The fauna of the Amazon is so diverse, so diverse that it contains no less than 3 million species. The animals of the Amazon Forest are mostly fish. Therefore, about 2 million of them live in the waters. But there are still a million pets that live on land and in the air that enchant us.

Cats, monkeys and birds are some of the animals that live in the Amazon Forest. Unfortunately, part of these animals is threatened with extinction, which is why it is so important to fight for the preservation of the entire biome. In this article, you will get to know some animals of the Amazon Forest, their curiosities and habits. Check out.

19 animals from the Amazon Rainforest

Jaguar

I couldn’t start this list without mentioning the jaguar. It is one of the greatest symbols of the Amazon Forest and Brazil. Unfortunately, she is one of the animals that is threatened with extinction , thanks to the unfair hunting of some farmers who usually kill the feline, as he easily devours herds of cattle. In addition, the jaguar’s existence is also being affected due to the destruction of the forest, caused by the rampant deforestation of logging companies.

A jaguar can weigh between 56 to 92 kilos. However, some animals have already been caught with almost 160 kilos. Regarding the size, it can vary from 1.12 to 1.85 meters, without the tail. Its physical characteristic is the spots on the skin and the scattered hairs, which, as the name says, form “spots”.

The feline is one of the most agile carnivores and is reputed to devour any smaller animal that crosses its path.

Golden Lion tamarin

Here is yet another symbol of our country: the Golden Lion Tamarin. But unfortunately, it also brings with it another national brand: extinction. This is all due to the capture of zoos and even as pets.

As a result, it is increasingly difficult to find a Golden Lion Tamarin in the Amazon rainforest. Small, he can weigh up to 800 grams and usually lives in groups. His habits are diurnal and he is an animal that likes to make a mess early in the morning. Throughout the day, he calms down.

Boto

If there is a king in the Amazonian waters, we can say that he is the dolphin. Yes! The animal is so famous in the Amazon Forest that it has already become a legend itself. Popular folklore says that the dolphin chooses moon nights to gain the body of a man, wear white clothes and seduce women to the banks of the river. After getting them pregnant, he returns to his natural habitat.

In addition to the legend, what we know about him is that he is an extremely playful animal, feeds on fish and, unfortunately, another animal that is at risk of extinction, due to cruel human hunting.

See also:  Amazon fauna and flora

Heron

The title “amazing animals in the Amazon” is certainly sported by birds . Colorful, beautiful and free they fill the eyes of the viewers. One of them is the Heron. Of infinite blue, she lives in northern Brazil amid the trees and banks of the Amazon River.

Its beak is blue, its head has black fur on the top and the rest of its feathers are yellow. A wonderful bird that feeds on fruits and some small animals.

Jacaretinga

If in Florida, in the United States, the mascot is an alligator, our Amazon Forest also has its reptile to represent it. It is the Jacaretinga, a small alligator that eats small animals that live on the banks of the Amazon River.

He is not a born hunter, we can say that the prey themselves end up going against him. In general, males measure between 1.8 and 2.5 meters in length and females reach up to 1.4 meters.

Harpy

If there is a beautiful animal in the Amazon Forest, it is the Harpy. Have you heard? If not, imagine a species of eagle. It is a bird that can reach 2 meters in length with its wings spread and weigh 50 kilos. Its claws are powerful and its code name is hawk.

Due to its agility and dexterity, the Harpy is considered as the most powerful bird of prey on the planet. It feeds on other animals and does not even think that the size of its prey scares it. That’s because it can hunt even sheep. Unlike other animals, females are larger and stronger than the male.

Still on its physical attributes, the Harpy has black feathers with details on the gray head. A beauty.

White-faced spider monkey

The white-faced spider monkey is also called Ateles marginatus . He is a native animal of the Brazilian Amazon Forest. Its habitat is mainly in regions close to rivers, such as the Tapajós River, the Xingu River and the Teles River. Therefore, it is in the states of Mato Grosso and Pará that these mammals are found.

Its physical characteristic is to have dark black hairs, but its snout is white, hence the popular name of the pet. In addition, it is an agile and smart mammal.

Caititu

Caititu is called wild pig because it resembles a wild boar, so it is also called that way. He is a typical animal of the Amazon Forest. Among its physical characteristics are a glandular snout, a small tail and a type of stomach that allows this animal to feed on different types of food, from small animals to fruits, vegetables and other foods found in its habitat.

An adult peccary measures up to one meter in length and reaches 45 centimeters in height, its weight being up to 30 kilos. The hair is rough and black with a few streaks of gray. Another important characteristic of this animal is that it emits a characteristic smell through the gland located in the snout.

Chorus-Chorus

The scientific name of this typical animal from the Amazon Rainforest is Mesembrinibis cayennensis . It is a bird that lives in Brazil and in the forests of countries like Paraguay, Argentina and Panama. Its size is up to 60 centimeters in length and its feathers are green, as is the long beak. For all this it is a very beautiful bird.

