Cruising Through the Amazon Jungle Quiz

Answer: Monkey

The golden lion tamarin was given its name because of the lion-like mane around its neck. It is a tiny creature, growing up to 6-10 inches long, with a tail that can easily be twice as long as its body! Usually the mother gives birth to twins, and the father will carry the babies on his back between feedings.

Answer: Peanut Head Bug

The peanut head bug is also called a lantern fly, alligator bug, or snake cicada. Scientists still have not been able to figure out the purpose of the odd-looking head. Our book about Amazon animals says the bug is harmless! That was a close one!

Answer: It can run on the surface of the water.

Named by early Catholic explorers, the Jesus lizard can run on two legs on the surface of water at a speed of about five miles per hour! How do they do that? Flaps between their toes help support them as they travel. They can also water walk on all fours!

Answer: Sloth

About the size of a small dog, a sloth has three claws on each of its four limbs. They cannot, however, walk on all four limbs, so when on the floor of the rain forest they use their arms and claws to drag themselves to their destination.

Answer: Jaguar

Although the jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas, it is the third largest in the world, behind the lion and tiger. Jaguars climb trees and rocks in order to gain a vantage point when hunting; they usually pounce on their prey.

Answer: Pink

The Amazon River dolphin, also called the pink river dolphin, is the largest species of dolphin. As they age they become more pink, which is more noticeable in the male of the species. Pink river dolphins like to eat fish, such as catfish and piranhas, but will also eat turtles and crabs.

Answer: Capybara

Capybaras are the largest members of the rodent family, growing to a size of about two feet tall and weighing in at 100 plus pounds. They are hunted for the meat and hides, and a greasy substance from their skin that is used in pharmaceuticals.

Answer: Black Caiman

The black caiman belongs to the family Alligatoridae, which consists of caimans and alligators. They can grow up to 14 feet in length, and weigh more than 800 pounds. Although they eat mostly fish, they are not picky and will also eat deer, capybaras, turtles, and even smaller species of caimans, as well as domestic animals that cross their path.

They usually swallow their food whole after crushing or drowning it. I think we will stay in the boat!

Answer: Macaws

There are nineteen species of macaws that come in a variety of colors. Macaws like to live in groups of 10-30, and can frequently be seen eating clay. It is believed they like the clay because helps to neutralize the toxins in other foods they eat, however, the macaws in western Amazonia are the only ones thought to eat clay.

Answer: Anaconda

An anaconda can grow to be as long as 30 feet and weight up to 550 pounds! They need to eat about 40 pounds of prey a day, but a larger meal can keep them satisfied for weeks!