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:

• Mammals
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Fish
• Insects

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

Amazon rainforest section contents: