Category Archives: Plants and Animals
Botos, the pink Amazon River dolphin
By Angela Thompson, Kuoda Tours Also known as the Amazon River dolphin, bufeo colorado, and tonina, Botos are the center of many Amazonian myths and legends. They are generally respected and protected, perhaps due to a belief in their supernatural … Continue reading
Monkeys of Peru
By Laurel Thompson, Kuoda Tours Peru boasts 32 species of primates, which are scattered among the three families that comprise New World monkeys. These are: Callithricidae, which includes marmosets and tamarins; Cebidae, the largest group, that includes capuchin monkeys, woolly … Continue reading
The Andean Cock of the Rock
By Laurel Thompson, Kuoda Tours The Andean Cock of the Rock, Rupicola peruviana, is a shy, brilliantly-colored scarlet or orange-colored passerine that is found in the cloud forests of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela and Ecuador. It is approximately 12.5 inches … Continue reading
Frogs of the South American Rainforest
By Laurel Thompson, Kuoda Tours Of all the amphibians in the Amazon rainforest, frogs are the most plentiful. There are more than 1000 species of frogs found throughout the countries in this enormous jungle region. Because the rainforest is so … Continue reading
Coca uses and history in South America
By Laurel Thompson, Kuoda Tours The ancient practice of coca leaf chewing has been a time-honored and traditional one in the Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador for centuries. Coca (Erythroxylum spp) has been attributed with many medicinal … Continue reading