DOCSLIB.ORG

The Amazon River

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Amazon River SheetFact The Amazon River The World’s Longest River: of the Amazon Basin and in the coastal waters of South In 2007 the National Geographic Society published infor- America. mation that the Amazon is the world’s longest river – just 65 miles longer than the famed Nile River in Africa. This The Amazonian Manatee is another conspicuous mammal was based on a report authored by Guido Gelli, director of living in the waters of the Amazonian basin. science at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statis- tics, following a 14-day scientific expedition to locate the Also present in large numbers is the notorious piranha, a definitive source. carnivorous fish which congregates in large schools, and may attack livestock and even humans. However, only a Fast Facts: few of its species are known to attack humans, most nota- • Source: Near the peak of Mount Mismi in the Peruvian bly the Red-bellied Piranha. Andes • Mouth: If only the river’s main channel is considered, it is The bull shark has been reported 2,500 miles (4,000 kilo- between the islands of Curuá (state of Amapá) and Jurupari meters) up the Amazon River at Iquitos in Peru. (state of Pará) with a width of 9.3 miles. However, conser- vative estimates measure the mouth that includes a larger The arapaima, known in Brazil as the pirarucu, is a South river network of channels to be 110 miles. American tropical freshwater fish. It is one of the largest • Length: 4,225 miles (6,800 kilometers) freshwater fish in the world, reportedly with a maximum • Volume: 11,000,000 cu.ft./second during the rainy season length in excess of 15 feet (4.5 meters) and weight up to • Average speed: 440 pounds (200 kilograms). • Change in elevation: Nearly 17,000 feet • Basin area: 2.72 million square miles (the total U.S. area Another Amazonian freshwater fish is the arowana (or is 3.8 million square miles) aruanã in Portuguese), such as the Silver arowana, which is • Countries: Amazon flows through Peru and Brazil; the also a predator and very similar to the arapaima, but only basin includes Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela. reaches a length of maximum 47 inches (120 centimeters). • Major Amazon River cities: Iquitos, Peru; Manaus, Brazil; Santarem, Brazil; Macapa, Brazil The candirú are a number of genera of parasitic, freshwater • One-fifth of all fresh water entering the Earth’s oceans catfish in the family Trichomycteridae; all are native to the comes from the Amazon River. Amazon River. They sometimes attack humans and have been known to enter the urethras of bathers. The electric eel is also found in the river. Biodiversity*: The Amazon River has more than 3,000 recognized species The anaconda snake is found in shallow waters in the Ama- of fish and that number is still growing. zon Basin. One of the world’s largest species of snake, the anaconda spends most of its time in the water, with just its Along with the Orinoco, the river is one of the main habi- nostrils above the surface. tats of the boto, also known as the Amazon River Dolphin. It is the largest species of river dolphin and can grow to In addition to the thousands of species of fish, the river sup- lengths up to 8 ½ feet (2.6 meters). The boto is the subject ports crabs, algae and turtles. of a very famous legend in Brazil about a dolphin that turns into a man and seduces maidens by the riverside. The * Biodiversity information is taken from the Amazon River information tucuxi, also a dolphin species, is found both in the rivers posted on Wikipedia..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S
    Summary Report of Freshwater Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 4—An Update April 2013 Prepared by: Pam L. Fuller, Amy J. Benson, and Matthew J. Cannister U.S. Geological Survey Southeast Ecological Science Center Gainesville, Florida Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia Cover Photos: Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix – Auburn University Giant Applesnail, Pomacea maculata – David Knott Straightedge Crayfish, Procambarus hayi – U.S. Forest Service i Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ vi INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Region 4 Introductions Since 2000 ....................................................................................... 1 Format of Species Accounts ...................................................................................................................... 2 Explanation of Maps ................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Translocation of Trapped Bolivian River Dolphins (Inia Boliviensis)
