- Animal species
- Otorongo
- Macaw
- Pink dolphin
- Anaconda
- Little lion monkey
- Plant species
- Cedar
- Achiote
- Yucca
- Red cumula
- References
The flora and fauna of the low jungle coexist in one of the richest ecosystems in Peru. This region of the country is characterized by large expanses of forests with very tall and robust trees.
These large trees are the perfect habitat for a wide variety of animals and plant species.
Otorongo, a feline species characteristic of the lower jungle
Many areas of the lowland rainforest still remain unspoiled, so it is assumed that many species of animals that live there are still unknown.
There are more than 2,500 species of trees and more than 600 varieties of fish, as well as multi-colored birds and large mammals.
The type of relief and the climate are two of the factors that influence to turn the lowland jungle region into one of the richest ecosystems on the planet.
Animal species
Otorongo
Large feline that creeps through the jungle, looking for its prey. They have powerful teeth and a robust head.
Macaw
Birds of very colorful and striking plumage that belong to the parrot family. They use their robust beak to break the fruits and extract the seeds, which represent their main food.
Pink dolphin
Cetacean that lives in lagoons and swamps of the Amazon River basin. They can be three meters long and weigh two hundred kilos.
They are completely blind, so they hunt their prey through waves.
Anaconda
A species of snake of the boa family. Although it is not poisonous, it is considered a dangerous animal, as it traps its victims and wraps them with its body, wrapping itself around until it is killed.
Little lion monkey
It is the smallest monkey in the world, measuring just six inches. It owes its name to the mane that grows around its head.
They come to live in groups of twenty individuals and feed on the sap of the trees.
Plant species
Cedar
It is a large tree of the Pinaceae family. They reach up to thirty meters in height and can live up to two thousand years.
Achiote
Arborescent plant from whose seeds colorants are extracted to be used in gastronomy. Some native peoples used their tinctures for religious rituals.
Yucca
Succulent type plant, which maintains a relationship of mutualism with the so-called yucca butterfly, which transfers pollen from the stamen of the male flower to the female stigmas.
In this way the plant ensures its reproduction and the butterfly gets food for its larvae.
Red cumula
It is a tree that reaches twenty meters in height, while its diameter measures thirty centimeters.
The outer bark is reddish-brown in color. Many of the region's settlers use its longer and straighter branches to make blowguns.
References
- Arboles de Ucayali, "La cumula colorada", 2012. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from arbolesdeucayali.blogspot.com
- Rainforest Alliance, “Aguaje: a plamera of great ecological importance”, 2014. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from rainforest-alliance.or
- Mixha Zicek, "High Forest and Low Forest of Peru", 2017. Retrieved on December 20, 2017 from aboutespañol.com