The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) lives only on Queimada Grande Island, about 22 miles (35 km) off the coast of São Paulo state. An estimated 2,000 to 4,000 snakes share 106 acres.
Bothrops jararacussu can inject up to 800 mg of venom in one bite, more than any other Brazilian snake, and Brazilian scientists study its peptides for new drugs.
The hyacinth macaw can use stones as hammers to open hard palm nuts. The behavior points to social learning, cultural tradition, and a close link between animal intelligence and Amazon conservation.
The black caiman carries its newly hatched young between its powerful jaws and stays near them for months. This rare level of parental care reveals the complexity of Amazonian biodiversity.
The caninana combines speed, strength and remarkable climbing ability as it moves through Amazonian leaf litter and tree canopies. Its behavior reveals why snakes are essential to the balance of the rainforest.
The matamata can look like a pile of decaying leaves on the muddy bottom of an Amazonian river. Its camouflage and rapid suction let it capture whole fish without a chase.
The green parrot snake combines camouflage, a powerful prehensile tail and heat-sensing labial pits to hunt high above the Amazon forest floor. Its biology shows how completely a snake can adapt to life in the canopy.
The legend of the pink river dolphin reflects the close relationship between river communities, Amazonian waterways and a species whose biology helped shape one of Brazil’s most enduring myths. It also shows how oral tradition can support biodiversity conservation.
The candiru is far more than a horror legend. Its transparent body, specialized senses and relationship with large fish reveal an extraordinary evolutionary strategy in Amazonian rivers.
The burrowing owl gathers and spreads mammal manure around its nest to attract beetles and other dung-feeding insects. The strategy helps feed its chicks and reveals an extraordinary adaptation to open landscapes.