    J. CETACEAN RES. MANAGE. 21: 17–23, 2020 17 Translocation of trapped Bolivian river dolphins (Inia boliviensis) ENZO ALIAGA-ROSSEL1,3AND MARIANA ESCOBAR-WW2 Contact e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The Bolivian river dolphin, locally known as the bufeo, is the only cetacean in land-locked Bolivia. Knowledge about its conservation status and vulnerability to anthropogenic actions is extremely deficient. We report on the rescue and translocation of 26 Bolivian river dolphins trapped in a shrinking segment of the Pailas River, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Several institutions, authorities and volunteers collaborated to translocate the dolphins, which included calves, juveniles, and pregnant females. The dolphins were successfully released into the Río Grande. Each dolphin was accompanied by biologists who assured their welfare. No detectable injuries occurred and none of the dolphins died during this process. If habitat degradation continues, it is likely that events in which river dolphins become trapped in South America may happen more frequently in the future. KEYWORDS: BOLIVIAN RIVER DOLPHIN; HABITAT DEGRADATION; CONSERVATION; STRANDINGS; TRANSLOCATION; SOUTH AMERICA INTRODUCTION distinct species, geographically isolated from the boto or Small cetaceans are facing several threats from direct or Amazon River dolphin (I. geoffrensis) (Gravena et al., 2014; indirect human impacts (Reeves et al., 2000). The pressure Ruiz-Garcia et al., 2008). This species has been categorised on South American and Asian river dolphins is increasing; by the Red Book of Wildlife Vertebrates of Bolivia as evidently, different river systems have very different problems. Vulnerable (VU), highlighting the need to conserve and Habitat degradation, dam construction, modification of river protect them from existing threats (Aguirre et al., 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Caudal Fin-Nipping by Serrasalmus Maculatus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in a Small Water Reservoir: Seasonal Variation and Prey Selection
    ZOOLOGIA 32 (6): 457–462, December 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1984-46702015000600004 Caudal fin-nipping by Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in a small water reservoir: seasonal variation and prey selection André T. da Silva1,*, Juliana Zina2, Fabio C. Ferreira3, Leandro M. Gomiero1 & Roberto Goitein1 1Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista. Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil. 2Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia. Rua José Moreira Sobrinho, 45206-000 Jequié, BA, Brazil. 3Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Rua Silva Jardim, 136, Edifício Central, 11015-020 Santos, SP, Brazil. *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. We evaluated how seasonality affects the frequency and intensity of fin-nipping, as well as the fish prey preferences of Serrasalmus maculatus Kner, 1858. The study took place in a small reservoir of the Ribeirão Claro River basin, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Fish were sampled monthly from July 2003 to June 2004, using gillnets. Sampling consisted of leaving 50 m of gillnets in the water for approximately 24 hours each month. No seasonal variation in the frequency and intensity of fin-nipping was observed. Among six prey species, piranhas displayed less damage in their fins, possibly due to intraspecific recognition. Under natural conditions, the caudal fins of Cyphocharax modestus (Fernández- Yépez, 1948) were the most intensively mutilated, which suggests multiple attacks on the same individual. The size of individuals in this species was positively correlated with the mutilated area of the fin, whereas no such correlation was observed for Astyanax altiparanae Garutti & Britski, 2000 and Acestrorhynchus lacustris (Lütken, 1875).
    [Show full text]
  • Host-Parasite Interactions Between the Piranha Pygocentrus Nattereri
    Neotropical Ichthyology, 2(2):93-98, 2004 Copyright © 2004 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia Host-parasite interactions between the piranha Pygocentrus nattereri (Characiformes: Characidae) and isopods and branchiurans (Crustacea) in the rio Araguaia basin, Brazil Lucélia Nobre Carvalho*, ***, Rafael Arruda**, *** and Kleber Del-Claro*** In the tropics, studies on the ecology of host-parasite interactions are incipient and generally related to taxonomic aspects. The main objective of the present work was to analyze ecological aspects and identify the metazoan fauna of ectoparasites that infest the piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri. In May 2002, field samples were collected in the rio Araguaia basin, State of Goiás (Brazil). A total of 252 individuals of P. nattereri were caught with fishhooks and 32.14% were infested with ectoparasite crustaceans. The recorded ectoparasites were branchiurans, Argulus sp. and Dolops carvalhoi and the isopods Braga patagonica, Anphira branchialis and Asotana sp. The prevalence and mean intensity of branchiurans (16.6% and 1.5, respectively) and isopods (15.5% and 1.0, respectively) were similar. Isopods were observed in the gills of the host; branchiurans were more frequent where the skin was thinner, and facilitated attachment and feeding. The ventral area, the base of the pectoral fin and the gular area were the most infested areas. The correlations between the standard length of the host and the variables intensity and prevalence of crustaceans parasitism, were significant only for branchiurans (rs = 0.2397, p = 0.0001; χ2 = 7.97; C = 0.19). These results suggest that both feeding sites and body size probably play an important role in the distribution and abundance of ectoparasites.
