The Amazon rain forest is one of the world's largest woodland areas, covering 40% of the country. It has luxuriant vegetation, with tall trees and several lower layers of vegetation that include woody vines and unusual varieties of plants that do not root in the soil, but grow by attaching themselves to other plants. The name "Amazon" was given by the Spanish priest Caspar de Carvajal, in the early  XVI century. He affirmed that his ship  was attacked by women who, just like in the Greek  mythology of the Amazons,  intended to enslave men to procreate. The modern occupation of the Amazonia begun around 1540. However, untill the end of the World War II, human presence did not bring modifications to the natural vegetal covering. Amazonia occupies areas of 6 South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru Equator, Venezuela. 

The rich wildlife reflects the variety of natural habitats. Of an estimated 750 species of mammals in South America, 394 are found in Brazil. Larger mammals include pumas, jaguars, ocelots, rare bush dogs, and foxes. Peccaries, anteaters, sloths, opossums, and armadillos are abundant. Monkeys of many species abound in the rain forests. The country has one of the world's most diverse populations of birds and amphibians, with 1,635 species of birds and 502 species of amphibians. There is a great variety of reptiles, including lizards, snakes, turtles, and alligators. There are estimated to be more than 1,500 species of freshwater fish in Brazil, of which more  than 1,000 are found in the Amazon Basin. The number of invertebrates is enormous, calculated atmore than 100,000 species, of which 70,000 are insects. However, these figures are probably underestimates, because scientific

 exploration is far from complete.