Species Profile Amazonian Tapir (Taprius terestris) Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/ Club Tapir. www.tapirback. com/ photo © Katherine Davis Anatomy lifestyles, tapirs are difficult to see in the Amazonian tapirs (also known as lowland wild. Although they appear to be seden- or Brazilian tapirs) are one of the largest tary, tapirs are able to cover great dis- mammals found in South America. Weigh- tances in the forest. Adaptable to different ing in at anywhere between 350 and 600 habitats, tapirs may be found in swamp pounds, adult tapirs have rather corpulent and hillside areas, savanna, and in cloud bodies. Unusual in appearance, tapirs forests and rainforests. Preferring moist have thick necks, stumpy tails and large areas, they are often found near water- ears. Short trunks, used for lifting food ways where they can feed, rest and bathe. into their mouths, are also characteristic of the tapir. They are a tan to dark brown Diet color, and have a ridge with a fringe of hair Tapirs are browsing herbivores, feeding running along the backs of their necks. on herbaceous vegetation and fruits, with Baby tapirs are born with spotted and a particular affinity for bananas. As they striped coats for camouflage; this will swim well and can walk on pond bottoms, darken as the tapir ages. The three to four they will also feed on aquatic plants. toes on each foot are spread out to help them navigate on soft, muddy ground. Ta- Threats pirs have sharp senses of smell and hear- Being such a large mammal means also ing that are useful in evading predators. being a great source of protein for people. Tapirs are widely hunted by indigenous Habitat people in the forest. Although they are The Amazonian tapir is found in South rather large, tapirs are quite defenseless, America, from northern Colombia to and it is believed that pumas, jaguars and northern Argentina and southern Brazil on alligators may prey on small tapirs. Low the eastern side of the Andes Mountains. reproductive rates and habitat loss due to Tapirs are generally most active at night, deforestation have also diminished popu- although they are often active during the lations. Amazonian tapirs are considered a day. Known for their reclusive, solitary highly vulnerable species. www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) Sources Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- pedia of Rainforests. Con- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. animaldiversity.ummz. umich.edu/ photo © Frank Wouters Anatomy Habitat The Amazon River dolphin averages about The Amazon River dolphin can be found in 6.5 feet in length. They come in all shades the Amazon River system and the Orinoco of pink, from a dull gray-pink, to rosy pink, River system, which flow throughout Bra- to a bright pink like that of the flamingo. zil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, This variation is due to water clarity; the Guyana and Peru. darker the water, the pinker the dolphin will be. The sun's rays cause the dolphins Diet to lose their pink pigmentation. Murky Amazon River dolphins eat more than 50 water helps to protect the dolphin's bright types of fish as well as crustaceans found hue. These animals are also know to flush on the river bottom and the occasional to a bright pink when excited. There are turtle. several anatomical differences between the Amazon River dolphin and other types Threats of dolphins. For one, Amazon River dol- Human activity is the main threat to the phins are able to turn their necks from Amazon River dolphin. Although these side to side, while most species of dol- dolphins have long been respected and phins cannot. This trait, coupled with the unharmed because of the local belief that ability to paddle forward with one flipper they have magical powers, these beliefs and backward with the other, helps them are changing. Some humans see them as maneuver when the river floods. These competition and kill them so they will not dolphins will actually swim up over the have to share the river's fish. The dolphins flooded land and their flexibility helps often become tangled in the nets of fisher- them to navigate around trees. Other men and die. Additionally, the building of characteristics that set them apart are hydroelectric dams in South American molar-like teeth that allow them to chew rivers, pollution, the loss of habitat and their prey and bristle-like hairs at the ends decrease in food sources all threaten this of their snouts that help them search for unique species of dolphin. food on the muddy river bottoms. www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) Sources Smithsonian National Zoological Park. national- zoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/ Facts/FactSheets/fact- andeancondor.cfm Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. www.clemetzoo.com/rttw/ condor/allabt.htm Vulture Culture. www. vulture-territory.com/an- dean.html photo © Keven Law Anatomy ery two years among boulders or in caves The Andean condor is the national animal or holes. These places are typically harder of Colombia and one of the largest birds of for other predators to reach and offer their prey in the world, weighing as much as 20 eggs and chicks more safety. to 25 pounds. Adults can reach heights of four feet, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Diet Males are typically larger than females. Andean condors are scavengers and eat Andean condors are mostly black with a mainly carrion, or dead or decaying flesh. fluffy white collar around their neck and Their excellent eyesight allows them to white patches along their wings. These seek out dead or dying animals while hov- birds have bald grayish-red heads, and the ering high in the sky. They use their sharp, males have a fleshy lump at the front of curved beaks and claws to remove meat their heads called a caruncle. Their beaks from carcasses or weak animals. To clean are large and hooked, and they have large their bald heads after a meal, they scrape feet with sharp claws, allowing them to them along the ground to remove any food easily tear apart their meals. scraps. Baby animals and eggs are also oc- casionally part of the condor's diet. Habitat At one time, the Andean condor could Threats be found along the entire western coast The Andean condor was placed on the of South America from Venezuela to the Endangered Species List in 1973 and is in southern tip of Patagonia. Today, these danger of becoming extinct due primarily majestic birds inhabit only northern to over-hunting. Many farmers shoot these Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and birds because they mistakenly believe Chile. They spend their time in high moun- the condors kill their livestock. Pesticide tains, lowland deserts, open grasslands, poisoning through the food chain has also along coastlines and in alpine regions. Un- hurt populations. Thanks to the repopu- like many other birds, the condor doesn't lation efforts of many zoos, the Andean build nests, but lays its eggs only once ev- condor is beginning to make a comeback. www.rainforest-alliance.org/curriculum Species Profile Banana (Musa acuminata) northern Australia, and were brought to Sources South America by the Portuguese in the Jukofsky, Diane. Encyclo- early 16th century. Today, banana plants pedia of Rainforests. Con- grow in the humid, tropical regions of Cen- necticut: Oryx Press, 2002. tral and South America, Africa and South- east Asia, where there are high tempera- California Rare Fruit tures and rainfall. Modern agricultural Growers. www.crfg.org/ technologies also enable people to culti- pubs/ff/banana.html vate banana plants in non-tropical regions such as California in the United States. International Banana Association. Significance to Humans Grown in every humid, tropical region photo © Gemma Longman on Earth, bananas are the fourth larg- est fruit crop in the entire world and the most popular fruit in the United States. In Central and South America, bananas are vital to the economy. Most bananas sold in the United States originated there. Banana leaves are used worldwide as cooking materials, plates, umbrellas, seat pads for benches, fishing lines, clothing fabric and soles for inexpensive shoes. For much of Botany its history, the banana industry was noto- Contrary to popular belief, banana plants rious for environmentally destructive and are not trees but giant herbs, which reach socially irresponsible farming practices. their full height of between 10 and 20 feet As companies attempted to keep produc- after only a year. Every banana blossom tion high and costs low, they tended to develops into a fruit, which is ripe enough cultivate only single crops in their planta- for consumption after about three or four tions. The lack of biodiversity made the months. After producing fruit, the plants' plants susceptible to disease, which farm stems die off and are replaced by new managers controlled using frequent ap- growth. The number of bananas produced plications of pesticides that would leak by each plant varies. However, 10 or more into drinking water, pollute irrigation bananas growing together forms a “hand.” canals and endanger the health of workers, Banana stems have on average 150 “fin- their families and communities. In 1991, gers” and weigh nearly 100 pounds. The the Rainforest Alliance, along with local trunks of banana plants are not woody but nonprofit organizations, scientists and composed of sheets of overlapping leaves farmers, established the first standards for wrapped tightly around one another, a de- responsible banana production. Rainfor- sign feature that enables them to conserve est Alliance Certified™ farms are guaran- water.