    [Show full text]
  • Sensory Biology of Aquatic Animals
    Jelle Atema Richard R. Fay Arthur N. Popper William N. Tavolga Editors Sensory Biology of Aquatic Animals Springer-Verlag New York Berlin Heidelberg London Paris Tokyo JELLE ATEMA, Boston University Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Richard R. Fay, Parmly Hearing Institute, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois 60626, USA ARTHUR N. POPPER, Department of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA WILLIAM N. TAVOLGA, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida 33577, USA The cover Illustration is a reproduction of Figure 13.3, p. 343 of this volume Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sensory biology of aquatic animals. Papers based on presentations given at an International Conference on the Sensory Biology of Aquatic Animals held, June 24-28, 1985, at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla. Bibliography: p. Includes indexes. 1. Aquatic animals—Physiology—Congresses. 2. Senses and Sensation—Congresses. I. Atema, Jelle. II. International Conference on the Sensory Biology - . of Aquatic Animals (1985 : Sarasota, Fla.) QL120.S46 1987 591.92 87-9632 © 1988 by Springer-Verlag New York Inc. x —• All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer-Verlag, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York 10010, U.S.A.), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of Information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, Computer Software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • New Pycnodontiform Fishes (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) from the Early Cretaceous of the Argentinian Patagonia
    ! " # $%&'( ) **+ !,-./001--23,4132 56*+ -,7-,-0897 74,-27-,7,,3 $ + :$!3.2, ; + Cretaceous Research $# 5 + 0'4,-2 $# 5 + -1! <4,-2 5 + 36 <4,-2 +" # !7$%& 7) '7 4,-2 + +88 78-,7-,-0897 74,-27-,7,,37 ; 5= < < 7 # # # 7; # < < 7 < # 9 7 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 1 New pycnodontiform fishes (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) from the Early 2 Cretaceous of the Argentinian Patagonia 3 4 5 Soledad Gouiric-Cavallia, *, Mariano Remírezb, Jürgen Kriwetc T 6 7 a División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de 8 La Plata CONICET, Paseo del Bosque s/n B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina 9 [email protected] 10 b Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La 11 Plata), La Plata, Argentina. Diagonal 113 #275, B1904DPK; 12 [email protected] 13 c University of Vienna, Department of Palaeontology,MANUSCRIP Geocenter, Althanstrasse 14, 14 1090 Vienna, Austria; [email protected] 15 16 17 *Corresponding author 18 19 20 21 ACCEPTED 22 23 24 1 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 25 ABSTRACT 26 Here we describe new pycnodontiform fish material recovered from the marine 27 Agrio Formation (lower Valanginian–lower Hauterivian) of the Neuquén Province in 28 the south-western of Patagonia, Argentina. The new material include an 29 incomplete skull and an incomplete prearticular dentition. The incomplete skullT 30 consists of some dermal and endochondral elements as well as dental remains 31 and represents a new large-sized gyrodontid that is referred to a new species, 32 Gyrodus huiliches. Gyrodus huiliches sp. nov. is characterized by a unique 33 combination of tooth crown ornamentations and tooth shape separating it easily 34 from all known Gyrodus species.
