Animal Adventures South America

Animal Adventures
South America

Many have compared the topography of South America to a bowl because the inner part of the continent is relatively flat and most of the perimeter is lined with mountain ranges including the Andes Mountains, the longest mountain range in the world. Most of the continent is tropical, but a wide range of climates can be found in South America, which is why it’s so biodiverse. South America is home to the Amazon River, and while it isn’t the longest river in the world it does carry the most water. In fact, The Amazon River has more water than the other 10 largest rivers combined.

Milkfish

Milkfish have blue tops, silver sides, and white bellies that shimmer in the water. They don’t have teeth which leaves them only able to eat soft plants and invertebrates. Milkfish spawn in salty water and female milkfish can lay up to 5 million eggs in one...

Monarch butterfly

Every year, monarch butterflies go on a long migration spanning over 2,000 miles (3200 km). When the weather begins to get cold they travel from Canada and the northern United States all the way down to southern California and central Mexico. They return to the...

Mountain Lion

Mountain lions have poor senses of smell but make up for it with their keen eyesight and excellent hearing that allow them to hunt in early mornings and late evenings. Mountain lions stalk their prey until the right moment to pounce and can leap at distances up to...

North American Beaver

Beavers are very strong swimmers and are able to hold their breath underwater for up to 15 minutes. They are able to close their nostrils in order to prevent water from coming in and have transparent eyelids which they can see through while closed. Beavers build...

Nudibranch

Nudibranchs spend most of their time dragging their bellies along the seafloor in search of something to eat. They come in many different colors, which are determined by the pigments in their prey. Some nudibranchs are even able to acquire a way to defend...

Opossum

Opossums are great climbers and typically nest in tree holes or dens made by other animals. They also visit areas with a lot of humans in order to scavenge food from garbage cans and dumpsters. When an opossum encounters a threat, it flops to its side, closes its...

Peregrine Falcon

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth and can dive at speeds up to 200 miles (323 kilometers) per hour. Instead of building nests, they live in dips of rocks or on the edges of cliffs or buildings. Peregrine falcon chicks learn to fly in just 6...

Poison Dart Frog

Poison dart frogs come in a wide variety of vibrant colors. These colors are supposed to signal that they are poisonous so predators won't eat them. Scientists believe that the poison dart frog’s toxicity comes from some of the insects that they...

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis’ name comes from its long front legs which appear to be in a prayer position. The actual purpose for the shape of their legs is to quickly snatch their prey before it can react and escape. This is helped by the sharp spines on the front sides of...

Pufferfish

The main purpose of a pufferfish’s spines and ability to expand itself is to protect itself from predators. When a predator tries to eat a pufferfish, it inflates inside the predator's mouth, poking it from the inside with its spines. Most pufferfish also contain...