Small waterfall near the road from Santa Cruz to Samaipata. (1485k) Waterfall near the road from Santa Cruz to Samaipata. (1291k) View towards Amboró National Park. There is more and more deforestation going on. The current government (according to my guide) is not enforcing protection of the National Park. (872k) Almost full moon. (591k)
Flora in Bolivia
Fungus (Ductifera sp.). (922k) Mushrooms. (900k) Mushrooms. (981k) Mushrooms. (969k) Mushroom. (800k) Strange fungus growth. (854k) Plant. (1.8M) Flowers. (783k) Flowers. (729k) Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora). (670k) Slipper Flower (Calceolaria sp., german: Pantoffelblumen, french: Calcéolaire:Genus). (870k) Hot Lips (Palicourea tomentosa). (630k) Bromeliad in the Tortoro National Park. (1266k) Bromeliad in the Tortoro National Park. (1180k) Large Agave (Agave sp., german: Agaven). (876k) Native bamboo near the Amboró National Park. (1.6M) Palm tree at the Chalalán Ecolodge with Elephant Ear plants growing on it. (999k) Tree with fruits growing out of the trunk. (882k) Tree Fern (Dicksonia sellowiana). (1.5M) Tree Fern (Alsophila incana). (1470k) Pink Ipê (Handroanthus impetiginosus, french: Lapacho). (1188k) Yellow Handroanthus (Handroanthus sp.). (816k) Flamboyant Tree (Delonix regia, german: Flammenbaum, french: Flamboyant). (1163k) Walking Palm (Socratea exorrhiza, german: Wanderpalme, french: Palmier marcheur). (1319k) Huge Moriche Palms (Mauritia flexuosa, german: Buriti-Palme, french: Palmier-bâche). (1135k) Ceiba (Ceiba sp.) with strangler fig growing on it. (1319k) Closer view of the Ceiba (Ceiba sp.) with strangler fig growing on it. (1225k)
Yunga Tree Fern Forest
It was not an easy road to the Tree Fern forest. (1262k) It really wasn't. (1049k) View of the forest. (1385k) Trail through the forest. There were wooden railings and planks, but they are deteriorating. (1361k) Along the walking trail through the forest. (1334k)
Leafcutter ants, a non-generic name, are any of 47 species of leaf-chewing ants belonging to the two genera Atta and Acromyrmex. These species of tropical, fungus-growing ants are all endemic to South and Central America, México, and parts of the southern United States. Leafcutter ants can carry twenty times their body weight and cut and process fresh vegetation (leaves, flowers, and grasses) to serve as the nutritional substrate for their fungal cultivates, and they are also capable of cutting through human skins.
Next to humans, leafcutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth. In a few years, the central mound of their underground nests can grow to more than 30 m (100 ft) across, with smaller, radiating mounds extending out to a radius of 80 m (260 ft), taking up 30-600 m² (320-6,460 square feet) and containing eight million individuals.
Termite nest. (978k) Ants nest. (1121k) Large leafcutter ant colony. (1266k) Leafcutter ants coming down a tree with their leaf harvest. (950k) Leafcutter ants. (1217k) Close-up of leafcutter ants. (971k) Entrance to a bees nest. The tree is hollow and has the nest inside. (1280k) Wasp nest. (849k) Wasp. (584k) Spider web. (743k) Spider (Araneae fam., german: Webspinnen, french: Araignées). (977k) Tailless Whip Scorpion (Heterophrynus sp.). (741k) Beautiful caterpillar of a Giant Silkworm Moth (Saturniidae gen., german: Pfauenspinner). (938k) Black Witch (Ascalapha odorata, german: Schwarze Hexe). (808k) Skipper (Hesperiidae gen., german: Dickkopffalter, french: Hespéridés). (888k) Death-mask Spurwing (Antigonus nearchus). (834k) Sunset Daggerwing (Marpesia furcula). (802k) Many-banded Daggerwing butterfly (Marpesia chiron). (831k) Butterfly (Lepidoptera fam., german: Schmetterlinge, french: Papillons). (866k) Cramer's Eighty-eight butterfly (Diaethria clymena, french: Double 8) and moth. (770k) Mating Giant Glasswing butterflies (Methona confusa). (724k) Tadpoles. (502k) Freiberg's Foam Frog (Engystomops freibergi). (873k) Manaus Slender-legged Tree Frog (Osteocephalus taurinus). (803k) Spot-legged Poison Frog (Ameerega picta), calling. (1176k) Pink-toed Tarantula (Avicularia sp.). (810k) Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso, german: Nasenfledermaus, french: Chauve-souris à long nez) on a tree trunk. There are five bats on that tree, they are very well camouflaged. (760k) Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso, german: Nasenfledermaus, french: Chauve-souris à long nez) on a tree trunk. This one is easier to see. (1040k) Turtle. (889k) Southern Mountain Viscacha (Lagidium viscacia, french: Viscache des montagnes). (598k) Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, german: Capybara, french: Cabiaï). These are the largest rodents in the world. (1136k) Red Brocket (Mazama americana, german: Großmazama, french: Daguet rouge). (782k) Black-capped Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis, german: Bolivianischer Totenkopfaffe, french: Singe-écureuil de Bolivie). (1129k) Black-capped Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis, german: Bolivianischer Totenkopfaffe, french: Singe-écureuil de Bolivie). (1.5M) Brown Capuchin (Sapajus apella, german: Gehaubter Kapuziner, french: Capucin brun). (900k) Brown Capuchin (Sapajus apella, german: Gehaubter Kapuziner, french: Capucin brun). (807k) Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya, german: Schwarzer Brüllaffe, french: Hurleur noir). (1028k) Bolivian Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta sara, german: Bolivianischer Brüllaffe). (925k) Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare, german: Brillenkaiman, french: Jacara). (844k)
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