The Amazon rainforest is home to countless species of plants and animals.

How many exactly, you ask?

Nearly 30 percent of the world’s species are found in this remarkably diverse rainforest. Widely regarded as the most biodiverse place on Earth, the Amazon draws visitors from around the globe eager to experience its extraordinary wildlife. From elusive jungle creatures to the rich variety of life thriving in its vast river systems, the rainforest teems with an astonishing array of plants and animals hidden within its depths.

We bet you don’t know some of these most widely seen and peculiar animals in the Amazon Rainforest…

So… Gulliver Expeditions put together a list of the most common Amazon Rainforest animals that you might run into on your Amazon Rainforest tour. So you’ll know just exactly what to expect on your trip to the diverse Amazon Rainforest. Here’s our list of the 10 most observed animals in the Amazon Rainforest:

Oropendolas & Caciques

These two types of birds can be found in the same flock, foraging for food. They are the most common birds throughout the Amazon. You’ll spot them as soon as you arrive in the rainforest. They’re very populous, noisy, and weave large bag-like nests that hang from the ends of tree branches.

Hoatzin

This unusual bird is commonly found near streams and lagoons throughout the Amazon Basin. The hoatzin has earned the nickname “the Stinky Turkey” because of its strong, unpleasant odor. Unlike most birds, hoatzins feed exclusively on leaves, which are difficult to digest. To process this tough diet, they ferment the leaves in their specialized stomachs—much like cows do—producing the distinctive smell for which they are known. It may even be the smelliest animal in the entire Amazon Rainforest.

Toucans

Toucans are one of the most stunning animals in the entire Amazon Rainforest. These magnificent birds have colorful feathers and a long curved bill that helps them reach fruits and other foods. With a little luck, you’ll see a common species of Toucans in the Amazon rainforest called the White Throated Toucan, or the smallest species of Toucans, the Aracaris.

Parrots & Macaws

These birds are widespread throughout the whole rainforest. They truly put on the most beautiful show in the Amazon.

• Their beauty is beyond compare. Parrots and Macaws are very colorful and come in all sizes. A couple are:
• Parakeets – the smallest parrots
• Parrots and Macaws – the largest

 

Herons & Egrets

• Herons and Egrets are the most common types of birds in water habitats of the Amazon, with numerous species in plenty of different sizes and colors. A few examples are:
• The Cocoi Heron – the largest Heron
• The Boat-Billed Heron –its long striking shaped beak is its signature identifier

 

Piranhas

The movies have made piranhas infamous, but you won’t get eaten by one of these fish. In fact, piranhas will only eat flesh that is dying or dead and moreover, they also feed on plants. Piranha literally translates to ‘tooth fish’ in the Brazilian language of Tupi, and it couldn’t be a more fitting name for these creatures with around 10 razor sharp 4 mm teeth per jaw.  Piranhas live in packs of up to 1,000 fish as a form of self-defence from their enemies (otters, caimans, river dolphins). Did you know that some piranhas can bark? Researchers have identified three different calls. As the waters of the Amazon basin are quite murky, barking is another way for the piranhas to let others know about food sources and approaching predators.

Monkeys

For many travellers, monkeys are the highlight of a visit to the Amazon rainforest. Monkeys are the most closely related animal to humans and are found everywhere in the forest. With some luck you’ll cross the path of monkeys like the Pigmy marmoset, the smallest monkey in the tropics, or the Red Howler Monkey, the loudest in the Amazon rainforest.

Sloths

Some of the least-active animals out there, sloths sleep from 15 to 18 hours each day! Some even stay in the same tree their entire life.  They move so slowly that algae can grow on their fur, giving them a greenish tint that helps them blend into the forest canopy. This algae also supports tiny insects, creating a miniature ecosystem right on their bodies. Sloths have an extremely slow metabolism and can take weeks to digest a single meal of leaves. There are two-toed and three-toed sloths, such as the Pale-throated sloth, Brown-throated sloth and Hoffman’s tow-toed sloth, whereas two of the six species in total are endangered.

Despite their sleepy reputation, they are strong swimmers and can drop from high branches into rivers below, moving three times faster in water than on land. Sloths are great at hanging out (even after they die!) Their huge hooked claws and lanky arms enable them to spend most of their time hanging from tree branches. Awake or asleep, dead or alive, they won’t lose their grip. In fact, researchers recently found that even after death they retain their grip and can sometimes still be found hanging from tree branches.

Caimans

These might be the scariest animals in the Amazon River, but don’t be afraid. If you remain at a distance, they do not attack. They fish in all bodies of water in the rainforest. In a nocturnal expedition, you might see the Black Caiman, the largest species, or the Spectacled Caiman, which is smaller but more common.