    [Show full text]
  • WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING in BRAZIL Sandra Charity and Juliana Machado Ferreira
    July 2020 WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING IN BRAZIL Sandra Charity and Juliana Machado Ferreira TRAFFIC: Wildlife Trade in Brazil WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING IN BRAZIL TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. © Jaime Rojo / WWF-US Reproduction of material appearing in this report requires written permission from the publisher. The designations of geographical entities in this publication, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of TRAFFIC or its supporting organisations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. TRAFFIC David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 277427 Email: [email protected] Suggested citation: Charity, S., Ferreira, J.M. (2020). Wildlife Trafficking in Brazil. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, United Kingdom. © WWF-Brazil / Zig Koch © TRAFFIC 2020. Copyright of material published in this report is vested in TRAFFIC. ISBN: 978-1-911646-23-5 UK Registered Charity No. 1076722 Design by: Hallie Sacks Cover photo: © Staffan Widstrand / WWF This report was made possible with support from the American people delivered through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily
    [Show full text]
  • Zootaxa,Molecular Systematics of Serrasalmidae
    Zootaxa 1484: 1–38 (2007) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2007 · Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) Molecular systematics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha species and unraveling their evolutionary histories BARBIE FREEMAN1, LEO G. NICO2, MATTHEW OSENTOSKI1, HOWARD L. JELKS2 & TIMOTHY M. COLLINS1,3 1Dept. of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199, USA. 2United States Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st St., Gainesville, FL 32653, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Table of contents Abstract ...............................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of piranha diversity and systematics .................................................................................................................. 3 Material and methods........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Results............................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Discussion
    [Show full text]
  • A Unique Cretaceous–Paleogene Lineage of Piranha-Jawed
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN A unique Cretaceous–Paleogene lineage of piranha-jawed pycnodont fshes Received: 17 March 2017 Romain Vullo1, Lionel Cavin 2, Bouziane Khallouf3, Mbarek Amaghzaz4, Nathalie Bardet5, Accepted: 16 June 2017 Nour-Eddine Jalil5, Essaid Jourani4, Fatima Khaldoune4 & Emmanuel Gheerbrant5 Published online: 28 July 2017 The extinct group of the Pycnodontiformes is one of the most characteristic components of the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic fsh faunas. These ray-fnned fshes, which underwent an explosive morphological diversifcation during the Late Cretaceous, are generally regarded as typical shell- crushers. Here we report unusual cutting-type dentitions from the Paleogene of Morocco which are assigned to a new genus of highly specialized pycnodont fsh. This peculiar taxon represents the last member of a new, previously undetected 40-million-year lineage (Serrasalmimidae fam. nov., including two other new genera and Polygyrodus White, 1927) ranging back to the early Late Cretaceous and leading to exclusively carnivorous predatory forms, unique and unexpected among pycnodonts. Our discovery indicates that latest Cretaceous–earliest Paleogene pycnodonts occupied more diverse trophic niches than previously thought, taking advantage of the apparition of new prey types in the changing marine ecosystems of this time interval. The evolutionary sequence of trophic specialization characterizing this new group of pycnodontiforms is strikingly similar to that observed within serrasalmid characiforms, from seed- and fruit-eating pacus to fesh-eating piranhas. Pycnodonts have been known and studied for more than two centuries1 since they are one of the most remarkable fshes present in Konservat-Lagerstätten of Mesozoic and early Cenozoic age (e.g., Solnhofen and Monte Bolca)2,3.
