoviviparous, and the female brings from 28 to 42 cubs 50-80 cm long, but occasionally can lay eggs. They do not live in captivity for long - 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 "scary" stories of "eyewitnesses", the anaconda cannot be considered dangerous for an adult. Isolated attacks on people are carried out by an anaconda, apparently by mistake when a snake sees under water only part of a person’s body, or if it seems to her that they want to attack or take her prey. Only the case of the death of a thirteen-year-old boy swallowed by an anaconda is completely reliable. Local hunters, as a rule, are not afraid of anaconda and kill it whenever possible. A number of myths and superstitions that exist among the Indian tribes are associated with this snake.
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COLIBRI-SAPFO
(Sappho sparganura)
Birds / Long-winged / Hummingbird / COLIBRI-SAPFO
Aves / Macrochires / Trochilidae / Sappho sparganura
COLIBRI-SAPFO (Sappho sparganura) is characteristic of southern Bolivia and Northwest Argentina. It adheres to the dry open landscape of the foothills and the high plateau of the Bolivian Andes. Her head and front of her body are brilliantly green, her back is purple-violet, and her long forked tail is red with black endings for each feather. When a bird soars upward with great ease, its “burning” tail gives the impression of a comet trail. Due to excessive persecution, this bird is now very rare.
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CONDOR
(Vultur gryphus)
Birds / Day Birds of Prey / American Vultures / CONDOR
Aves / Falconiformes / Cathartidae / Vultur gryphus
· Kind CONDOR listed in the international Red Book
CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) is a huge bird: the male is about 1.15 m long, the wingspan is up to 2.75 m. The female condor is slightly less. The coloring of adult birds of the condor is black with a white collar of leaf-shaped feathers. Minor flywheels with wide white rims, shoulder white with black bases. The bare skin of the head and throat is blackish-gray, the neck and goiter are red. Condor's legs are dark gray. The rainbow is red. The beak is black with a yellow top. Males have a crest on the waxworm (females do not have it). Young condors are brown in color, their head is covered with down. Condor is widespread 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 mountain belt at an altitude of 3000-5000 m, sometimes it flies higher (at Chimboraso it was recorded at an altitude of more than 7000 m). In the southern part of the nesting area, condor is found both in the foothills and in the plains. In nesting time, the condor is kept in separate pairs, at other times of the year it leads a flocking lifestyle. A 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, puberty (full dress), they, apparently, reach only six years of age. Condor feeds mainly on carrion, decomposed to varying degrees. Occasionally, condors also attack live animals (newborns or weakened wigons, calves and lambs).
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VICUNA
(Lama vicugna)
Mammals / Callosophy / Camelids / VICUNA
Mammalia / Tylopoda / Camelidae / Lama vicugna
· View VICUNA listed in the international Red Book
VICUNA (Lama vicugna) is a species of wild lamas. It is smaller than 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 guanaco, on the neck and chest forms a suspension 20-35 cm long. 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 highlands of the Andes. Like guanaco, it is kept by family herds of 5-15 females with young under the leadership of an adult male. Single males form temporary, easily decaying groups of 20-30 animals. Vicuna runs from April to June. Pregnancy lasts 10-11 months. Previously, the Incas annually drove a large number of vicunas into corral, cut their wool and then released it into the wild. Now the Indians also sometimes drive a herd of vicunas into corrals near rocky cliffs, shear and release them, but the number of vicunias has sharply decreased, and such cases are now rare. In the research farm in Cuzco (Peru) at an altitude of 4000 m above sea level, work is being carried out on the domestication and breeding of vicuna. Currently, no more than 5,000 vicunas have been preserved in Peru, about 1,000 animals in Bolivia, and this species is under protection. All species of wild and domestic humpbacked camels live well in zoos up to 20-25 years old, breed and produce prolific hybrids. It is harder for others to keep vicuna, and it rarely crosses with other forms.
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Family SLOTS
(Bradypodidae)
Mammals / Uptight / Sloths /
Mammalia / Edentata / Bradypodidae /
Family SLOATS (Bradypodidae) Sloths are purely arboreal animals that feed on leaves and spend their whole lives on 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 hooks, as it were, with which the animals hang or move slowly. In contrast to 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 of self-defense of these harmless animals is to go unnoticed, which is why their extreme slowness is associated. Among the foliage of trees in the rainforest, these animals are really completely invisible, which is facilitated by the greenish tint of their long coarse coat. This green color of gray-brown hair depends on the blue-green microscopic algae (Trichophilus and Cyanoderma), which settle in the longitudinal and transverse grooves of the sloth hair. Another cohabitant spends almost all his life on the body of these animals - a special type of moth butterfly, laying its eggs in the sloth's wool.
The internal organs of the sloth due to the constant position of the animal with its back down are also unusual for mammals. The liver is turned to the back, covered by the stomach and does not touch the abdominal wall; the spleen and pancreas lie not on the left, but on the right. The bladder is very large and almost in contact with the diaphragm, the trachea makes two bends, etc. Sloths feed on leaves, young shoots, flowers and fruits of the trees, which break off the lips with hard, horny skin. In exceptional cases, when there is no food, sloths go to neighboring trees on the ground. But on earth, they are completely helpless. Lying with their limbs extended to the sides, they are looking for something to catch on with their claws, and they can hardly move a few meters.
