Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon Jungle and River

The Green Anaconda:

The Green Anaconda is the largest snake in the world and makes its home in the Amazon. While fully extended pythons are actually longer, but green anacondas are far heavier. The females, generally larger than males, can reach 550 pounds and grow over 29 feet long and reach 12 inches in width. They are not venomous but instead use their immense muscular power to constrict and suffocate their prey, which includes capybara, deer, caiman, and even jaguars. Preferring shallower waters that allow them to stealthily sneak up on their prey, they tend to live in offshoots of the Amazon rather than the river itself

Matamata Turtle:   
                    
The Matamata Turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles. An adult age turtle could reach a shell size of 18 inches. The Matamata lives on the north part of South America, around Amazon river. They spend most of the time on the water walking around the bottom. They actually breath thanks to their long necks that extend the snout tip over the surface of the water. Matamatas prefer calm and slow moving waters. Matamatas are well known for looking their food during the night and their diet consists of fish, amphibians, freshwater crabs, possibly birds, and small mammals that get into the water. The Matamata hunting technique is unique. While opening their mouth and expanding their throat, the Matamata extends the head up and catch their prey. These movements, made at the same time, create a suction action that draws the prey to their long and expanded throat; the prey is swallowed and the water is expelled out.

Blue Poison Dart Frog:

The Blue Poison Dart Frog is easily recognized by their blue color and are covered with  black spots, especially on the head and back. As their name suggests, poison dart frogs can release toxins from the skin that are distasteful and potentially lethal to would-be predators. Blue poison dart frogs are active during the day and can be found hiding among boulders and debris near streams and among leaf litter on the forest floor; however, they lack toe webbing and are poor swimmers, so they are not found in the water. 
This frogs diet consists of mites, termites, tiny beetles and any other small insect it may find among the leaf litter. An adult frog has a body about 2 inches long and weighs about 0.3 ounces.  Adult dart frogs have few predators, but the tadpoles, which contain no toxins, often fall prey to other amphibians and reptiles. 

Harlequin Frog:                          

The Harlequin frogs are really toads but in frog form. They have a smooth skin and lack the toad-like warty appearance so they’re more similar to frogs. Usually there is no scientific difference between what we know as frogs and toads. The Harlequin frog is active during the day, hunting the forest floor for small insects and other invertebrates. They have a funny behavior when disturbed by a predator and rock on their bellies holding their arms and legs out in a sky diving pose. While they rock, they show off their bright orange colored palms.