Animals of the Amazon rainforest

By Rhett A. Butler [April 1, 2019]

The Amazon is home to more species of plants and animals than any other terrestrial ecosystem on the planet -- perhaps 30 percent of the world's species are found there. Its biodiversity — the term used to describe biological richness — is astounding: a single bush in the Amazon may have more species of ants than the entire British Isles, while a lone hectare of forest (two-and-a-half acres) may have more than 500 species of trees and a single park can have more than 1,400 butterfly species.

Take a look at some of these examples of the Amazon's species richness:

Jaguar. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.

Amazon biodiversity by the numbers:

  • 40,000 plant species
  • 16,000 tree species
  • 3,000 fish species
  • 1,300 birds
  • 430+ mammals
  • 1,000+ amphibians
  • 400+ reptiles

A list of some of the most famous animals found in the Amazon rainforest:

    Mammals
  • Jaguar
  • Puma
  • Capybara
  • Sloth (multiple species)
  • Giant river otter
  • Giant anteater
  • Tamarins and marmosets (several species)
  • Spider monkey (several species)
  • Woolly monkey
  • Capuchin monkey (several species)
  • Squirrel monkey (several species)
  • Uakari monkey (several species)
  • Titi monkey (several species)
  • Howler monkey (several species)
  • Saki monkey (several species)
  • Amazon pink river dolphin
  • Giant river otter
  • Tapir
  • Coatimundi
  • Kinkajou
  • Agouti
  • Paca

  • Birds
  • Hoatzin
  • Macaws and other parrots (many species)
  • Harpy Eagle
  • Toucans (several species)
  • Antbirds (antpittas, antshrikes, antwren, etc)
  • Kingfishers (many species)
  • Parakeets (many species)
  • Flycatchers (many species)
  • Woodpeckers (many species)
  • Tanagers (many species)
  • Manakins (many species)
  • Cock-of-the-rock
  • Guans (many species)
  • Storks and herons (many species)
  • Hummingbirds (many species)
  • Oropendola

  • Herps (reptiles and amphibians)
  • Anacondas and boa constrictors
  • Venomous snakes
  • Caiman (several species)
  • Poison dart frogs (many species)
  • Tree frogs (many species)
  • Iguanas and other lizards
  • Freshwater turtles

  • Fish
  • Arapaima or Pirarucu
  • Piranha
  • Arowana
  • Electric Eel
  • Giant Catfish
  • Neon tetras and other aquarium fish
  • Discus and angelfish





 

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