Amazon Flooded Forest Notes 2014

Wildlife Reserves Singapore River Safari Wild Amazonia

1 Updated Jul 2014

Wild Amazonia

Amazon River

Largest river in the world by flow volume, 2nd

longest by length

Largest watershed area which covers 40% of South America

Home to 10% of worlds known biodiversity

30 million people live in the Amazon

17% of the forest cover has been lost in the last 50 years

Many of the Amazonian animals live in the rainforest, but they

cannot live without the Amazon

Amazon River Basin under threat from human caused

degradation of the environment. If we dont take immediate

actions, we might lose this natural treasure forever

Conservation highlights for Wild Amazonia:

Deforestation affects habitat and life cycle of some fish, amphibians, turtles, etc..

Tourism and habitat disturbance

Along Wild Amazonia

Jaguarundi

A very adaptable and ferocious hunter

They are found in deserts, savannahs, woodlands, forests and

even swimming in swamps

Closely related to the larger pumas

Once thought to be very abundant across the Americas,

recent survey shows that they may not be as abundant as we

thought. Being data deficient, it is hard to classify their

conservation status.

Although hunted for their fur coats, the Jaguarundi is facing

more pressing threats like habitat fragmentation and loss.

They are also commonly killed for preying on poultry.

Due to its otter-like body (shorter legs) and running motion resembling an otter, the Jaguarundi also

chases prey into the water, earning its nickname as the otter-cat.

Jaguarundi @ RS

We exchanged our baby sunbear Indar, for this pair of Jaguarundi. They have recently given birth to 2 kittens.

Try to catch the kittens playing about with their loving mommy!

Jaguarundi have a wide range of coat colours, ranging from brown, black, grey to reddish brown. So even

though the kittens have different coat colours, they are from the same litter.


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Silver Arowana

Silver arowana is an American arowana. It is also known by locals as the

water monkey for its ability to jump right out of water to catch food

above.

Important food fish

Lately, many are harvested for the pet trade

Mouth brooders, father protects young. Some pet gatherers decapitate the

fathers head to capture the confused young fish

Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

Located outside Squirrel Monkey Forest walk-in exhibit

At an average of 6m, Green Anaconda holds the

record for the worlds heaviest* snake at 227kg,

1.11m in girth, 8.5m long.

*Not to be confused with the worlds longest

snake the Reticulated Python.

Range & Habitat:

Also known as water boas, inhibits rivers and

swamps of northern South America.

Diet

The ligaments in their jaws can stretch very well, allowing the anaconda to feed on a variety of animals

including prey as large as caimans, tapirs, deer and even jaguars!

Depending on the size, it takes a few days to few weeks for an anaconda to digest its prey. They can fast

for weeks or months after a big meal.

Constrictor throw loops over its victim, constricting and suffocating the animal to death

Physical Characteristics

Eyes and nostrils are positioned atop its head as an adaption to allow it to lie in wait in the water for

unsuspecting prey

Fmeales are much larger than males

Reproduction

As many as 13 males wriggle together to form a breeding ball, enclosing a single female, and wrestle

for a chance to mate with her. This wrestling may last for weeks.

Instead of laying eggs, anacondas are among the 30% of snakes which give birth to a clutch of 20-70

young. Newborn anacondas are about 60-100cm, and can reach 3m within 5-7 years. During brith,

female anaconda expels undeveloped eggs and stillbirths, which she eats up.

Baby anacondas often fall prey to piranhas, caimans and storks.

Conservation Status:

Not evaluated under IUCN Red List

However, its still vulnerable to threats such as habitat destruction, wanton killing due to

misconceptions, collection for research and pet trade.


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Squirrel Monkey Forest

Please advise our guests on the following guidelines prior to

entering the walk-in exhibit.

1. Avoid leaning or resting hands on the railings as the

monkeys use it as a conduit to get from one point to the

other. Especially during feeding time!

2. Please do not point your camera directly and up

close at our squirrel monkeys! They perceive the lens

as an eye. Staring is considered a challenge and it may

aggravate them

3. Do not touch the monkeys. They are not tame animals.

They may not be comfortable and may nip to show their

agitation. Also Squirrel monkeys smear food and urine

on their limbs and tails

4. Do not feed the monkeys! We feed them a balanced

diet every day and the external food sources may lead to

health problems in them.

