The aquatic mammals and reptiles of the Amazon

Abstract

The vast river systems, flooded forests and floodplains of the Amazon have provided the necessary ecological conditions for the evolution of an interesting and extremely diverse aquatic fauna. The magnitude of which is implied by the 2000 fish species (Roberts 1972). over 100 species of amphibians (Hödl, in prep.), 11 species of chelonian and six species of aquatic mammals.