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.

Jaguar

The jaguar's preternatural beauty and affiliated terror cause admirers and prey to freeze in their tracks. The stand-out spots are similar to the leopards of Africa and Asia, but a small dot in the center is the key point of differentiation. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the biggest cat in the Americas and the third biggest in the world (behind lions and tigers). These magnificent carnivores are solitary but effective night hunters, both on land and water. They have even been known to attack caimans. Jaguars are classified as "Near Threatened" (NT) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Since the 1880s, they have lost nearly half of their territory, now mostly relying on the Amazon Basin and some parts of Central America. They also face threats from poachers and retaliatory killings by cattle ranchers.

Sloth

These loveable slow-pokes also mostly keep to the rainforest canopy. They tend to sleep between 15 to 20 hours a day, and when it is time to feed, they cover a whopping 40 yards, collecting leaves, twigs, and buds along the way. Despite their morose movements, sloths always seem to have a smile on their face. They even enjoy a leisurely swim from time to time - putting those long, tree-hanging arms to secondary use. There are two different types of sloths, two-toed and three-toed, and six species (all of which are found within the tropical rain forests of Central and South America). Of these, the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus), is listed as "Critically Endangered" (CR), and the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) is classified as "Vulnerable" (VU).

Amazon River Dolphin

The Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)is also known as the Pink River Dolphin for its pretty hue. This freshwater mammal is found throughout the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. These cute and curious creatures can grow up to 9.2 feet and weigh upwards of 352 pounds. Their populations are generally abundant; however, in some areas, these dolphins are listed as vulnerable due to fragmentation of their habitat/population by dams and threats related to the contamination of the waterways (particularly mercury pollution from gold mining in Bolivia).

Macaw

These brightly-colored birds belong to the parrot family. Their plumage is well-matched to their habitat of green trees, tasty fruits, and pretty flowers. Macaws (Psittacidae) are omnivorous, using their beaks to crack nuts and seeds and their tongues, which are specially designed with an interior bone, to tap into nutritious fruits. They also use their gripping toes to catch insects and snails. These birds are intelligent and highly vocal. They typically congregate in flocks of 10 to 30, calling out loudly to communicate. Famously, some species are known to mimic human speech. There are 17 documented species of macaws. The red-fronted and blue-fronted species are seriously at-risk, while the glaucous and Spix's macaw species are possibly already extinct in the wild. Pressures on the macaw relate to habitat destruction and their popularity as pets, which causes them to be captured and traded illegally.

Poison Dart Frog

The poison dart frog (Dendrobatidae) is another particularly colorful creature on this list. The intricate patterns on their bodies further enhance their beauty. These overt displays are an evolutionary tactic to warn off potential predators (a phenomenon called aposematic coloration). As the name would suggest, poison dart frogs are toxic and, in some cases, extremely so. The hunters of the indigenous Emberá people of Colombia capitalized on this fact by applying the poison to the tip of their blowgun darts. Interestingly, poison dart frogs raised in captivity never develop their poison, which suggests that it is something they have to produce, possibly through the assimilation of certain plant chemicals, which are carried by the ants, termites, and beetles that make up part of their carnivorous diet.

Red Howler Monkey

You can hear this guy's ominous call from a mile away - 3 miles away, actually. Those brave enough to seek the source of the demonic wail will spot the large canopy-dwellers by their dark red fur and swollen throats (owing to an enlarged hyoid bone at the base of the tongue). The males are larger and have darker beards. Red howlers (Alouatta seniculus) assume the role of rainforest rooster, waking up the jungle bright and early. They do this again before going to bed, in both cases, as a signal to males in other groups to define their distinct territories. Though they sound frightening, red howlers predominantly subsist on flowers, leaves, and fruit. The population is declining, but the IUCN Red List still classifies red howlers as "Least Concern" (LC).

Black Caiman

The Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) is the largest animal in the Amazon Basin. It is also the largest species of alligator, typically ranging from 9 to 14 feet, but able to grow as long as 20 feet and weighing anywhere from 209 to 660+ pounds. Aside from its impressive size, the Black caiman also differs from the American alligator because of its dark-colored, armored skin (hence the name). This adaptive trait improves the nocturnal hunter's camouflage and may also help absorb heat during the day. If left to their own devices, these alligators can live upwards of 80 years. However, in the past century, this species was reduced by about 99%, mostly due to heavy hunting to produce black leather. Currently, the IUCN Red List classifies the Black caiman as "Least Concern" (LN).

Green Anaconda

Overall, this member of the boa family is the largest snake in the world. It can reach lengths of 20 - 30 feet (i.e., as long as a school bus), with a diameter of 12-inches, and weigh upwards of 550 pounds. The reticulated python can grow slightly longer, but the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is still nearly twice as heavy. They reach these astounding girths through a diet of wild pigs, deer, birds, capybaras, even caimans, and, believe it or not, jaguars. These non-venomous snakes constrict and asphyxiate their prey before swallowing it whole. After a big meal, anacondas can go months without food. Because of their size, anacondas are slow-moving on land but surprisingly mobile in the water. They mainly live in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, though exact population data and status of the species are unknown.

Giant Monkey Frog

The giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor), also known as the bicolored tree frog, derives its name from its iconic, bright green backside and cream-colored belly and its unusual ability to swing between trees. These amphibians spend most of their time in trees and take advantage of their large bodies to bridge the gaps while moving around. Acaté is yet another name given to this frog by the Matsés tribes of the Amazon Rainforest (between Peru and Brazil). The Matsés shamans use the frog's secretions in hunting rituals and as a way to transmit knowledge through the mind-altering medium. The frogs use this waxy coating to protect themselves from the sun. This natural opioid has also been adopted as a painkiller, as it is 40 times stronger than traditional morphine.

Harpy Eagle

The Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest eagles in the world and easily the largest and most dominant raptor in the Amazon rainforest. This carnivorous predator has a wingspan of 69 to 88 inches, the largest talons of any living eagles, the ability to lift prey equal to their body weight (9 to 20 pounds), and can reach a top speed of 50 miles per hour. It uses these tools to hunt a wide array of animals, including sloths, monkeys, porcupines, squirrels, anteaters, iguanas, snakes, and other birds (and their eggs), such as the macaw, and many more. Harpy eagles have a vast territory, spanning from Mexico down to Argentina, but their numbers are on the decline, and they are listed as "Near Threatened" (NT).

Green Basilisk Lizard

The Green Basilisk lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons) is also known as the "Jesus Lizard" for its remarkable ability to run across water's surface. They do this by sprinting on two legs, at a rate of about 5-feet per second, which they can do for a distance of about 15-feet, before sinking onto all fours and swimming from there (or reaching the shore). This phenomenon is aided by their adaptive anatomy, which features flaps between the toes, which create an air pocket and a larger surface area. Their long tail acts as a counter-balance while in the bipedal state. This nifty maneuver is done in response to predatory threats. Therefore, as one might expect, they are never far from water but, otherwise, keep to the trees until the occasion calls for it.

The Amazon Rainforest naturally creates adoration and yet, requires great attention and care. It is gigantic but dwindling; bafflingly biodiverse, but an untold number of species are regularly going extinct. Let us appreciate these magnificent animals while they are here and do what we can to preserve them.