AMAPÁ, BRAZIL — About 73% of Amapá's territory is occupied by conservation units, protected areas, Indigenous and Quilombola territories. The state has one of the largest areas of preserved environmental coverage in the country and is home to unusual animals that few people are able to observe in the wild.

We selected five rare or curious animals photographed in the municipality of Serra do Navio, in northwestern Amapá. The list includes species that draw attention for their appearance, coloration and behavior, as well as records that are unprecedented for Brazilian science.

1 — Planthopper nymph (family Fulgoromorpha)

At about five millimeters long, the planthopper nymph draws attention because of its unusual body shape during the juvenile stage. One of the insect's first sightings was recorded in 2012, when a team of researchers found the species in Suriname.

The animal belongs to the Fulgoromorpha group. During the nymph stage, some species develop whitish wax structures at the rear of the body, forming a kind of tail.

The structure serves as a defense mechanism. When a predator tries to attack the nymph from behind, the wax threads break easily, allowing the animal to escape.

2 — Crystal caterpillar (family Dalceridae)

With an appearance resembling glass or gelatin, the crystal caterpillar belongs to a group of moths. Its body has a translucent appearance and may display shades of amber and orange.

The gelatinous layer helps protect the animal and maintain moisture in its body in the tropical forest environment. The caterpillar stage occurs before metamorphosis. After this period, the animal transforms into a moth with a completely different appearance.

The species is small, measuring about 1 to 2 centimeters in length, and lives in dense, humid tropical forests. This environment makes the animal difficult to observe with the naked eye.

3 — Amazonian leaf frog in multiple amplexus (Phyllomedusa bicolor)

The Amazonian leaf frog is not a rare species, but the record shows unusual behavior during reproduction.

Multiple amplexus occurs when more than one male attaches to the same female during the reproductive period. The phenomenon is more common during the rainy months, when the presence of males increases along the banks of rivers and ponds.

4 — Blind snake (family Typhlopidae)

Small, slender and with subterranean habits, the blind snake is rarely seen by people moving through the forest. The animal spends much of its time underground, among leaves or in areas with organic matter.

Many species in the group are only a few centimeters long and have cylindrical bodies, a characteristic that can lead to confusion with earthworms. When they reach the surface, they are more frequently seen at night or after periods of rain, when the soil is wetter.

5 — Glass frog (Cochranella resplendens)

Almost transparent and only slightly larger than a human fingernail, the glass frog is among the most curious and rare animals on the list. Its translucent skin makes it possible to see some of its internal organs, particularly in the abdominal region.

The species is also important to Brazilian science. Researchers from the Federal University of Amapá (Unifap), with the support of guide and photographer Wirley Almeida, recorded the species' first occurrence in Brazil and updated the known distribution map of Cochranella resplendens.

Photographer Wirley recalls the moment when he recorded the species in his backyard. He says that, measuring only 2 to 5 centimeters, the frog is small and difficult to locate in the forest.

"I found it in 2020 and took a photo, then sent it to a professor who specializes in the field here in the state. The next day, I woke up to several calls from him telling me that it was a species that was new at the time. After that, he gathered about 30 students and they came to Serra do Navio. We searched for two consecutive days until we were able to collect DNA," he said.

After the collection, the researchers discovered that the animal had already been recorded and was known to science, but there was still no record of it in Brazil. Before its discovery in the country, the species was known in the wild only in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

Credit: Wirley Almeida, photographer

Amazon Agency