Grallaria gigantea The Giant Antpitta is a rather large and enigmatic ground bird found only in the Cloud Forests of Ecuador and Columbia. They can be quite shy and reclusive, so one must remain still and quiet in order to catch a glimpse of this local specialty. Mindo, Ecuador
Melanosuchus niger The Black Caiman is the largest and most formidable of the Caiman species, capable of reaching 16ft in length. One must exercise caution when you find yourself in a narrow body of water with one of these large crocodilians, as we did on more than one occasion. Lake Anangu, Ecuador
Donacobius atricapilla A familiar bird of marshes and wetlands throughout much of the Amazon Basin. Despite it's relatively common occurrence in South America, it is an understudied and poorly understood bird. It is known to be a cooperative breeding species, however. Lake Anangu, Ecuador
