Competition is fierce in this jungle. To survive,
these fish need to be quick and smart, whereas other species
take it more leisurely... These capuchin monkeys roam the trees,
always on the hunt for a delicious snack. But, at the same time,
they're being hunted. A school of piraputanga fish follows the
monkeys wherever they go. But why? Capuchin monkeys call
the canopy of the jungle their home? They're incredibly smart, and when it comes to foraging
for something to eat, they can be absolutely ingenious. In the rocky west of Brazil,
they use stones to crack nuts. One of the rare examples
of an animal using tools. But here in Brazil's Amazon region, capuchins don't need
to overexert themselves. The world's water-richest river
cuts its way through the lush green jungle. Life is a little easier here. In the trees overhanging
one of the Amazon's many smaller branches. There's no need for ingenuity. This capuchin family can easily reach
the tasty fruits they love to feast on. Excellent news for the pirapuntanga. These fish mainly live in rivers
with clean and oxygen-rich water. Whole schools of them
often patrol the riverbank. They're on the hunt for food. And these piraputanga have found
exactly what they're looking for... ...the capuchin family. Capuchins are pretty messy eaters, and a lot of crumbs
escape their greedy paws... ...directly into the river beneath them. And that's the reason why the piraputanga
are following the monkeys. These fish are opportunist feeders. Keeping close tabs on the clumsy capuchins helps them fill their bellies
without a hassle. They can grow up to 60 cm in length
and weigh around 3.5 kg. A big part of a piraputangas daily diet
is made up of lots of different tree seeds, and that makes these fish very important
for the rainforest as a whole. Not every seed will be digested. Some pass through the fish unharmed and often reappear
in a very different place than before. If the seed makes it to solid ground
during a flood, it can take root. Scientists have discovered that piraputanga disperse about
50% of the rainforest plant seeds. But these fish aren't the only gardeners
the Amazon river system has to offer. A few tributaries away, another fish
is patiently waiting below a tree branch. This is the tambaqui, or giant pacu. It's the second-largest scaled fish
in the Amazon, able to grow up to 1.1 metres in length
and reach a weight of 44 kilos. A true colossus Just like the paraputanga,
the tambaqui also loves tree seeds. Today, it’s set its heart
on the ripe fruit of a rubber tree. And if a rubber fruit is ripe you notice it. It bursts open and disperses its seeds. This mostly happens
during the seasonal floods, when the water level rises to such heights that a considerable part of the rainforest
is suddenly underwater. The seeds are pretty resilient, but the tambaqui is perfectly equipped. It's mighty jaws and hard teeth
make quick work of the rubber seed. But just like the piraputanga
it doesn't crush all of them. The gut of a large tambaqui
can hold about one kilogram of seeds. The massive fish functions
as a delivery service, dispersing the seeds
throughout the rainforest, The piraputangas are still following
the path of the capuchin monkeys. They haven't yet eaten their fill. The monkeys, however, have had enough. Once the capuchins have had a rest, the young ones spend their afternoon
playing in the canopy. Their rambunctious behavior
is pretty dangerous. Not so much for the monkeys, but for the unfortunate bugs
crawling around on the branches. Just a quick shake and...
that's it for the bug. The piraputanga isn’t a picky eater. Although it does have a preference
for fruits and seeds, its diet also consists of insects
and other tiny creatures. This varied menu isn’t a problem
for the fish’s digestive system: it can change its digestive enzymes depending on whether
it eats plants or meat. At some point, the capuchin monkey group
decides to head deeper into the jungle. A pity for the school of piraputanga. They still hadn't had enough
of those delicious fruits. Now, they'll have to
get their food themselves. Piraputanga are able
to leap out of the water and feed on low-hanging seeds and fruits. If they have to, they're able to jump
up to 1 meter above the surface. And so, even without
the help of the monkeys, they can use this smart technique
to grab more delicious treats. Thanks for watching. We have more ingenious fish for you. Check out the best of fish playlist,
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