9781422286449

“An Island Surrounded by Land” 13

difference in the Chaco is the amount of rainfall, not the temperature. In the summer months rainfall is so heavy it can cause floods, while the winter is plagued by frequent droughts. Wildlife A variety of wildlife lives in the semi-tropical forests of the Región Oriental and throughout the Chaco. Mammalian predators include jaguars, cougars, the Paraguayan fox, and the long-legged maned wolf. Among their prey are deer, armadillos, the guanaco (a relative of the llama), and the capy- bara, a large rodent endemic to South America. In the Chaco lives the Chacoan peccary, a species of wild pig believed extinct for thousands of years until it was discovered in 1975. Reptiles include various kinds of lizards and iguanas, the alligator-like yacaré , and poisonous snakes. There is much bird life; parrots, toucans, ibis- es, eagles, and an ostrich-like bird called the rhea make their homes in Paraguay, as do various birds that breed in North America and fly south to the region for the winter. Twelve mammal species, an equal number of bird species, and three rep- tile species are on the endangered list.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS 1. What three countries surround Paraguay? 2. What flat, featureless plain makes up nearly two-thirds of Paraguay’s area? 3. What is the climate of the Región Oriental?