Anne Silva 
In historic central Belém, the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi brings together centuries-old trees, Amazonian wildlife, historic buildings and major scientific collections. One of its best-known residents is the Amazonian manatee, protected in a tank surrounded by vegetation.
In Itaituba, Brazil’s Amazon National Park combines white-sand beaches, clear Tapajós River water and trails surrounded by extraordinary biodiversity.
Copaiba oleoresin has long been used by Amazonian communities and is being studied for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Harvesting it without cutting the tree can also support a standing forest economy.
Andiroba seed oil combines anti-inflammatory and insect-repellent properties known by Indigenous peoples and river communities. Harvesting it also supports an economy that keeps the rainforest standing.
Some birds of prey developed dense feathers around the head and neck that protect them while they raid bee and wasp nests. In the Cerrado, this adaptation reveals a complex link between predators, prey and conservation.
The three-toed sloth makes a dangerous weekly trip from the canopy to the ground to defecate. Scientists think the ritual may support a complex partnership involving moths, algae and the sloth’s own fur.
Capybaras live in tightly ranked groups and use calls, scent marks, and communal latrines to maintain cohesion, defend their territory, and reduce conflict.
The Amazonian manatee is the world’s only freshwater manatee and plays a key ecological role by controlling aquatic macrophytes. Its anatomy, diet and extended parental care reveal the complexity of Amazonian rivers.
Cryptococcosis may begin as a mild respiratory infection but can reach the central nervous system and cause meningitis. The danger is greater for immunocompromised people exposed to dry bird droppings and contaminated soil.
True coral snakes of the genus Micrurus have small, fixed, grooved fangs rather than large movable ones. To deliver their potent neurotoxin, they must bite, hold on and make chewing movements.
