Amazon Rainforest animals set the fashion curve for South America. Some blend in with their surroundings, while others show off a wildly eclectic palate of bright colors, spots, and patterns. The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon boasts incredible biodiversity unlike anywhere else.
Folks from around the world travel to the Amazon with their long lens cameras and binoculars to see these unique critters. Below, we shine the spotlight on 30 of the most glorious residents of the Amazon jungle!
Some of the most incredible animals of the Amazon are felines, monkeys, and river critters. But that’s not all! The Amazon Rainforest is home to many incredible mammals: at least 430 different species!
AMAZON RAINFOREST TOURS:
Cheetah spots are to the plains of Africa as jaguar spots are to the jungle of South America. Many travelers count their lucky stars in eager anticipation of seeing this classic jungle icon. You will need to travel pretty deep into the jungle for a good chance at seeing a jaguar. The only lodge in the Tambopata Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon, the Tambopata Research Center boasts a 35% chance of seeing a jaguar in their natural habitat.
Jaguar. Photo by Lucas Bustamante for Rainforest Expeditions.
The giant river otters found in the Amazon are the largest otters in the world. With some reaching up to 5.6 feet (1.7 meters), these otters swim through the Amazonian rivers and lakes using their strong tails and webbed feet. Giant river otters are very vocal, with at least 22 distinct sounds in their vocabulary.
Giant river otters. Photo by Lucas Bustamante for Rainforest Expeditions.
The red howler monkeys can be heard by most travelers visiting the Peruvian jungle. Their loud roars can be heard up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) away. There’s about a 50% chance to see these monkeys at our top Puerto Maldonado jungle lodges, with a greater chance the deeper you get into the jungle. Keep your eyes on the canopy!
Red howler monkey. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
A rather docile rodent, capybaras look like giant guinea pigs. They live in the densely forested areas of South America near bodies of freshwater. Capybaras are surprisingly great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes underwater. These jungle animals are actually the largest rodent in the world today, about 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and 2 feet (60 centimeters) tall.
Capybaras. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
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The black-capped squirrel monkey is found in the Peruvian, Brazilian, and Bolivian Amazon. They live in female-dominated groups with about 40 to 75 monkeys. Unlike many other monkeys that use their tail to climb, these squirrel monkeys typically use their tail for balance.
Sloths are known as perezosos locally, meaning “lazy” in Spanish. Both the two-toed and three-toed sloths live in the Amazon. If you are really lucky, there is a small chance of seeing them in the wild during excursions at our favorite Puerto Maldonado jungle lodges.
Three-toed sloth.
While several anteater species call the Americas home, the collared anteater is unique to South America. Much smaller than the giant anteaters, they are able to climb trees in search of ants, termites, or other food. With tongues about 15 inches (40 centimeters) long, these anteaters can catch insects easily.
Collared anteater. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
Pink river dolphins live in the Amazon River and its tributaries. While the babies are dark gray, the adult dolphins appear a light shade of pink. Native tribes around the Amazon have several legends dedicated to the pink dolphins. One of the most well known says the dolphins turn into handsome young men at night, heading to the shores to seduce young women. To see these incredible dolphins for yourself, consider a stay at an Iquitos jungle lodge or taking a luxury river cruise.
A pink river dolphin.
Behold a true jungle legend, the puma. With its sleek build and carnivorous ways, “fierce” is an appropriate adjective to characterize these rainforest cats. Consider yourself very, very lucky if you see a puma in the wild. The owner of Rainforest Expeditions hasn’t seen one in more than 20 years working in the Amazon!
A puma. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
The bearded emperor tamarin gives new meaning to the phrase “monkeying around”. With their distinct white mustache and beard, this primate lives with a small, extended family of between 4 and 15 members. Bearded emperor tamarins see the world in only two colors, helping detect predators, even the ones with the best camouflage. Some females see a third color, which helps to detect the ripest fruits.
Bearded emperor tamarin.
