Thorny Catfish

Although the Thorny Catfish ( Megalodoras uranoscopus ) its Latin name, makes a nasty morsel for potential predators, fishermen are happy to catch this edible species. The long bony pectoral fins of this and similar species are used for handicrafts by local people. 

Three-Toed Sloth

The Three- toed sloth ( Bradypus variegatus ) is the slowest of all land animals- moving through the branches at one hundredth of a mile per hour! It is among the worlds laziest animals, spending three quarters of its life asleep.

It eats only leaves and loves to " hang" out ( upside down! ) in cercropia trees. Sloths are often seen and are in fact very common. They are hunted for meat, but because they are well camouflaged, and generally feed high in the canopy, they are differcult to find. Their main predator are eagles, and jaguars will also hunt them.

Red Bellied Piranha

Some People imagine the Amazon River as teeming with flesh-eating fishes-the deadly piranha. However, the biology of piranhas is not common knowledge. There are in fact at least a dozen different species, belonging to the characin group of fishes. Most eat fallen fruit-not as thrilling as stripping a carcass to the bone, but much more interesting. 

The guide is holding open the jaws of a red-bellied piranha ( pygocentrus nattereri ) picture found on library page, the Amazon's most notorious animal. Its powerful bite and sharp teeth can sver a finger or toe, but there are, contary to popular belief, no confirmed fatalities resulting from a mass attack. Most tours include a fishing expedition during which tourists fish for these piranhas with nothing more than a stick, a hook and a pice of meat. 

Toucan

The Toucan is an Amazon icon. Actually, there are at least a dozen species, plus 20 or so of the related but smaller toucanets and aracaris. The species pictured here probably the white-throated ( cuviers ) toucan ( ramphastos tucanus ) pictured on picture/info page, which can only be told apart from the yellow- ridged toucan ( r. culminatus ) by its call. 

The seemingly ridiculous bill is almost hollow, hence very light and its not certain why it is so huge. It probably helps the bird reach fruits at the end of the branch, or to probe into tree holes for small animals or even nestlings and eggs of other birds.

In the wild, toucans are usally seen only high in the canopy, so it is hard to observe them closely. They nest in tree holes lower down in the canopy. This species is quite common, although more often heard than seen. ( This photo was taken at an aviary zoo in Leticia colombia.)