'reptiles'

"Humankind must begin to learn that the life of an animal is in no way less precious than our own."
-Paul Oxton

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the South American continent.

South America is a place teeming with life. From the birds in the skies to the critters that make the mountains their home. From the vast canopies of the rainforests to the fish swimming through the rivers and lakes. It is truly a wondrous land. Up in the trees one may spot the slow-moving sloth, making its way from one branch to the next. The feline apex-predator, known as the jaguar, stalks the lands of the Amazon Rainforest. Amongst the Andean Mountains, those who look can even find the Andean Condor and Mountain Tapir making their homes.

South America is home to a vast variety of reptiles and amphibians, and many are extremely dangerous. Such as the mighty anaconda and the poison dart frog. Then below the surface of the rivers and lakes is an entire world of creatures, like the Amazonian River Dolphin and the Giant River Otter. There is also the infamous piranha, which are actually known to have a diet that shifts with their age going from meat to plant and fruit materials, making them in fact omnivores.

The continent of South America has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the wild, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Europe.

“Much of human behavior can be explained by watching the wild beasts around us. They are constantly teaching us things about ourselves and the way of the universe, but most people are too blind to watch and listen.”
-Suzy Kassem, "Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem"

More in this Series: Part 1: North America

"Like us, animals feel love, joy, fear and pain, but they cannot grasp the spoken word. It is our obligation to speak on their behalf ensuring their well-being and lives are respected and protected."
-Sylvia Dolson

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One such place is the North American continent.

Scurrying across the ground, many animals can be found across the landscape of North America. Both large and small, the creatures bring wonder to those who see them. The American Bison can still be found throughout the United States and Canada, while the endangered Black-footed ferret is facing a rapid decline. Yet not all hope is not lost for them, as in December of 2020 the first cloned Black-footed ferret was born.

Besides our furry friends, North America is also host to a variety of different species of reptiles. From the various types of snakes, such as the rattlesnake to the cottonmouth, to the many varieties of turtles, such as the Painted turtle and the Spotted turtle. There are also the Gila monsters, venomous lizards that call the southwest home, and their cousin the Mexican beaded lizard.

North America has many wondrous creatures that call it home. For as many animals that have been brought over, there are still a good deal that are native to this continent. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of South America.

“Part of the reason so many animals are endangered is precisely that we have forgotten the two faces of every creature. We have forgotten what animals mean. I don't want to settle for only half the animal. We need to save both the literal and the symbolic creature.”
-Charles Bergman, “Wild Echoes: Encounters with the Most Endangered Animals in North America”