Wildlife Found in the Amazon
Thinking about all the wildlife found in the Amazon can just boggle the mind. There are so many different species that live there that it’s impossible to even imagine. Join us today and discover a part of its great diversity, as we tell about Amazon wildlife…
The diverse wildlife found in the Amazon
Amazonian wildlife is very varied. There are approximately 640 species that inhabit the Amazon. It’s believed that of these, around 326 are birds, 185 are fish, 67 are mammals, 37 are amphibians and 28 are reptiles. Let’s get to know some of them:
Birds found in the Amazon
Among the wildlife that we can find in this enormous natural landscape, there are these species of birds:
- Five different species of partridge
- The Neotropic cormorant
- Five species of turkey
- 13 species of duck
- 21 species of parrot
- The ostrich
- Four species of toucan
Wildlife in the Amazon River
We already know that wildlife includes animals that live on land, in water, and in the air. You can find a wide variety of species on the Amazon River, such as:
- The Amazon River dolphins, which are grey and pink, depending on their age. They can measure up to 7.8 feet and reach 330 pounds in weight.
- The capybara, considered the largest rodent in the world. It can measure between 3.2 and 5 feet, reach a height of 24 inches and weigh up to 110 pounds. While they don’t live in the water permanently, they do live on river banks and are excellent swimmers.
- Anaconda. The anaconda is without a doubt Amazon River royalty. More often than not, they’re the first thing people think of concerning this huge river that crosses much of South America.
- Crocodiles. There are vast amounts of crocodiles that inhabit the Amazon. They’re about six feet long and dark brown.
- Alligators. Unlike crocodiles, they are green in color and can reach up to nineteen feet, while the crocodile ‘only’ reaches six feet, or even just three if they’re female.
- Iguanas and chameleons. Whether in or out of the water, these two animals fill the Amazon.
Reptiles
Reptiles are also part of the Amazonian wildlife and there’s a lot of variety. They live on land, in trees, or in the water. You can see from flying snakes with round bodies to much smaller species.
Generally speaking, reptiles aren’t dangerous, and are more scared of us than we are of them. However, if provoked or stepped on (even unintentionally), they will defend themselves by biting, and in the case of some species this could be fatal.
Fish
Despite the dangers of the Amazon rain forest, many people come to the banks of the river to fish. There are an estimated 2,500 different varieties of fish. However, the most common and the ones that live closest to the fishing area are:
- Goldfish
- Pupfish
- Stingray
- Tilefish
- Seabass
- Pacu
- South American catfish
- Piranha
As we told you at the beginning, if there’s one place in the world that’s rich in wildlife, it’s the Amazon. The Amazon is one of the most unique landscapes on Earth, home to so many different species. Thanks to care and preservation by humans, many species thrive here that would otherwise be extinct.
Without a doubt, it’s a unique place that can help us increase our knowledge of the animal kingdom. We hope you have learned a lot about the wildlife that inhabits the Amazon.