    [Show full text]
  • Illegal Hunting and Fishing in Brazil
    n a t u r e z a & c o n s e r v a ç ã o 1 3 (2 0 1 5) 183–189 Natureza & Conservação Brazilian Journal of Nature Conservation Supported by Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection ht tp://www.naturezaeconservacao.com.br Research Letters Illegal hunting and fishing in Brazil: a study based on data provided by environmental military police Aline Torres de Azevedo Chagas, Maisa Aparecida da Costa, ∗ Ana Paula Vimieiro Martins, Leonardo Cardoso Resende, Evanguedes Kalapothakis Laboratório de Biotecnologia e Marcadores Moleculares, Department of General Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil a r a t i c l e i n f o b s t r a c t Article history: Illegal hunting and fishing activities are of great relevance to conservation policies. Few Received 6 November 2015 studies with regional focus of the impacts of these activities in Brazil are available. The aim Accepted 9 November 2015 of this study was to characterize illegal hunting and fishing on a national level by collecting Available online 2 December 2015 data from the environmental police. We analyzed reports prepared by 16 states, all of them which contained a variety of information about seized species, and showed a lack of stan- Keywords: dardization of data collection and presentation. Illegal fish seizures were predominantly of Amazonian species. Illegal hunting seizures showed the most uniform territorial distribu- Illegal hunting Illegal fishing tion. Armadillos (Dasypodidae family), pacas (Cuniculus paca), and capybaras (Hydrochoerus Environmental police hydrochaeris) were the most frequently seized species, and numerous seizures of Brazilian Species of forensic interest guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were reported in northeastern Brazil.
    [Show full text]
  • Trichechus Inunguis
    06/09/2016 Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian Manatee, South American Manatee) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2004 2003 2002 2000 Partners IUCN Red List Partnership Technical Support Sponsors Resources Key Documents Categories and Criteria Publications Classification Schemes Data Organization Red List API Spatial Data Download Information Sources and Quality Assessment Process Red List Training References Acknowledgements SIS News and Updates Take Action Enter Red List search term(s) Discover more Home » Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian Manatee, South American Manatee) Scope: Global Trichechus inunguis Download assessment http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/22102/0 2/15 06/09/2016 Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian Manatee, South American Manatee) Summary Classification Schemes Images & External Links Bibliography Full Account Taxonomy Assessment Information Geographic Range Population Habitat and Ecology Use and Trade Threats Conservation Actions Classifications Bibliography Translate page into: Select Language ▼ Taxonomy [top] Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia ChordataMammaliaSireniaTrichechidae Scientific Trichechus inunguis Name: Species (Natterer, 1883) Authority: Common Name(s): English –Amazonian Manatee, South American Manatee French –Lamantin D'Amérique Du Sud, Lamantin De L'Amazone Spanish–Lamantino Amazónico, Manatí Amazónico, Vaca Marina Genetic diversity of T. inunguis has been found to be higher than any one of the three major clusters of T. Taxonomic manatus (Garcia­Rodriguez et al. 1998, Vianna et al. 2002, Caballero and Giraldo 2004), possibly Notes: functioning as a panmictic population (Cantanhede et al. 2005). Assessment Information [top] Red List Category Vulnerable A3cd ver 3.1 & Criteria: Year Published: 2016 Date Assessed: 2016­02­28 Assessor(s): Marmontel, M., de Souza, D. & Kendall, S. Reviewer(s): Morales­Vela, B., Castelblanco­Martínez, D.N.
    [Show full text]
  • World Animal Foundation's Manatee Fact Sheet
    MANATEE FACT SHEET STATUS: Endangered DESCRIPTION: Manatees range in color from gray to brown. They use their two small front flippers to crawl along ocean or river bottoms. Their flat, horizontal tails are pumped up and down to move them along. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well. One of the closest surviving relatives of the manatee is the elephant. Manatees have many anatomical parallels with elephants, including a long, flexible nose or trunk, whiskers, and toenails. SIZE: The average adult manatee weighs 1,500 to 1,800 pounds and measures ten to 12 feet in length. POPULATION: The largest population of manatees is found in Florida, where 5,067 individuals now live. LIFESPAN: Manatees are thought to live 50 to 60 years in the wild. RANGE: Manatees take up residence primarily in Florida’s coastal waters during winter and migrate either as far north as the Carolinas or as far west as Louisiana during the summer months. Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (T. manatus, West Indian Manatee), the Amazon Basin (T. inunguis, Amazonian Manatee), and West Africa (T. senegalensis, West African Manatee). West Indian Manatees enjoy warmer waters and are known to congregate in shallow waters, and frequently migrate through brackish water estuaries to freshwater springs. Their natural source for warmth during winter is warm-spring fed rivers. HABITAT: Manatees can be found in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters.
    [Show full text]