What animals live in the Amazon Rainforest? The Amazon Rainforest boggles the mind with its sheer immensity and extraordinary biodiversity. The estimated land area of 2.1 million square miles covers around 40% of South America and part of 9 countries, including Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.
Approximately 30% of the world’s known species can be found within this enormous and dense region, with new ones being constantly discovered. Unfortunately, deforestation and other habitat destruction have also led to mass extinctions and threaten the existence of many more unique and important species.
The current model shows that the Amazon Rainforest is home to 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians. The following is a list of some of the most iconic and curious creatures one can find in the Amazon.
What animals live in the Amazon Rainforest?
Tropical rainforest animals are animals that adapted to survive in the biggest tropical rainforests of the world, where the climate is very hot, humid, and damp. Some of the most iconic animals have obvious physical or behavioural characteristics that have enabled them to adapt to a home with a high amount of annual rainfall and loads of predators.
In the Amazon to date, there’s over 1,300 species of birds, over 430 different species of mammals, over 400 amphibians, and 378 reptiles species. In the surrounding waters, there’s 3,000 different kinds of freshwater fish – inclusive of piranhas!
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest on the globe. It’s located in South America, with 60% of the Amazon Rainforest being in Brazil, 13% in Peru, 10% in Colombia, and other small parts in Venezuela. The Amazon Rainforest is the biggest ecosystem on the planet and the most varied biological reservoir, being home to approximately 30% of the world’s species.
The Amazon Rainforest has one in ten known species on Earth and 2,000 new species of plants and vertebrates, including a monkey that purrs like a cat. It’s also the last place where harpy eagles, pink river dolphins, or jaguars can be found.
What tropical rainforest animals live in the Amazon?
Amazon Mammals
Jaguar
The Jaguar, one of the largest animals in the Amazon rainforest, is the symbol of power in the Amazon Rainforest. It has a large head, short legs and a stunning coat with dark spots. The Jaguar can be usually found near the water, and it is known for being excellent at swimming, climbing trees and hunting. There are just a few Jaguars left in the rainforest because of illegal hunting and changing of the habitat, and they are now considered endangered.
Amazon River Dolphin
The Amazon River Dolphin, also known as the Pink River Dolphin, lives in the river of the Amazon Forest. It is remarkably different from the ocean dolphin. Its body is pale pink, it has a rounded head, a smaller dorsal fin, a long snout and an elongated neck that can be moved right and left. Because of their strange colour, the Amazon Dolphins were believed to be magical creatures.
Giant Armadillo
The Giant Armadillo can be only found in the Amazon and can reach up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 120 pounds. It is a peculiar-looking creature with a casing made of bones, long front claws and 80 to 100 teeth, more than any other mammal. The Giant Armadillo is a nocturnal animal and lives in underground tunnels. In the last 30 years, the number of Giant Armadillos has decreased by 50% because of hunting.
Pygmy Marmoset
The Pygmy Marmoset is a type of monkey that lives only in the Amazon rainforests. It’s one of the world’s smallest primate. The Pygmy Marmoset lives in groups of around 6 monkeys, near swamps or streams. The Marmoset is extremely shy, so it’s hardly spotted.
Giant River Otter
Otters can be found in different parts of the world, but the Giant River Otter can only be seen in the Amazon Rainforest. Its body can reach up to 5 feet in length and the tail around 3 feet. The Giant Otter has webbed hands and feet that are perfect for swimming and hunting.
Sloth
Sloths are known as the ‘lazy’ creatures, due to their slow-moving motor abilities. This is because a sloth eats so little, meaning their metabolism is around 40 to 45 percent lower than the majority of other mammals. There are two types of sloth, three-toed and two-toed, and both types live in the Amazon.
Squirrel Monkey
The Squirrel Monkey is a small and agile monkey, that spends most of the time in trees. It’s unique because of the tinny size and the ability to use its tail for climbing. This monkey is also known as ‘Death’s Head Monkey’ because it has black and white fur on the face, which makes it resemble a skeleton.
Amazon reptiles and amphibians
Green Anaconda
Green Anaconda is one of the longest and largest known snakes in the world, measuring about 16 feet and weighing between 60 and 150 pounds. Green Anaconda is not a venomous snake, but kills its prey by suffocating and swallowing it whole. Because it spends a lot of time in the water, it’s also known as ‘Water Boa’.
Black Caiman
The Black Caiman is one of the largest reptiles that can be found in the Amazon Rainforest, and also one of the most effective predator animals in the amazon rainforest. Its name comes from the dark, scaly skin, that helps him camouflage during the night hunting.
Gladiator Tree Frog
The Gladiator Tree Frog got its name from the bony spine that males have on their hands, which they need to fight other males. This type of frog is able to make five different types of sounds.
What are the most dangerous Amazon rainforest animals?
Amazonian Giant Centipede
One of the most aggressive creatures in the Amazon is an insect. Amazonian Giant Centipedes are known for being extremely venomous. They use venom to kill the prey, after they ambush it. Their venom can cause severe pain, swelling, chills and fatigue to people.
Black Caiman
The Black Caiman is the largest type of alligator in the world and the largest predator in the Amazon River. He eats fish, turtles, bird and also animals that come closer to the water. Reports show that the Black Caiman has attached and killed people, and they are the most dangerous during mating season.
Brazilian Wandering Spider
Also known as The Banana Spider, the Brazilian Wandering Spider is one of the most venomous spiders on the globe. Eight species of this spider live in the Amazon Rainforest and all are poisonous. From their biting, people may go through extreme pain, trouble breathing and even paralysis.
Mosquitos
Even if their biting is not deadly, mosquitos are considered among the most dangerous creatures in the Amazon Rainforest. They carry some diseases that can be fatale to people. For example, mosquitos carry Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Zika.
Electric Eel
Electric Eel have the ability to shock,and a few shocks can cause a heart attack and respiratory failure in people.
Poison Dart Frog
Don’t let their exquisite colours fool you! Poison dart frogs are considered highly poisonous. Their skin emits toxicities which are lethal to those that come into contact and can cause the victim many problems such as paralysis. The golden poison dart frog contains a fatal amount of venom – enough to wipe out ten fully grown men.
Pit Vipers
Pit vipers are considered one of the most dangerous species of snake in the world. Just one bite can cause breathing problems and asphyxiation, as well as intense pain and slowing heart rate.
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