Amurí Tepui
Amurí Tepui is found on the Chimantá Massif (a massive plateau comprised of several tepuis) within Venezuela’s Gran Sabana. Compared to Ptari Tepui, the terrain is much more rugged and covered in dense vegetation. Within the grasses are millions of Heliamphora pitcher plants, plus beautiful red sundews. Very little of this plateau has been explored since even a small area can take days to explore.
Flying up the Valley
After descending from Ptari Tepui, we flew in a sketchy Cessna from Mantopai to a village in the savannah below the Chimantá Massif. On the way, we passed an expanse of jungle, grassland, and small Pemón villages with no direct roads connecting to the rest of the country.
Amurí Tepui
Akopan Tepui
Village
The view of the towering Akopan from the village. The massif extends for many miles beyond here for a total of 237 square miles of plateau topping out at 8852 feet at its peak.
To get to Amurí, you must again fly by helicopter through a massive canyon to stay below the clouds. For the several minute flight, you pass dramatic rock faces which have never been explored by humans before. This land is full of biological mysteries.
Flying past the plateau, it is clear why so little of this area has been explored. The terrain is impossible to traverse in the short amount of time one can stay up here. All gear and food must be brought up by helicopter.
In the distance, the helicopter leaves us for the next 3 days. This small patch of bare rock will be our camp, next to the ghostly sandstone pillars.
Red sundews growing in a sandy pool with the rugged plateau landscape behind.
Biodiversity on the Plateau
The tepuis of Venezuela are home to many species of carnivorous plants, none more famous than the South American Pitcher Plant, Heliamphora. These plants have evolved to trap and digest insects to supplement the depleted soils of the rainy tepui environment. Amurí Tepui is home to 4 species of Heliamphora.
Endless Pitcher Plants and Sundews
Drosera roraimae turns a deep red in the sun and over many years will develop these tall stems that can exceed 8 inches tall. They are found on most tepuis.
Heliamphora pulchella growing in the dense vegetation. This species is famous for the dense, bristly hairs inside the pitcher. There are a few different forms on Amurí.
A couple tall stems of Drosera roraimae growing out of a shallow pool of water.
Utricularia humboldtii has the largest flowers of all the bladderworts which contrast incredibly with the dark colors of the tepui. These were the largest species of flower I saw on any of the tepuis.
Drosera roraimae sparkle in the sunlight and add another alien-like aspect to the tepui enviroment.
Finding a flat area to pitch a tent is difficult, but the views are worth it.
Heliamphora pulchella clumps growing under a rock formation. The green coloration is due to the reduced light intensity.
Entering the Gorge
The eroded terrain of Amurí includes stone pillars, cliffs, and deep channels cut by small streams over millennia. We descended into these gorges to look for extremely rare species of Heliamphora that have only been observed a few times prior. Climbing down logs, jumping between slick boulders, and shimmying through cracks took hours but we found what we came to find.
Heliamphora exappendiculata is notable for being the only species with the nectar spoon recessed within the rim of the pitcher. There are many different forms of H. exappendiculata from different tepuis; this form is more pointed at the top with a small nectar spoon.
These caterpillars were sometimes found munching Heliamphora flowers and avoiding falling into the pitchers. Note the nectar spoon recessed in the back wall of the pitcher instead of domed over the top, indicative of H. exappendiculata.
Finally we found the extremely rare Heliamphora uncinata. This species is distinguished by the unique downward spike like a fang on the nectar spoon. This is the only known population ever found and it’s only a handful of plants. We had to climb a 10 foot boulder in the ravine to see these plants.
Note the large pitchers, the red rim, and the pointy nectar spoon. These pitchers could get over a foot tall.
The developing pitcher is especially menacing with the sharp point. Notes the red dots on the outside — these are nectar glands to aid in luring potential victims.
A quick lunch break in the gorge. Quite an incredible feeling being so deep into an unexplored wilderness so far from civilization.
In this wetter, shadier environment, many species of Utricularia displayed their brilliantly colored flowers. This is Utricularia campbelliana with its distinctive deep red-orange color. Absolutely one of the best finds. It is growing epiphytically in moss on the outside of this tall bromeliad.
Utricularia quelchii has teardrop-shaped leaves (top) that can spread throughout spongey moss and decaying matter. But the bright magenta flowers with a yellow center of this form is what makes this a beloved species.
The bladder traps of Utricularia humboldtii are perhaps the largest in the genus. This one is around 1/4” in diameter, easily large enough to catch an array of aquatic insects and larvae.
Swamp on the Summit
An incredibly rare form of Heliamphora pulchella was known from a swamp on top of Amurí called the “black” form due to its exceptionally dark coloration. Though H. pulchella is defined by the dense bristles inside the pitcher, this form can be almost hairless. Getting here would take some more traversing across the difficult terrain of the tepui.
Starting off from camp, we encounter some nice patches of Drosera arenicola growing in a seep.
In dense overgrowth by a stream, we found the fourth species of Heliamphora on Amurí, Heliamphora huberi. This species is uncommon but widely distributed. Note the fine hairs in the pitcher and the classic domed nectar spoon.
Another U. quelchii in the undergrowth. Always a treat to see one.
This clump has more of the characteristic bristles (versus a dense fuzz), but is still bald in a patch just below the nectar spoon. These plants in the swamp were frequented by large black ants. The difference in hair could be a result of selection for different prey. But really, no one knows.
These clumps were basically purple. Calling them “black” would be an exaggeration for sure, but these are the darkest Heliamphora I’ve ever seen by a huge margin.
Finally arrived at the swamp. The grasses and Heliamphora were actually on floating mats in a swamp that could easy swallow you to shoulder height. It took careful navigation to walk on the more solid patches to get a good look at these.
These are the special Heliamphora pulchella that are dark red and also lack hairs in the upper half of the pitchers. However, there was significant variability in depth of coloration and types of interior hairs.
These are some of the most unique Heliamphora because of the exceptionally dark color. It could be a result of the exposed location plus reflection of the sun off the water for even more light. Keep in mind the tepuis are right about on the equator so the sun is intense, plus at around 6000 feet of elevation.
After 3 days on Amurí, we packed up and the helicopter came back to take us across the massive canyon to camp on Chimantá Tepui to continue the expedition.
