The fauna and flora of the Peruvian jungle is very diverse and rich. In fact, there are two types of Peruvian jungle: the Low Jungle of Peru, and the High Jungle of Peru. In both forests the fauna is very different:
In the Low Forest, large animals predominate, as well as aquatic ones that live in the extensive basin of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Meanwhile, in the High Forest the predominance is of birds, some of them native, as well as insects and a large ursid.
Get to know in this article on our site the fauna of the Peruvian jungle and let yourself be surprised by the curiosities we have found there.
The jaguar
The jaguar is called Otorongo in the area and is undoubtedly the largest feline on the continentSouth American. It is similar to the Leopard because it has black spots on its skin on a reddish-yellow background, but it differs in many other things.
It is more solid and heavy, and does not climb trees. It is the main predator of the Amazon rainforest. Its habitat is the Peruvian Low Jungle.
Its hunting technique is legendary, based on its silent furtive movements, and its surprising attack on its prey, which it immobilizes with its enormous claws and with its large fangs it catches them by the neck.
The Anaconda
The anaconda is the world's largest constrictor snake. She really likes to stay submerged underwater, as she is an excellent swimmer. It also likes to rest up in the trees, especially if it is digesting large prey.
Of the 4 species of anaconda that inhabit South America, the green anaconda is the one found in the Peruvian Low Jungle. This constrictor is green-gray in color with oval dark and ocher spots on the back and flanks. The belly is lighter.
After the reticulated python, anacondas are the longest snakes in the world. However, they are undoubtedly the heaviest on the planet. The females are much larger than the males. There have been cases of females that exceeded 8 meters in length and weighed more than 200 kg.
It hunts both by falling from a tree onto its prey, and by lurking submerged, waiting for an animal to come and drink. It kills its victims by constriction, preventing them from breathing.
Harpy eagle
The harpy eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in the worldIt has a wingspan of more than 1 meter, and one of its main characteristics is its relatively short and thick legs, in which large hyper-developed claws are housed.
In fact it kills its prey through the simple pressure of its claws. Its tail is longer and larger than that of other birds of prey, which makes it more capable of maneuvering in leafy areas. Its habitat is the Peruvian Low Jungle.
Pink dolphin
The pink dolphin, is a large cetacean that lives in the tributaries and lakes of the Amazon basin. It has a size when it reaches adulthood between 2, 5 and 3 meters. Their weight varies between 110 and 200 kg.
An outstanding feature is that its cervical vertebrae are not fused, unlike marine dolphins, which allows it to turn its neck sharply. It is an endangered species It feeds on: fish, frogs and aquatic snakes.
Tunqui
The tunqui, also called cock of the rock, is the national bird of Peruand measures about 32 cm. The Tunqui is protected in Peru, for which its hunting and commercialization are totally prohibited.
It is a bird with marked sexual dimorphism, since the males have very showy colors in which red predominates and a peculiar crest. However, the females have very dull colors and the crest is smaller. They feed on fruits and their habitat is the Peruvian High Jungle.
Quetzal
The quetzal is a bird that in pre-Hispanic cultures was considered a symbol of roy alty. Its plumage is colorful, elegant and bright, and it has a tail that doubles the size of the body of this beautiful bird.
His name means erected or sacred, and symbolizes Freedom. This bird feeds on insects, fruits and frogs. Its habitat is in the Peruvian High Jungle.
Spectacle Bear
The spectacled bear has a huge head, disproportionate to the rest of the body. The peculiar drawing of white fur that borders its eyes and nose is what gives it its nickname of Spectacled Bear. The rest of the hair on its face and body is black or very dark brown.
It has a large size that can reach 2.20 m., when it is upright on its two hind legs. Its weight can reach up to 200 kg.
They are animals with diurnal or nocturnal habits depending on their interest. Like most bears, they are omnivorous, alternating termites with honey, carrion or hunting prey. Its natural habitat is located in the moors and forests of the Peruvian High Jungle.
Endangered animals of the Peruvian jungle
Throughout the article we have seen part of the fauna of the Peruvian jungle in danger of extinction, such as the pink dolphin. In the following video we can see the most endangered animals in Peru:
