Science

Jararaca venom helped scientists understand blood pressure and led to captopril, a landmark in cardiovascular medicine and a powerful argument for protecting biodiversity.

The name Pará comes from the Tupi language family and means “sea,” reflecting how Indigenous peoples perceived the immense mouth of the Amazon River. Its etymology preserves a cultural vision of rivers as pathways, sources of life and endless horizons.

The Amazon water lily raises its flower temperature by up to 18°F (10°C) to attract Cyclocephala beetles. It then holds them inside for about 24 hours, covering them with pollen while providing food and shelter.

The pirarucu survives waters with very little oxygen by using a modified swim bladder as a lung. Its unusual physiology and community-led management explain why populations have recovered in parts of the Amazon.

The word jacaré comes from the Tupian expression ya-karé, which can be translated as the one who looks sideways. Its origin preserves an Indigenous observation of the animal’s eyes and behavior.

In Pará, the Serra dos Carajás contains more than 1,500 caves in ironstone and evidence of human occupation dating back over 11,000 years. Its forests and rocky fields show how archaeology and biodiversity coexist above enormous iron deposits.

The legend of the Great Serpent, or Boiúna, links the oral traditions of Amazonian peoples with the biology of real anacondas. It also shows why protecting rivers means preserving both biodiversity and cultural memory.

The electric eel Electrophorus voltai can produce 860 volts to navigate, hunt and defend itself. Its electrical biology also helps shape the balance of Amazonian freshwater ecosystems.

The black-eared opossum can survive venom that would kill nearly any other mammal. Its blood may also point toward new treatments while supporting biodiversity across Brazil.

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.