Squirrel monkeys are territorial. Please note that you are entering their territory when you are in the walk-in

exhibit; give them their due respect.

Note:

If guests are holding on to food/drink items, inform them to keep their food/drinks in their bags, finish,

or dispose of it before entering the exhibit.

In the event that guests are nipped by the squirrel monkeys, understand that it is not malicious. Rather, it is

more of a warning; indicating that it is uncomfortable or youre in its way. They may even be agitated by the

behaviour of other guests and just nip the nearest guest to show displeasure.

Assist by bringing the guests out of the Squirrel Monkey Forest, and calling for RS Ops Duty Officer via the Shift

Phone Number (9011 6061). Note that the shift phone number is internal and should not be revealed to public.

Squirrel Monkeys at River Safari

The alpha male at River Safari is named Arnold (after Schwarzenegger) and leads the current troop of

about 40 squirrel monkeys (numbers may fluctuate). Only Arnold is able to mate. The rest of the males

are sterilised.

For token feeding in River Safari, they are fed carrots, long beans, sweet potatoes, almonds and

hazelnuts at 10.30am and 3.30pm daily.


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South American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

Common Names: Common Squirrel Monkey, Skull Monkey

Vital Statistics

Weight: 925 grams (average)

Lifespan: 21 years

Range & Habitat:

Tropical primary and secondary rainforests of South America

Can be found in sub-canopy and canopy level of forest

Diet

Mainly fruit and insects. The group spreads out to feed on all canopy levels.

Opportunistic feeders, they are frugivores -insectivores

During flooded season when fruits are aplenty, they eat fruits, leaves

During dry season when trees dry out, they become more insectivorous


Also known as skull monkeys due to their black and white faces.

Non-prehensile tail used for balance. Tail is longer than body. Tail curls over one shoulder while resting.

Sexually dimorphic. Males have large upper canines.

Squirrel monkeys have nails instead of claws

Squeezing branches between hairless fingertips allow them to generate frictional force to hold on to the

branch

Among all primates, squirrel monkeys have the heaviest brain in proportion to body mass.

Behaviour

Very sociable animals

In the wild, live in troops as large as 500 individuals

Our troop in River Safari is currently 39

Active during day (Diurnal)

To identify one another, they smear food and urine on their limbs and tails.

A dominant male may urinate on a lower ranking male.

Reproduction

Promiscuous

Seasonal breeders (September and November)

Births between February and April, the wet season when food is abundant

Males pile on as much as 30 percent body weight before mating season. Fatter males are more

appealing to females. Weight gain believed to increase sperm production.

Older females act as aunts to care for infants

Conservation Status:

Least Concern(IUCN)

Threats:

o Habitat destruction due to deforestation

o Illegal hunting or poaching for pet trade or medical research


5 Updated Jul 2014

Amazon Flooded Forest

The Amazon Forest is also known as the flooded forest.

The Amazonia experiences two seasons annually, a dry season & a wet season. In the dry season, the Amazon

River covers the forest floor at a depth of 3 metres.

Torrential rain and melting ice from the Andes pour into the Amazon River bringing about the wet season, from

December to June. During the wet season, the Amazon River floods the forest and rises by over 10m in depth,

and the river widens by as much as 45km!

Animals from the Amazon River and its tributaries visit the flooded forest to feast and breed. Amazonian

manatees feed and gorge themselves on plants during this period and may fast for the rest of the year if food is

scarce.

Amazon Flooded Forest attempts to replicate this taking us into the heart of the Amazonia at the peak of the

flood season. With a viewing gallery of 22m, this is the largest freshwater aquarium in the world.


6 Updated Jul 2014

Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis)

The longest otter in the world with an average length of 1.8m

River Wolves

Skilled predator which feeds on crustaceans, but

mostly fishes prefers to eat catfish, perch, and

characins (such as piranhas!)

The adults also feed on small caiman and anacondas

Adapting to its Aquatic Lifestyle

Powerful tail and webbed feet

Has the shortest and densest fur among otters that is water-repellent. Its coat helps keep the otter to

keep its body dry in water

Nostrils and ears have valves that close in water

Behaviour

Several camp sites in their territory along river banks

Share one to five communal bathroom and use faeces, urine and anal gland secretions to mark territory,

warning others to stay away

Highly aggressive, they may kill intruders, including their own kind

Besides communicating via scent, vocal communication is also very important.

