Animals
|
AntsThere are many different species of ants in the Amazon rainforests. Scientists in Peru have found up to 42 species living in a single tree. There are likely to be hundreds, or even thousands, of species throughout the entire Amazon basin. These ants range from just a few millimetres, to examples which are 2 or 3 centimetres in length. Most of the ants are harmless, whereas others have very painful bites. Leaf-cutter AntsThe ant that is most noticeable in the rainforest is the leaf-cutter ant. Its hard to miss these ants when you see them marching through the rainforest, carrying cut leaves on their backs like green sails. There are 15 different species, ranging from the southern United States to Argentina. They are sometimes referred to as nature's gardeners or "farmers". They don't eat the leaves they collect. Instead, worker ants chew the leaves, converting it to a compost which is used to cultivate a special fungus. The ants eat the fungus. A different fungus is cultivated by each different species of leaf-cutter ant. Most of the ants out collecting leaves in the rainforest are practically blind. They simply follow a trail of chemicals, called pheromones, which have been left behind by the scouts. The leaf-cutter ants live in gigantic underground colonies. A single colony can contain as many as 4 million ants, in a nest with over 3,000 chambers, and have numerous different levels. They can almost be considered as underground cities. The chambers are created by digging out soil, with excess soil accumulating in a huge mound on top of the nest. Some of these mounds contain more than 250m3 of soil. Within the leaf-cutter ant colony, different groups of ants have different duties. The worker ants who carry the leaves are about the same size as a housefly. Depending on the species, worker ants inside the nest are only 2 mm long, and soldier ants which defend the nest are two centimetres long. These soldier ants have powerful jaws which can piece human skin and cause a painful bite. The biggest ant in the colony is the queen. Despite these differences, all ants in a colony belong to the same species – differences in size and appearance are often due to differences in food. Fire-AntsAmaz⌠nia is home to several species of biting ant. These are ants which can bite humans and cause extreme pain. They are fire-ants, so called because being bitten by one feels like being burned by fire. Fire-ants are red/black and measure about 6mm long. Description (6mm) Floating swarms on the river In the USA (refer to Encarta about fireants and army ants) TocandiraThe Tocandira ant is only found in the Amazon and Central Brazil. It is 3/4 of an inch long and is considered to be a very agressive ant. Up to five hundred worker ants can be found in its underground nests. Its bite is extremely painful, causes chills, and sometimes vomiting. The initial pain, which already is intense, becomes greater as hours go by. The victim only starts to feel some relief one or two days later. |
The Amazon Adventure is supported by:
