14 Scary Creatures in the Amazon

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• published: 03 Sep 2016
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From the awesome jungle cat, the Jaguar, to the fast harpy eagle, these are 14 Scary Animals of the Amazon ! Harpy Eagle -- With talons that can grow up to 5 inches long, this is one of the largest birds of prey … in fact it’s the biggest raptor found in the Americas, and has the largest talons of any living eagle. It uses those big claws to snatch up an eclectic menu, including monkeys, armadillos and anteaters. It’s even known to take off with deep and capybaras, the largest rodents in the world. While that might indicate these big birds are capable of snatching children, there have been no reported cases… but it makes for a scary visual. Jaguar -- The rare cat that enjoys swimming, this animal is an equal opportunity apex predator -- it’s known to dine on some 87 different animals, from mice to deer. And humans too, should any be so unwise as to cross its path. A Jaguar’s bite is powerful enough to pierce the shell or skull of most animals. Jaguars tend to favor swamps and wooded areas, but are also found in scrublands and deserts. Because of habitat destruction, their populations are decreasing and they’re considered a near-threatened species. Did you know that the jaguar is the biggest feline in the Americas … and the third-biggest feline overall next to the tiger and lion -- but those cats aren't scary enough to have cars named after them. Giant River Otter -- Native only to to the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata river systems, the South American otter is the world’s largest … growing around 6 feet long and weighing over 70 pounds. This big, carnivorous mammal is part of the weasel family and usually dines on fish, crabs, turtles and snakes. But they can have a taste for more dangerous cuisine as well. Small groups of Giant Otters have been known to bite and claw at anacondas, before consuming them. And pairs of giant otters have reportedly attacked five foot long caimans, devouring the reptiles in about 45 minutes .. that’s including bones, skull, everything. But that’s how a scary apex predator behaves … even if they look too cute to do so. Vampire Fish -- No, they don’t turn into bats or anything like that … but they do have some scary wicked fangs! If you thought piranha were scary, what about these guys … Payara, called vampire fish, eat piranha for lunch -- literally! These ferocious predators can reach around four feet in length and can devour fish up to half their own size … impressive, considering they can weigh nearly 40 pounds. They have two 6-inch tusks that spring from their lower jaw which impales their prey after they lunge for it. Did you know the fish actually have special pockets in their upper jaws they use to sheathe those long tusks … that’s so they don’t impale themselves. Green Anaconda -- One of the world’s longest snakes, it is in fact the heaviest snake in the world, and can weigh over 150 pounds. The snake's favorite method of attack is to float beneath the water's surface with their snouts just above the water … then strike and coil about the victim when it stops for a sip of water. After the prey is asphyxiated, the feasting begins. While there are a lot of stories about anacondas eating humans, there’s no verifiable evidence to support that. However, these snakes have been known to attack humans … in fact, we released a video a few weeks back, all about scary snake attacks, including a green anaconda attacking a child … you can see it here ... Bullet Ant -- Here’s one of the biggest threats in the Amazon rainforest … the tiny Bullet Ant. Just over an inch long, the Bullet Ant gets its name due to the severity of its bite. Victims claim it’s as painful as being shot! That’s due to the insect’s venom, which not only causes a painful sting … but also results in intense pain that leaves the victim swollen, worn out and weakened. The Bullet Ant is also called the 24-hour Ant … because that’s about how long the misery will last. However, unless you’re allergic to the venom, the ant’s bite won’t kill you. Did you know the Bullet Ant is among the largest ant species in the world? Black Caiman (kay-man) -- Growing over 16 feet long and weighing close to 900 pounds, this is one of the largest living reptiles and the largest predator in the Amazon basin, and inhabits other freshwater locations of South America. They just look scary, don’t they? These animals were once nearly extinct in the Amazon, before being saved by strict anti-hunting laws. The Black Caiman feasts on sloths, armadillos and capybaras, to larger victims like deer, anacondas and giant otters. They’re even known to snack on other species of Caiman. And, yes, they’ve been known to occasionally attack humans as well. Subscribe to Epic Wildlife http://goo.gl/6rzs5u Let's Connect -- http://www.epicadamwildlife.com/ -- http://www.facebook.com/epicadamwildlife -- http://www.twitter.com/epicwildlife -- http://gplus.to/epicwildlife