River otters produce at least 9 different calls to communicate. Pups squeal to get their parents attention

Caring for the Family

Social animals live in family groups of 3-9 members with a monogamous pair and their young

Burrow along river banks to build dens for females to give birth

New born pups remain in the den for about a month

When the wet season floods the Amazon forest, adults have to move the babies to higher grounds to

avoid drowning

Otter pups are well taken care of by both parents and their older siblings. Older siblings play an active

role in babysitting, especially when parents are out hunting for food

Conservation Matters

Currently Endangered under the IUCN Red List Status

Because of their dense fur, the Giant Otters were also heavily hunted for their pelt between 1940 and

1970. In 1973, it came under the protection of CITES, which prohibits any trade on the species. Today

the illegal fur trade is not a major threat to the giant river otter.

Threats like habitat loss, land and river pollution, logging, mining, exploration for fossil fuel and

construction of dams are the major threats which have adverse impact on species population.

Habitat destruction is likely to reduce the population by 50% over the next 20 years.

Increased tourism is also creating challenges for them as tourists travel in motor boats, getting to close

to denning otters. This cause mothers to either abandon the dens or stop milk production for the pups.

Carlos and Carmen @ RS

River Safari is the first zoological park to house the giant otters in Asia

Carmen and Carlos came to us from two different German Zoos, but became instant friends the

moment they met

They were originally named Chelsea and Tacutu but were renamed and given a more common name

Take a closer look at them! River otters have throat patches that are unique to each individual very

much like our fingerprints! They use it to recognise each other.


7 Updated Jul 2014

Jewel Tanks

Black Ghost Knife Fish

Knifefish possesses a long ribbon-like fin

that undulates constantly. This helps the fish

to hover in water, or change direction

quickly, swimming forwards, backwards and

vertically.

The ability to be nimble is important as it

needs to move among tree roots to hunt for

fish and small crustaceans.

Nocturnal and prefers a dark environment

Special organ located in its tail produces an electrical field to detect presence of prey via its

electroreceptors on its skin

Each knifefish generates its own signal frequency in some cases, the frequency changes when another

knifefish is near, most probably either for communication or avoid jamming each others signals

Called a ghost because some South Americans believe deceased souls reside in them

Angel Fish

Like the discus, it has a lateral compressed body to hide between plants & roots

Known to good parents, forming long-term monogamous couples to care for

eggs & fry

Should one of the pair die halfway, the other half is known to remain single for a

long time, perhaps until death

Heckel Discus

One of the most popular freshwater fish of all time

Good parents, both will look after eggs and fry

When fry hatch, parents secrete mucus-feed for them to feed on for up to two

weeks.

Mata Mata Turtle

Normally stays a bottom of slow-flowing streams

Freshwater turtle has an arrow-shaped, flattened head, and a

snorkel-like nose

Neck of Mata Mata is very long in relation to the rest of its body

Mata Mata turtle is often able to reach the water surface to catch

a breath without leaving the river bottom by simply stretching its

long neck.

Physical adaptation provides excellent disguise-

Small skin flaps forms an irregular shape along its flat head and neck breaks up the outline of the animal

These, together with its patterned shell, make the turtle looks like a small stack of dried leaves, blending in perfectly with its riverbed habitat


8 Updated Jul 2014

It cannot chew, but it hunts by suction feeding, using its skin flaps on the neck and head which are

sensitive to movements to help track prey. Once near, it sucks in the fish whole, then expelling the

excess water slowly

Can grow up to 15kg

Electric Eel

Like the Black Ghost Knifefish, the Electric Eel not a true eel,

but a knifefish!

Found in murky waters of rivers and ponds in Amazon and

Orinoco basins (South America).

Obligatory air breather will drown if it doesnt surface to

take in oxygen

Contains 3 special electric organs packed with special cells

(electrocytes) which stores power.

Besides using its sensitive hearing, the eel discharges

electricity of low voltage (less than 10 volts) to navigate or locate prey. Once the prey is found, it fires a

higher voltage to stun or kill its prey.

Can generate up to 600 volts of electricity with 1 ampere of current, enough to kill an adult human. That

is higher than the voltage of a Singapore wall socket! However, each shock only lasts for less than 2

milliseconds, which means a healthy adult human is unlikely to die from a single shock.

