List Of Animals In The Amazon Rainforest You Need To Know About
Spread over 1.4 billion acres, the Amazon rainforest is home to many species of animals, some even exclusive to the forest. It is the largest rainforest on earth and has a diverse range of animals—mammals, insects, and animals of all sizes.
People from all over the world travel to this biologically rich and diverse land with their cameras to capture the unique species found here.
If you, too, wish to visit the Amazon rainforest, here is a list of animals in the Amazon rainforest that you can expect to see.
List Of Animals In The Amazon Rainforest
Amazon has an incredibly long list of animals. Some of them are:
1. Mammals
The Amazon is home to more than 400 species of mammals. Some of them are:
Jaguar
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The population of this wild cat has been drastically decreasing due to deforestation and agricultural activities. But one place where you can spot the mammal is in the Amazon. However, you will have to travel deep into the forest, and still, the dense canopy may prevent you from spotting one.
Amazon River Dolphin
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A crowd favorite, the fresh-water dolphin of the Amazon is quite different from its ocean-water cousin. While the babies are dark gray, the adults grow into a beautiful pink color. The World Wide Fund has classified them as vulnerable due to their decreasing numbers.
Giant River Otter
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The GRO is found exclusively in the Amazon. They are considered the largest otters in the world, reaching a height of around 1.7 meters. They are easy to spot and are seen swimming in the lakes and rivers of the forest.
Black-capped Squirrel Monkey
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These monkeys are found in many regions of the forest, including the Brazilian, Peruvian, and Bolivian Amazon. They live in groups of 40 to 70 and are recognized for the distinct lock of black hair on their heads. They are tree dwellers found in forests as well as farmed areas that have a running water body close by.
Some other mammals found in the rainforest are:
- Puma
- Agouti
- Sloth
- Capybara
- Collared Anteater
- Bearded Emperor Tamarin
- Amazonian Tapir
- Titi monkey
- Tamarins and marmosets
- Kinkajou
2. Birds
There are around 1300 species of birds found in the Amazon. When visiting, look for:
Macau
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Macaus are beautiful birds that come in many different colors. Macaus can mimic human speech and even blush when delighted. While they are found all over the world, the Amazon is home to the largest parrot in the world, the Hyacinth Macaw, and also to Blue-throated Macaws, which were once thought to be extinct.
Harpy Eagle
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Harpy eagles are giant birds that are spotted patrolling the skies when hunting for food. The rare birds are found only in mature forests and make nests at high elevations. They have beautiful gray and black patterns on their wings, a white belly, and a gray head.
Hoatzin
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Hoatzin is a unique but weird chicken-sized bird that needs to be seen to be believed. You can easily spot them near rivers and lakes in the Amazon. The birds are known for their unique look, with a head too small for its big body, weird sounds, and manure-like odor.
Potoo Bird
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Found exclusively in the Amazon, the Potoo Bird offers a fresh perspective on camouflage. There are seven species of the nocturnal bird. They can blend in with the tree they are sitting on and sing terrifying songs announcing its presence to other animals.
Some other birds found in the Amazon are:
- Royal Flycatcher
- Spangled Cotinga
- Toucan
- Paradise Tanager
- Cock of the rock
- King vulture
- Spectacled owl
- Wire-tailed Manakin
- Hummingbirds
- Storks and herons
3. Reptiles And Amphibians
The Amazon is home to more than 375 species of reptiles and over 400 species of amphibians. Some of the unique and important ones are:
Black Caiman
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The terrifying crocodile is the largest predator on Amazonian land, reaching a length of 4.5 meters (15 feet). As the name suggests, the reptile is black, successfully blending with the surroundings. It lives in slow-moving waters like streams, rivers, mangroves, and swamps, and most times, all you can see are its eyes loitering above the water’s surface.
Poison Dart Frog
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It is the most colorful amphibian in the whole jungle. These frogs have bright-colored bodies with intricate patterns. They are considered one of Earth’s most poisonous or toxic species.
Side-necked Turtle
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The side-necked turtle is called so because it has a long neck that does not completely fit into its shell. Hence, the turtle bends its head to one side, giving the appearance that the neck is not in the center. Butterflies drink the tears of these turtles to fulfill their salt requirement.
Green Anaconda
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Green anacondas are the heaviest snakes in the world, weighing up to 100 kg. They are also the second-longest snakes, reaching a length of around 7 meters. They are non-poisonous and do better in water than on land. This is because they are clumsy on land but are great swimmers.
Bicolored Tree Frog
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They are also called giant monkey frogs, as they live more in the trees than on land and swing from leaf to leaf and tree to tree like monkeys. The frog has a green back, a cream belly, and large round eyes.
Some others are:
- Bushmaster snake
- Amazon banded snake
- Calango lizard
- Tegu lizard
- Mata-mata turtle
- Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle
- Mushroom-tongued salamander
- Brown egg frog
- Dull rocket frog
- Buckley’s slender-legged
4. Insects
Insects form the largest group of animals in the Amazon. Some unique ones are:
Peanut Head Bug
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It is a butterfly with a head resembling a peanut and large false eyes on the wings.
Leafcutter ant
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The ants are unique in that they eat leaves and then grow fungi on the chewed leaves. These fungi are used to turn poisonous mushrooms into edible ones.
Blue Morpho butterfly
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It is one of the rarest and most beautiful butterflies in the world. It is also one of the largest butterflies, with a wingspan of around 5 to 8 inches. The butterfly has a striking blue color that is hard to miss.
Goliath Birdeater
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The Goliath Birdeater is a huge spider that can grow larger than the palm of your hand. They are aggressive and have deadly venom, so you are better off not seeing them.
Some other insects found here are:
- Pink Toe Tarantulas
- Urodid Moth Cocoon
- Amber Phantom Butterfly
