Amazing Amazon animals

AMAZING ANIMAL 5

Freshwater dolphins

These pink dolphins detect prey in the muddy river waters with echo-location. Necks twistable at right angles help them slither between flooded trees. Males sometimes twirl sticks to impress females.

AMAZING ANIMAL 4

Manatees

A distant relation of elephants, these aquatic mammals can weigh a massive 600kg (1,300lb), reach 4m (13ft) long, and eat 15 per cent of their body weight in vegetation daily.

AMAZING ANIMAL 3

Red-bellied piranhas

Piranha fish have sharp, tightly packed teeth for tearing meat. They pinpoint struggling or bleeding prey in the water by smell and with an organ that senses changes in water pressure.

AMAZING ANIMAL 2

Scarlet macaws

Among the world’s largest parrots, they can measure almost 1m (3.3ft) from beak to tail and weigh more than 1kg (2.2lb). Highly intelligent birds, some have lived for 75 years.

AMAZING ANIMAL 1

Boa constrictors

These snakes kill by crushing animals in their coils before swallowing them head first. Up to a staggering 4m (14ft) long, they can devour big prey whole by dislocating their jaws.


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