Sloths sleep 15 hours a day, sometimes gathering several animals together in a fork in the branches, and then they surprisingly resemble an armful of hay. Their breathing and blood circulation are very slow, and 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. Despite the fact that sloths are intensively hunted, since their meat resembles lamb to their taste, the skin is used to cover saddles, and curved claws are used for necklaces, these subtle animals have been preserved in many places in South and Central America where other mammals have long been exterminated .
The Andes mountain system in South America stretches across seven countries of the continent in a direction from north to south, from Venezuela to Chile. It is the longest continental mountain range with a unique ecosystem and a wide variety of animal species. About two thirds of the Andean species are endemic to this region.
Of the 600 species of mammals living in the Andes, 13% are endemic. 45% of the 600 reptile species found here are also endemic. This mountain system of South America is home to about 1700 species of birds and 400 species of fish, almost a third of which are endemic. Below are the most famous animals living in the Andes.
Guanaco
This mammal is one of the most common animals of the Andes of South America. Guanaco belong to the family of camelids and can reach a height of 1-2.2 meters. They live in herds of females and offspring led by a dominant male leader. The male protects the entire group of animals from predators and other threats. The thick skin on the neck of these animals of the Andes reliably protects them during attacks by predatory animals.
The life expectancy of guanaco is 20-25 years. The legal hunting of these animals in the Andes is resolved only in some places within their range. Guanaco wool is of excellent quality and of particular value.
Chinchillas
The Andes of South America are home to these rodents, known for their fur, which ranks second in the world in density among all terrestrial mammals. They lead a twilight lifestyle, showing the greatest activity at dusk and at dawn. Chinchillas in the Andes are found at an altitude of up to 4200 m.
The population of these animals is growing rapidly, but still they are most common in the Chilean Andes. Hunting wild chinchillas for the purpose of obtaining their valuable fur is one of the main reasons that significantly affect the development of their population. Long-tailed and short-tailed chinchillas are considered by IUCN to be among the endangered species.
Alpaca
This animal is a domestic species of vicuna that is bred in the highlands of the Andes of South America. Of particular value is alpaca wool, which is used to create clothes (in particular, shawls, socks, sweaters, gloves and hats).
The most appreciated wool of two types of alpacas - Huacaya and Suri (Suri). Herds of these animals graze in the Andes at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 m. They differ from lamas in smaller dimensions.
Llama
This domesticated animal of the camelid family for many centuries was inextricably linked with the culture of the Andean peoples. Llamas were used by people of this region as pack animals, and also served as their main source of meat.
The height of these animals reaches 1.7-1.8 m, and their life expectancy is from 15 to 25 years. Llamas are known to be social animals and coexist peacefully in large herds. They are also considered very intelligent and easy-to-learn Andean animals.
Peruvian and southand deer
These two species of deer are among the animals living in the Andes of South America. Peruvian deer is found mainly in Peru and Bolivia, and the second species is most common in Argentina and Chile.
Both animals are characterized by a massive body and short legs. In summer, they live at significant heights, and by autumn they move to protected valleys, where they spend the winter.
Both deer species found in the Andes feed on grasses, shrubs, grass and lichens.
Their life expectancy is up to 10 years. Poaching, the destruction of their habitat and the appearance of non-native species are the main reasons that lead to the threat of extinction of these Andean deer.
Yellow-tailed monkey
These monkeys are an endemic species of Peruvian primates, which totals about 250 individuals and is on the verge of extinction. They are found in the cloudy forests of the Andes - on steep cliffs, in deep gorges and dense thickets at an altitude of 1500 to 2700 m.
Due to human intervention and the destruction of the natural habitat of these primates, the population of yellow-tailed monkeys has decreased significantly. Only a few isolated groups of these animals remained in the Andes.
Spectacled (Andean) Bear
Spectacled bear is often called Andean. He is the only species of bears that live in South America. The spectacled bear is also one of the largest land mammals found on the South American continent.
Although these animals are omnivores, only 5% of their diet is meat. Andean bear lives in a vast area, including alpine meadows, shrubbery and cloudy forests of the Andes. Basically, these Andean animals are found at an altitude of more than 1900 m.
South American foxes
These representatives of the canine genus are not much different from other foxes that live in the Andes of South America. The most common in this group of six species is the South American gray fox.
Other species include Andean, pampas, Brazilian, Darwin and Securan foxes.
Guinea pigs
The ancestors of these popular pets are animals that live in the Andes of South America. Guinea pigs were domesticated by the Incan indigenous South American inhabitants.
These animals played a special role in the culture of the Andean people and were used primarily as a food source, as well as in folk medicine.
Mountain tapir
These animals live in the Andes mountains and among the five species of tapirs occupy second place in the smallest size. It is easy to distinguish from the relatives of mountain tapirs by thick wool.
These herbivores play a key role in the development of the Andean ecosystem, as they contribute to the spread of plant seeds.
Vicuna
These wild representatives of the camelidae family living in the Andes are national animals of Peru. Vicuna is notable for its insignificant coat, which at the same time has excellent quality. Previously, only members of the royal families were allowed to wear vicuna clothes. Now these animals of the Andes are under protection and hunting for them is prohibited.
In the old days, it was unlimited hunting for vicuna that led to the fact that by 1974 the population was only 6,000 individuals. After considerable efforts aimed at the revival of these animals of the Andes, their number increased to 350 thousand individuals. Vicuna is found mainly in the central Andes in the territory of Bolivia, at an altitude of 3200 to 4800 m and feeds mainly on low-growing vegetation.
The fauna of South America impresses with its versatility. Also read about, including the many endemic species of this mountainous region, and find out which of the animals that live in the vastness of South America are.