The Amazon rainforest is one of the world’s most important natural habitats. When it comes to supporting species, this is a huge area that supports many species of plant and animal, as well as being of huge importance to the wider world, as the trees there produce a large amount of oxygen which is of course what we need to be able to breathe and live on the Earth.
The Amazon rainforest has been under threat for many years now, and there are lots of ecologists working there to ensure that no more of this precious habitat is lost. Many of the plants and animals cannot be found anywhere else on earth – here are just a few of the fascinating species that call the Amazon rainforest home…
Poison Dart Frog – These strikingly beautiful, coloured frogs are unique to the Amazon rainforest, and unlike many animals, they don’t have a need to camouflage themselves from predators. This is because they have a deadly poison that they secrete from their skin, which can be fatal to most predators. There are actually over 100 different types of poison dart frog that live in the Amazon rainforest, and not all are as poisonous as the other. The deadliest of all is the golden poison frog.
Rubber Tree – The rubber tree, or Hevea Brasiliensis is one of the special secrets that was once something only the native people of the Amazon knew about. These fascinating trees that are only native to this part of the world have been used for centuries to produce rubber – something that is still used today for essentials, by those like this rubber moulding company www.meadex.co.uk/rubber-moulding/ The rubber is obtained from the tree by a process called tapping, which is something that is still used today!
South American Tapir – These strange looking creatures are a relative of the rhinoceros, however, they are only found in South America. These are very quiet and reserved animals, and because of this, researchers are on a mission to learn more about them, using tracking methods and cameras to get a better idea about their lives and populations.
The Giant Kapok Tree – The giants of the Amazon rainforests, these trees can grow over 200 feet! They are also very fast growing, getting as much as 13 feet taller every year. The fruits of the tree can float, and this is how it spreads around the forest, dropping its fruits into the Amazon where it can then make its way to other areas.
