The Unusual Suspects – Mugshots from the Amazon

It is called a “rainforest” after all - This morning I witnessed the mother of all rainstorms. My plan to trek to the indigenous community of Shintuya to interview leaders for my documentary was washed away with the extreme weather. Instead, I took dry shelter under the MLC’s communal area to study some of the species I might be encountering in the Amazon.

Here are a couple of interesting ones:

South American Tapir: Sir Mix-a-lot said it best -“Baby got back!”. This large brown mammal is easy to identify by its distinctive snout an elongated lip. It also has small oval ears with white tips, a round rump and stubby tail.

Razor-billed Curassow: A large bird that looks like it could be an exotic turkey (minus the silly wobbly wattle). Its physical features include a bright red ridge above a reddish bill, mostly black feathers and pale red legs. They also have a white terminal tail band and a chestnut patch under its abdomen.

Golden Tegu: Pretty and powerful, this lizard is glossy with black and gold stripes, strong limbs and a thick tail. It grows to be approximately 2 to 3 feet on average.