At first glance, you may think tapirs are some sort of wild pig or somehow related to anteaters. In reality, tapirs are most closely related to horses and rhinoceros! Baby Amazonian tapirs are born with white stripes and spots that fade over time. They are great swimmers and often run into the rivers to escape their predators.
Amazonian tapir. Photo by Louis Guillot for Rainforest Expeditions.
AMAZON RAINFOREST TOURS:
These seven unique species are just a small percentage of the 1,300 bird species found in the Amazon (which is why it is the perfect place for birdwatching). Feathers are all the rage whether blending in or standing out for these Amazon Rainforest animals.
Macaw feathers come in just about any color, with red, yellow, green, and blue being the most common. The scarlet macaw is the most well-known, with its distinct red, yellow, and blue feathers. It is common for macaws to gather at clay licks in search of salt. This allows many visitors to Puerto Maldonado the chance to see these majestic birds in the wild.
A scarlet macaw. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
The intense eyes and sharp beak are key features of the harpy eagle. A top predator in the jungle, the harpy eagle soaring through the Amazonian sky is a phenomenal sight. Harpy eagles have a gray head, white belly, and an intricate pattern of white, gray and black feathers on their wings.
Harpy eagle. Image: “Harpy Eagle with wings lifted” by Jonathan Wilkins, used under CC BY-SA 3.0 / Compressed from original
Male spangled cotinga birds are characterized by vibrant turquoise feathers covering their body with a patch of dark pink feathers on their throat. This Amazon Rainforest animal lives high in the canopy and, unlike the other birds on this list, does not have the ability to make sounds.
A spangled cotinga bird. Image: “Spangled Cotinga (male)” by Mathias Appel, used under CC0 1.0 / compressed from original
While the body of this bird is rather plain, it has an extremely beautiful crest it displays when threatened or trying to attract a mate. The bright feathers of its crest range from yellow to red and have purplish-blue tips and spots.
A royal flycatcher. Image: “Royal Flycatcher” by Jorge Obando Nature Photo, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Cropped and compressed from original
Potoo birds offer a new take on camouflage. These jungle birds blend in brilliantly as an extension of the bark or as a broken off stump. As nocturnal jungle dwellers, they are active at night. Also, they give eerie vocalizations that carry long distances to alert others of their presence.
Potoo bird. Photo by Fernando Ccoa for Rainforest Expeditions.
The large, often colorful beaks are the most distinctive features of toucans. The Tambopata region in Peru is home to many toucan species, including the yellow-ridged toucan and green-feathered emerald toucanet.
A yellow-ridged toucan. Photo by Carlos Peña for GreenHouse Tambopata.
This multicolored songbird is a common bird to spot in the Amazon. With bright green heads and sky blue underbellies, they generally stand out from their surroundings. This bird nests high in the canopy, far from predators that might go after their eggs.
A paradise tanager. Image: “Paradise Tanager -Manu NP- Peru_7844” by Francesco Veronesi, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / compressed from original
More than 400 amphibian species and over 375 reptile species call the Amazon home. Below are a few of the most famous, important, and unique Amazon Rainforest reptiles and amphibians.
Some of the most colorful amphibians in the jungle are poison dart frogs. These small, poisonous jungle creatures typically have intricate patterns on their brightly colored bodies. Ranging from hues of red, blue, yellow, and everything in between, their bright colors are a key defense mechanism to ward off predators.
Poison dart frog. Image: “Posion Dart Frog Sitting on a Leaf” by GrrlScientist, used under CC BY 2.0 / Compressed from original
Photoshop was not used to superimpose the swarm of butterflies in this photo. Different species of butterflies actually drink from the side-necked turtle’s tears, a natural occurrence in the Amazon. Many plant eaters in the Amazon do not get enough salt from their diet. They have come up with creative solutions, like drinking turtle tears, to increase their salt intake.
Side-necked turtle and butterflies. Photo by Marcelo Bonino & Jeff Cremer for Rainforest Expeditions.