Cannot be kept with other fish and it will shock or eat them

Eels discharges electricity of different intensities for different purposes (i.e.: navigation, stun prey,

defense, etc..)

Shocking fact!

All living things discharge electrical charges, but usually in too small amount to be noticed. Humans generate

voltages too (at 0.01 to 0.1 volts). There are about 500 species of animals that can shock others by discharging

electricity from their bodies including the electric eels.

Red Bellied Piranha

Known as blood thirsty killers but in reality, they are scavengers

and feed on weaker/ dying fish. They have a varied diet which

includes fish, frogs, crustaceans, baby anacondas, young birds that

have fallen into rivers, insects and worms

Only enter frenzy mode when starving in drying pools during dry

seasons. They also cannibalise weaker piranha when food are

scarce.

Often preyed by other predators, like giant otter

Not feared by the locals. They swim in piranha-filled waters frequently without being attacked

No fatal piranha attack was ever recorded

But like sharks, they are hyped up by media

The popular account of piranhas feasting on a large cow in less than 60 seconds came from

observations by the former US president, Teddy Roosevelt during his expedition in the Amazon in 1913.

During his visits, the locals roped off hundreds of piranhas without providing them any food. By the

time Roosevelt arrived, the piranhas were starving. The guides then lowered a live cow into the river and


9 Updated Jul 2014

within a minute, the piranhas reduced it to bones. This feeding frenzy was unusual due to the abnormal

conditions the piranhas were subjected to.

Piranhas @ River Safari

The red-bellied piranha is one of the few ornamental fish prohibited in Singapore

Singapores climate is similar to the Amazon which makes the piranha a potential invasive species

This makes the red-bellied piranha one of the few ornamental fish prohibited in Singapore

River Safari is only allowed to keep a maximum of 30 piranhas (we normally keep about half the

amount). We take extra precaution to prevent piranhas from entering local aquatic ecosystems by

accidents or through mischevious acts

o Back-of-house area and the tank are padlocked to prevent entry by unauthorised people

o Only males are kept to prevent breeding

o As the piranhas were sexed visually, microfiber filtration nets are used in case of a female is

sorted in by mistake. The tank is also filtered daily. This prevents eggs or fry from escaping our

water system into the reservoir

o The piranhas are electronic tagged with micro-chips so that individual fish can be tracked and

identified.

Uaru Cichlid

Aka the Triangle cichlid.

During breeding season, the dark band expands to cover its entire

side. Its eyes turn fiery red as well.

As with most cichlids, the Uara exhibits parental care

Young fry feed off a nutritious slime excretion from parents until

they can hunt

Xingu Platinum Pleco & L191 Royal Panaque

Its a loricariid. Family of catfish with sucker mouths

Members of this family are being discovered so fast that scientists are not being able to give them

names in time, thus (L-numbers)

Its sucker mouth filled with spoon-shaped teeth helps is scrape algae off rocks. It also anchors it to

rocks.

We feed them algae wafers and occasional cucumbers

L27 Xingu Platinum Pleco

L191 Royal Panaque


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Manatee Tank

Manatees

- Also known as sea cows, but also found in rivers

- They may looks round and clumsy but are very agile in water

- Wild manatees feed on mangrove leaves and water hyacinth.

- When the Amazon becomes flooded, the manatees gorge themselves and then fast in the dry season.

- Amazonian manatees are vulnerable to hunting and habitat destruction.

- Caribbean manatees (like ours) are endangered because of pollution, fishing and boating mortalities.

West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus)

Caribbean manatee, Antillean manatee

Vital Statistics

Length: 3.5m

Weight: 600kg

Range

Eastern coast of United States of America

Rivers, lakes, coastal and inland lagoons, and

coastal marine environments, including

seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems


Manatees muscular body contains little fat compared to whales and seals. Their round appearance

comes from long coiling intestines

They are able to survive in both fresh, estuarine or marine environment for extended periods of time,

but habitually spends time in freshwater environment to reduce the osmotic stress for its body

Has marching molars - new molars continuously outgrow and replace worn-out teeth

Capable of being agile and quick in water

Diet

Also known as a sea cow, the manatee feeds on wide variety of submerged, floating, and emergent

vegetation. They particularly likes mangrove leaves and water hyacinth (contains high silica content) that

wears down its teeth

Behaviour

Lacking in blubber, it is unable to tolerate cold water

Undertakes extensive seasonal migrations with seasonal distribution determined by water temperature.

