Creatures of the Amazon Rainforest

Red-Bellied Piranha The Red-Bellied Piranha is preceded by its fearsome reputation. Most of us know them as fish that can tear the flesh off bones in a matter of seconds. This, however, isn’t necessarily true. Red-bellied piranhas are mostly scavengers, so their diet consists mainly of dead and dying animals. They also eat insects and plants. They are more likely to be preyed upon themselves, in fact, which is why they live in groups for protection. In cases where humans have been attacked by shoals of red-bellied piranhas, the victims are usually injured or are children. Also, most of these attacks occur during the dry season when food is scarce. These attacks are rarely fatal, often only resulting in multiple cuts on hands and feet. (Still… ouch!)

Poison Dart Frogs Poison dart frogs are some of the most colorful creatures you’ll find in the Amazon rainforest, but beware. Their bright coloration is actually a warning: “Touch me and you’re dead.” Indeed, poison dart frogs secrete a powerful poison through their skin, which if absorbed in large amounts, can cause heart failure within minutes.  The golden poison dart frog  is particularly deadly, possessing enough poison to kill up to twenty humans, or 10,000 mice! Where do the frogs get the poison? Scientists believe that they absorb the poison from insects, which in turn, get the poison from plants. In captivity, poison dart frogs have a different diet and so are not poisonous.