The largest predator of the Amazon ecosystem is the black caiman. Like its name suggests, this reptile has dark scales which helps to blend in with their surroundings. Most of the time, you are only able to see the eyes lurking above the water.
Scientists have discovered fossils of an extinct, giant caiman in the black caiman’s territory reaching upwards of 40 feet (12 meters). However, this crocodilian only grows to about 15 feet (4.5 meters) in length, almost as big as its relative: the American alligator.
Black caiman. Photo by Cesar Vasquez for Travel Buddies Peru.
The eyes on this frog are certainly its most notable feature. These giant leaf frogs are commonly found across the Amazon. These frogs have bright green backsides with a cream colored belly. The frogs spend most of their time in trees rather than the forest floor. They swing between trees like monkeys, giving them an alternate name: giant monkey frog.
Bicolored tree frog. Photo by Lucas Bustamante for Rainforest Expeditions.
The green anacondas are the heaviest and second longest snakes in the world. These water boas are rather clumsy on the land, but more sly in the swamps, marshes, and streams they hunt in. With their eyes and nose on top of their heads, they can hide most of their body underwater while keeping a look out for food.
By Thomas Marent for Rainforest Expeditions
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The Amazon Rainforest is home to an incredible variety of insects. Over 90% of all Amazon Rainforest animals are insects! Researchers and scientists discover thousands of new insect species every year. Because of this, it is hard to know exactly how many insects might call the rainforest home. The following are some unique insects that live in the Amazon jungle.
The leafcutter ants live in large, complex colonies, with each ant playing a specific role based on its size. Leafcutter ants eat more vegetation than any other creature in the rainforest. In addition to vegetation, these ants cultivate fungus underground that turns poisonous plants into an edible mushroom.
Leafcutter ant. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
Pink Toe Tarantulas have a solid black body, but show some personality at their toes. A rather docile tarantula, they have pink tips on each of their eight legs. Unlike most tarantulas, they are active during the day. In addition, the pink toes help them stick out from their surroundings, allowing travelers a better chance of spotting them.
Pink-toe tarantula. Photo by Rainforest Expeditions.
The Amazon is home to at least 7,000 species of butterflies – 35% of the world’s known butterfly species. One of the most striking butterflies in the jungle is the blue morpho. With brilliant blue wings, you cannot miss them fluttering around the rainforest.
Blue morpho butterflies. Image: “Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm 2/21” by Kinon Berlin, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original
The intricate design of this lattice cocoon was weaved with care by an urodid moth. This cocoon has an open structure, allowing air to flow over the pupa, preventing the growth of mold and fungus. The pupa will remain in its cocoon until it is full grown and then makes its jungle entry through the tubular escape hatch at the bottom.
This incredible butterfly with translucent wings lives in the deep, well-shaded parts of the jungle. It earned its name from the amber accents on their wings and from being semi transparent, like a phantom or ghost.
Two amber phantom butterflies. Photo by Rainforest Expeditions.
This spider has the most toxic spider venom in the world. The Brazilian wandering spider lives not only in the Brazilian Amazon, but in certain areas across South America. This spider earned its name as it actively searches for prey. It wanders, compared to other spiders that build and wait in a web. This long-legged spider has a brown body and red fangs.
While scorpions are often thought of as desert dwellers, the Amazon Rainforest is also home to several species. After scrolling through the previous Amazon Rainforest animal photos, you probably thought you had just about seen it all. Then you learn that scorpions glow under blacklight! Under the beam of an ultraviolet light, scorpions glow a neon blue, lighting up like beacons in the night.
Scorpion in the Amazon. Photo by Paul Bertner for Rainforest Expeditions.
The Amazon has it all: from cute and fuzzy to downright bizarre. The Amazon jungle is definitely a melting pot of animals with their own sense of style. Want to see these incredible Amazon Rainforest animals for yourself? Learn more about planning your own trip to the Amazon and chat with a travel expert now.
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