When water temperatures drop below 20C, it gathers at natural and artificial warm-water refuges

(outside factories and power plants)

Reproduction

Multiple males are attracted to an oestrous female to form a large mating herd

Mating herds can last up to four weeks, with different males joining and leaving daily

Permanent bonds between males and females do not form.

Gestation is between 11 and 14 months

Calf dependency lasts one to two years after birth


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IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Watercraft collisions account for approximately 25% of all manatee deaths

Other threats include fishing gear entanglement, entrapment in water-control structures and pipes,

exposure to contaminants & habitat destruction

Manatee-ming RS Facts

Note that our manatees are not Amazonian manatees. The Amazonian manatees are much smaller and

lack fingernails

Our largest manatee, Eva, is 1,200kg and will eat about 120kg of vegetables per day!

Think you know our manatees?

Eva

Eva is the largest manatee of the lot.

Weighs 1,200 kg

Mother of 7, grandmother of 2

So large, she had to be lifted up using a construction crane!

Pedro and Turbo

Pedro and Turbo are our two males

Avoid each other, but occasionally get into squabbles

which involve tail slapping each other.

Pedro: Long and slim body, line of dotted scars along spine

Turbo: Identified by a scar on right side of the body

Pedro

Eva


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Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)

One of the largest freshwater fish in the world, some reaching

to more than 3m, 150 kg

Behaviour

Related to the common arowana, it is a jumper Obligatory air-breather, they can stay underwater for up 10-20 minutes, staying near the water

surface where they can easily emerge to breathe. This is very useful especially if it is trapped in a low

pond during dry season

Feeds mostly on fish, sometimes birds and other animals near to the water surface

Breeding season is during dry season (Feb Apr), where the arapaimas construct bottom nests and

females lay eggs

Young hatch as rising water levels provide them with flood conditions in which they flourish

Mouth brooders - adult males incubate tens of thousands of eggs in their mouth


Fish of mega sizes are increasingly rare worldwide due to intense fishing pressures. The arapaima is

one such fish that is threatened by overfishing.

Proximity to water surface makes it vulnerable to human predation.

Arapaima has a bony tongue fitted with a set of teeth, which some indigenous people use as a

scraping tool to scrap things like guarana fruit

Fishing is banned by the Brazilian government due to overfishing

Only locals are allowed to catch it

Some indigenous communities consume its meat and tongue, and collect its large scales which are

fashioned into jewelry and other items.

Red-bellied Pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)

Looking very much like the Red-bellied Piranha, the Red-bellied

Pacu is a close relative

Juveniles have similar prominent red belly to warn and scare

potential predators. These red markings fade as they grow older

Not as carnivorous. Though omnivorous, they prefer to feed on

nuts and fruits, and can grow much larger than the piranhas

Help disperse plant seeds in the amazon.

Their set of strong, square teeth are specially designed to help

them crack the hard shells of nuts

Tough nut to crack?

Although primarily a vegetarian, the pacu has attained the reputation of a vicious feeder

after some illegally-released pacus killed 2 men in Papua New Guinea when they were

swimming in a lake

The pacu mistook their testicles for the usual diet of nuts and ripped them off. The victims

were reportedly to have bled to death, earning the pacu its nickname ball cutter.


13 Updated Jul 2014

Alien Invasion!

The red-bellied pacu is a popular aquarium fish. Bought at small size by unknown aquarists, grows too big too

quickly for the unprepared owners. An adult can reach up to 90cm long. When this happens, irresponsible pet

owners release them into water bodies, which is a threat to the local biodiversity as the pacu is an alien species,

threatening the survival of our native species

Red-tailed Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus)

Opportunistic feeder, feeding on fish, invertebrates and fallen fruits

Powerful large catfish, it is a popular game fish due to its strong strength

Like the Red-bellied Pacu, the Red-tailed Catfish is also a popular aquarium pet

Sold small, but a voracious appetite - juveniles often eat themselves to death

Be Responsible Owners

Many unsuspecting owners buy the juveniles at its small size only to discover that the catfish can grow up to

1.36m. When this happens, owners release them into the water bodies like the red-bellied pacu, upsetting the

balance of our native biodiversity.

Amazon Flooded Forest Notes 2014

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