We all know that the Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest. It’s so huge that its size is
48 times that of the United States! Serving as home to around 30% of the world’s species,
it’s no wonder you’d find insanely huge species in this massive ecosystem. Let’s get to know eight
of the Largest Creatures found in the Amazon! What's up, fact-natics! This is Discovery Amuse,
serving up your daily dose of the most outrageous, outlandish, and out-of-this-world fun facts!
Stick around because our number one pick will definitely blow your mind!
Welcome to the jungle!
#8: Bull Shark They are considered as
one of the most dangerous sharks in the world not only because they are extremely aggressive,
but also because they get really gigantic! These hot-headed aquatic bullies have a
reputation for head-butting their prey before going for the kill! Which is quite painful
considering their physique -- short, blunt snout, thick bodies, and long pectoral fins.
But while they are usually found in saltwater, some bull sharks have made their way into the
freshwaters of the Amazon river. In some seasons, bull sharks migrate up and down the Amazon river,
particularly in the lower reaches of the Brazilian Amazon.
With their ability to adapt to both fresh and saltwater environments,
bull sharks are believed to be responsible for the majority of shark attacks near coastal areas.
They will eat almost anything they see – fish, dolphins, and sometimes, even other sharks!
Humans are not on the menu, but that doesn’t mean we can be chummy with them!
Keep watching ‘til number one because you won’t
need a yellow submarine just to get a glimpse of these big bad beetles!
#7: Jaguar “I got the moves like Jagger, I got the moves
like jagger, I got the mooooves like Jagger.” Jagger, jaguar, same difference!
Known to be symbols of power and strength, did you know that jaguars are worshipped as
gods in some South American cultures? They are the third biggest cats in the
world next to lions and tigers, and the largest big cat species in the Americas.
Reaching up to six feet in length and up to three feet tall, male Jaguars have an average
weight of 300 pounds. The Amazon basin is considered the stronghold of these
ferocious felines, although a few of them exist in Central America as well.
These territorial creatures mark their area with their waste or by clawing trees. Females bear one
to four cubs that are blind at birth. The mother stays for two years with the cubs until they are
ready to defend themselves. Sadly, one thing the jaguars can’t defend themselves against
are poachers and illegal traders who capture them for their teeth and bones. In 2019, at
least 500 jaguars also either died or lost their natural habitat due to the fires that ravaged
the Amazon forest. Add to that the high rates of deforestation in South and Central America, and
these factors have altogether put the species of the almighty jaguar to ‘near threatened’ status.
#6: Capybara The next time you coast
along the Tambopata River in the Amazon, make sure to look out for these super-sized rodents!
Capybaras or water hogs are twice as huge as beavers, which makes them the largest
living rodent in South America! They can grow as long as four feet, and can weigh up to 200 pounds!
Unfortunately, due to their lusciously voluptuous bodies,
capybaras are a favorite prey among jaguars and anacondas.
These rodents have short legs, small ears, and no tail. They may look intimidating,
but they are actually gentle and shy creatures. They are vegetarians who love
to chow on aquatic plants, grass, and… their own feces! Holy crap!
While they are heavily hunted in many areas of the Amazon rainforest,
you might just be lucky enough to spot them in the Tambopata Reserve
where they feel more secure relaxing along the riverbanks so get those cameras ready!
#5: Amazonian Manatee Due to its bizarre appearance,
the Amazonian Manatee is often described as the love child of a seal and a hippo!
These colossal creatures have an elongated and flattened rear end and paddle-like limbs
like seals, and their whiskered snouts look like that of a hippo. They are brownish-grey in color,
have thick, wrinkled skin, and are often found at the mouth of the Amazon River,
although they are also spotted in the tributaries of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Amazonian manatees can grow up to three meters in length and can be as heavy as half a ton!
Unfortunately, while they are hard to miss once you come across one, sightings of these aquatic
beasts are becoming more and more rare as people continue to hunt the for their meat and oil.
#4: Harpy Eagle These birds are so
majestically huge, they look like the stuff of fantasy books!
Their sleek, monochrome bodies, vicious eyes, and head feathers that fan out into
a bold crest when threatened have put them at the top of a lot of bird-watchers’ lists.
These powerful raptors were named by early South American explorers after the harpies,
the frightful flying creatures with hooked beak and claws of the Greek mythology.
Similar to other eagle species, harpy females are twice as large as the male.
The harpy eagles’ legs can be as thick as a human toddler’s wrist,
and their talons are larger than a grizzly bear’s claws.
A harpy’s wingspan can reach up to 6.5 feet across which enable them to navigate through
the dense Amazon forest with great agility. However, deforestation from mining, farming
and development projects have been threatening these raptors’ survival. That’s why scientists
are hard at work locating and monitoring their nests in the hopes of protecting their habitat.
#3: Green Anaconda While Nicki’s song
isn’t exactly about reptile preservation, this South American snake has certainly
earned its rightful spot in pop culture. And why not? It’s the largest species of
snake on the planet pound for pound after all! Green anacondas in particular can grow to more
than 30 feet, weigh more than 550 pounds, and measure up to more than 12 inches in girth. Wow,
that’s one massive reptile! With their eyes and nose
perched on their huge head, green anacondas can still observe their prey even when underwater.
Although these are non-venomous snakes, they are extremely powerful and can hold
their victim with their muscular bodies until it is suffocated or dragged into the water,
just like what happened to the film crew in that 1997 J.Lo movie.
But of course, they don’t actually grow to that size. And no, they’re not that agile.
Or are they?
#2: Goliath Bird Eater Arachnophobes, meet your worst nightmare!
With a leg span that can reach nearly a foot, the goliath bird eater is
considered the biggest spider on Earth! But their name is a bit of a misnomer.
When they prowl the jungles of the Amazon, they don’t normally hunt for birds, rather,
they feast mostly on insects and the occasional rodents,
frogs, and lizards. They sure have a diverse appetite.
As nocturnal animals, they emerge from their burrow at night to feast on their
prey. When it pounces another animal, say for instance a mouse,
its fangs act like hypodermic needles that pump neurotoxins onto its victim. When the
prey is nearing death, it is dragged to its burrow, and the digestion process begins.
A goliath bird eater’s sting is not fatal to humans, but it’s better to believe the experts
when they say that its bite feels like being stung by a wasp and hammered with a nail on your hand!
This doesn’t stop some local though from hunting down these buggers to
serve to adventurous tourists who like to try some exotic South American delicacy.
Crunchy, gooey roasted spider, anyone? Before we go to our number 1 pick,
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#1: Titan Beetle Our top pick might be the smallest of the bunch,
but we’re talking about bugs on freaking steroids! Known as the largest beetle in the Amazon
rainforest, and one of the largest insect species on the planet, the titan beetle
can grow up to half a foot in length! That’s almost aa long as an average person’s palm!
Their sharp pines and incredible jaws could easily snap a pencil in half,
and yes, cut into human flesh like a knife. These beetles are found in tropical rainforests in
South America especially in the northern part of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and the Guianas.
The adult ones mate during the hottest and most humid season. They fly around looking
for partners by following the scent of pheromones, the airborne chemical
attractants produced by their own species. However, like a lot of creatures in the Amazon,
titan beetles are threatened due to destruction of their natural habitat.
So, which of these ginormous animals made your skin crawl? Ugh! Let
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Can you imagine running into one of these fantastic beasts in the concrete jungle? Well,
that’s exactly what happened in our countdown
of the 10 Wild Animals That Escaped From the Zoo! So don’t miss that one too!
‘Til then, stay adventurous, fact-natics! And see you in the next video!