Snakes

During a visit to the Amazon, you’re bound to run into a snake or two. There are loads of them in all different sizes. In some cases, you may even spot an anaconda. These giant snakes can reach nearly 30 feet (9 m) and weigh over 550 pounds (250 kg). Typically found near water sources where they stealthily pursue their prey, Anacondas are exceptional swimmers, capable of remaining submerged underwater for up to 10 minutes.

Tree Frogs

Water and humidity are a necessity for a frog’s lifecycle, making the Amazon Rainforest the perfect home for them. At dusk, you can hear roars of Tree Frogs calling. With a little bit of luck on a night hike, you can see many species of the Phyllomedusa Genus, the most beautiful of tree frogs.

Ants and Termites

The Amazon is home to plenty of insects, termites and ants. Throughout your trip, you’ll see a multitude of termite nests hanging from trees as balls. If you look closely, you’ll also see millions of Leaf-Cutter ants marching in big lines along the forest ground.

Exotic animals (you might spot with a bit of luck)

Capybara

The capybara’s “keep calm and carry on” attitude has memed their way across the internet and charmed animal lovers around the world. Capybaras are the largest living rodent on earth, eating massive amounts of grass and yes, even their own poop! This helps their gut bacteria digest better. Capybaras are excellent swimmers, diving underwater to get away from predators, such as jaguars, birds of pray, snakes, caimans… Capybaras live in complex social groups, communicating by barking, whistling, grunting, chattering, laughing… and scent-spreading! But just because they are big it doesn’t mean that they are slow — they can run AND swim at speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h) and jump up to 3 feet hight (1 m). Ready to compete with the capybaras?

 

Giant otters 

The most impressive thing about these highly social water aquatic athletes is their length of up to 1.8 meters. Around 70,000 hairs per square centimeter and their waterproof undercoat protect them from the cold in the water. Giant otters display highly developed social behavior within their family, living in groups of up to ten individuals, which hunt, sleep, play, and raise their babies together. They feed almost exclusively on fish. Giant otters originally lived throughout the tropical part of South America, from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Today, the population is highly endangered, even though giant otters have no natural enemies. However, deforestation and habitat destruction pose a major threat.

Jaguars

Did you know that the jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas? As a predator, it has a wide diet that includes animals such as capybaras, peccaries, turtles, caimans, and some fish. Sadly, their population is endangered – the estimated amount of wild jaguars left is only 15,000.They have the strongest bite of any big cat. So, not necessarily something you should cuddle, but they are amazing to look at!

Pink River Dolphins

Pink river dolphins are very interesting creatures, albeit a little funny looking sometimes. They come in shades of gray and pink, varying in intensity. When they get excited, they blush bright pink! These animals feed mainly on fish and occasionally on crustaceans, using echolocation to find their prey in the murky waters of the jungle.

South American Tapir

The South American tapir is Amazon’s largest land mammal in Ecuador, weighing up to 550 lb (250 kg) and being around 6 ft (1,8 m) long.  The main habitat of this species is temporarily flooded areas, and it frequently visits salt licks. Feeding on plants, fruits and seeds, it is one of the most important seed dispersers in the Amazonian forests. Their vision is generally poor, while its sense of smell is excellent. Tapirs can be aggressive in defense of their babies or when captured in the wild. It is a solitary animal, except for females with young or during the mating season.

Anteater

The anteater (nomen est omen) mainly feeds on insects like ants and termites. These peculiar creatures have an elongated snout and a long tongue that can reach up to 24 inches, permitting them to delve into insect burrows effortlessly. In nature, these animals are primarily solitary, preferring to roam and forage alone rather than in packs.

Harpy Eagle

The harpy eagle has a wingspan that may extend to 6.5 feet (almost 2 m), granting it remarkable flight abilities. When airborne, these majestic raptors can reach 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Notably, the harpy eagle sits at the top of local food chains with few natural adversaries, playing a vital role in maintaining balanced prey populations like monkey and sloth species.

Electric eel

This fascinating aquatic creature is renowned for its ability to generate powerful electrical bursts reaching up to 800 volts. These shocks are mainly utilized for hunting prey and self-protection, deterring would-be predators. Electric eels can achieve lengths approaching 8 feet (2,4 m) and chiefly reside in the murky waters of the Amazon River and its many tributaries.

 

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If you’re interested in seeking out the most unique Amazon Rainforest animals,

book an Amazon Rainforest Tour with Gulliver Expeditions today.

Our wildlife experts will take you on tours through the Amazon Rainforest

and show you the very best of the most biodiverse place on the Earth.

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