Hunting, water pollution and habitat loss are the main causes of their decreasing population numbers. It is often seen feasting of fish and other small prey in oxbow lakes, which are created by slow-flowing rivers changing course, and in other slow-flowing rivers and swamps. Its body can reach up to around 5 feet in length (plus a 3-foot tail), and it has webbed hands and feet that are perfect for swimming and hunting in the Amazon River, one of the longest rivers in the world. Otters are common worldwide, but the Giant River Otter is endemic to the Amazon basin. READ MORE: 30 Amazing Galapagos Islands Animals Giant River Otters in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest via Canva 4. Its population numbers have reportedly decreased by 50% over the last 30 years. Sadly, hunting and the black-market trade are endangering the Giant Armadillo’s survival. They’re nocturnal animals and live in a complex system of burrows. The Armadillo’s casing can be used for offense as well as defense, and they also possess long front claws and between 80 and 100 teeth (more than any other mammal). Giant ArmadilloĪrmadillos are peculiar-looking creatures, with their armor-plate casing made of bone and horn. Many species of armadillo can be found in North America.īut the largest one, the Giant Armadillo, is only found in the Amazon, where it can reach up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 120 pounds. READ MORE: 25 Biggest Forests in the World (For Your World Travel Bucket List) Giant Armadillo by Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Peruvian Amazon Biodiversity Project) 3. They’re also very sociable, living in groups of 10 to 30 individuals.ĭuring the dry season, different Capybara groups join together for protection: It’s not uncommon to see over 100 individuals at once! They really like water, and are commonly found in swampy areas, or near lakes and rivers. Their name derives from Tupi, a language from the people who inhabited Coastal Brazil, and means “grass-eater.” This is because fully grown Capybara can eat up to 8 pounds of grass per day. The Capybara is the largest rodent in the world, measuring up to 4 feet in length and weighing up to 140 pounds, with females slightly larger than males. READ MORE: 70 Cool & Weird Animals Around the World (An Epic Guide) Capybara family via Canva 2. ![]() The Pink River Dolphins have traditionally been spared from tribal hunting because they were believed to be magical creatures.īut these days Dolphins are often struck by fishermen’s boats or get tangled in their nets. Like many other aquatic animals in the Amazon, the Dolphin is threatened by pollution and various development projects which restrict the river’s natural flow. It feeds on small fish, crabs, and turtles. Its body is pale pink, with an elongated neck that can be moved left and right, a long snout reminiscent of a beak, a rounded head, and a smaller dorsal fin. The Amazon Pink River Dolphin looks remarkably different from its more familiar, ocean-faring cousin. READ MORE: 25 Beautiful Birds in the Amazon Rainforest Sunset on the Amazon River in Peru by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett AMAZON RAINFOREST ANIMALS LISTĪMAZON MAMMALS Amazon Pink River Dolphin via Canva 1. Here’s a look at our favorite animals of the Amazon Rainforest, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians! So what animals can you possibly expect to see during an Amazon Rainforest trip? ![]() Peru has the largest number of birds and the third largest number of mammals in the world. This is largely due to the rich biodiversity found within the Peruvian Amazon region. The Amazon rainforest covers approximately 60% of Peru, which is the largest extension in any country after Brazil. ![]() and Canada combined.Įcuador’s Amazon animals also include over 300 species of fish (including three piranha species) and 70,000 insect species per acre of rainforest. The Yasuni National Park area, which protects most of the Ecuadorian Amazon basin, contains 150 amphibian and 121 reptile species, which is more than all of the species found in the U.S. ![]() Though the Brazilian Amazon has been plagued by a seemingly endless stream of environmental issues, the rainforests of Ecuador and Peru remain relatively unspoiled. What’s less well-known is the fact that the Amazon Basin– one of the world’s largest and most biodiverse repositories of plant and animal life– stretches across South America, covering 4.6 million square miles (or roughly 40% of the continent). Over the last decade or so, the news from Brazil has been full of heartbreaking reports about deforestation, water pollution, and ever-increasing threats to Amazon rainforest animals.
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