See also:  Brazilian ecosystems

Peacock

Its scientific name is Eurypyga helias , but it is popularly known as Pavãozinho-do-Pará. It lives in the Amazon rainforest and feeds on fish and other prey that live in the waters, where it usually captures them with low overflows.

Its physical characteristics are: long neck and black head with white stripes . Beige chest, with slight variations for black and brown. The wings are usually white and when open they have an orange color.

His home is always close to the waters where he chooses his food, but he does not usually enter the water, preferring to capture his prey silently flying.

Puma

Less common than the jaguar, the puma has the scientific name of Puma concolor. Although he is not a native of the Amazon Rainforest and is found in many places around the world, such as Canada, Chile, etc., he is a feline still present in some places in northern Brazil.

It is an extremely fast predator and it is estimated that there are about 10,000 animals in Brazil. Although, since 2014, Puma has been considered a threatened animal in the country, according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

Red Macaw

The Red Macaw is called in the scientific environment Ara chloropterus . This bird is another one that exudes beauty, whose colors are so incredible that they impress. This species usually lives in flocks and is found in the Amazon Forest, in addition to Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Piauí, Minas Gerais, Bahia and even in the state of São Paulo.

Its physical characteristics are: up to 90 centimeters in length and weight of 1.5 kilos. One of its attributes is that the red macaws are monogamous , that is, after mating, they are loyal to their companions (both males and females) and live their whole lives with the same pair.

Otter

You may never have heard of that name, but the pet has certainly seen a picture of him. Known as a giant otter , it is an animal that can be found in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.

The giant otter is an endangered species, so it is on the list of animals that are at risk of extinction. Its size can reach 1.8 meters in length and its weight up to 45 kilos for males. Females tend to be smaller. They feed on fish and small aquatic animals and are considered predators in their natural habitats.

Vinegar dog

Did you know that in the Amazon Forest there is a dog-vinegar? That’s right! Its scientific name is Speothos venaticus and it has this name because it looks like a domestic dog , except for some characteristics, among them being threatened with extinction.

Other examples are: they are semi-aquatic animals, weigh up to 7 kilos. Its fur is reddish and its tail is short. His ears are small, as well as his stature. They feed on small rodents, birds and small reptiles in general.

Anaconda

It is clear that in an article about the typical animals of the Brazilian Amazon Forest we could not fail to mention the famous anaconda. The snake is as famous as the biome that guards it.

Scientifically called Eunectes murinus , anaconda is also popularly called anaconda . It is the largest snake of its kind. It lives in the flooded areas and it is in this region where the snake feeds, mainly of alligator and capybaras.

Yes! Anaconda is famous for hunting species that seem to be much stronger than it. But this is a mistake, as it can easily reach 6 meters in length and weigh more than 100 pounds.

Anaconda is feared by everyone, especially for the countless legends that surround it. However, the snake is not in the habit of injuring humans, only if it feels threatened and may bite a person.

Surucucu

This is another snake from the Amazon rainforest. Called Lachesis muta in science, it is threatened with extinction. Her skin is beautiful and forms drawings in yellow and black colors.

Its habitat is closed forests, mainly in the heart of the Amazon. But it is also possible to find it in some areas of Bahia. It usually attacks human beings only when it feels threatened.

As she lives inside the closed forest, the attack is more common to man. That’s because, without seeing it due to the camouflaged skin, he approaches the snake and ends up posing a threat to the animal.

Atlas moth

Butterflies also make the Amazon Forest even more beautiful. An example is the Mariposa-atlas. It has this name thanks to its large size, being considered the largest butterfly in the world. In addition to Brazil, it is also found in Thailand, Indonesia and India.

Its color is brown and with open wings it can reach up to 30 centimeters . In this species, the females are larger and heavier than the Atlas moth males. Thus, it is yet another example of the Amazonian diversity and the peculiar richness of this forest.

Swallowtail

The sky in our Amazon Forest is truly a divine gift. That’s because the birds that populate this biome are fantastic. One of them is the Swallowtail, whose scientific name is Tersina viridis .

Its beauty draws attention: light and bright blue feathers, with black beak and white belly. It feeds on the sap of trees and small animals.

Irara

This is another curious animal present in the Amazon Forest. Irara feeds on fruits, honey and small mammals. It can reach 60 centimeters in length. Because of her eating habits, some people call her honeycomb.

His ears are short and his body is dark, almost black. His legs and neck are long, allowing him to move very quickly. Wherever they go they have a curious habit: leaving their marks on the stumps of trees, to demarcate territory.

Preservation of the Amazon Forest and its animals

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are more than 3 million species of animals that live in the Amazon Forest . Here, I brought only a few copies. Unfortunately, some of them are endangered.

See also:  Amazon Forest

The Brazilian fauna is in danger and this also influences the survival of species worldwide, since the Amazon is an important region for the planet as a whole, especially with regard to many animals that only exist here.

Therefore, we see the crucial importance of talking about the problem of deforestation and illegal hunting that still resists in the territory of the Amazon. It is necessary to denounce and get to know all of our natural diversity so that we can fight for the survival and preservation not only of the forest but also of many animals involved.

<!–

–>