10 Amazing Amazon Animals (facts and photos)

The Amazon rainforest is the most biodiverse biome, one in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. Here are just a couple of the countless examples of amazing animals that live there. The Amazon’s biodiversity is under very serious threat and if we don’t take urgent action, its living treasures might be lost forever. Find out how each of us could help every day.

The Giant Anteater

The giant anteater is a large insectivorous mammal, one of four living species of anteaters. The giant anteater is the largest of its family, it can reach up to 2m in lenght and up to 40kg. The giant anteater has been extirpated from many parts of its former range and is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Source

Photo by Malene Thyssen

Toco Toucan

Toucans are frugivores, and as such, they play an extremely important ecological role as vectors for seed dispersal of fruiting trees. Source

Photo by Charlesjsharp

Amazon River Dolphin

The Amazon River is home of the biggest and most widespread species of river dolphins reaching up to 2.5 meters in length. “While hunting is a major threat, in recent decades, greater impacts on population are due to the loss of habitat and inadvertent entanglement in fishing lines.” Source

Photo by Stefanie Triltsch

Mata Mata

The mata mata is a large, sedentary turtle with spectacular looks. It’s large, triangular, flattened head is characterized by its many tubercles and flaps of skin, as well as a “horn” on its long and tubular snout. Source

Photo by Stan Shebs,

The Sloth

Sloths have a surprisingly very low metabolism and a low body temperature for a mammal. They digest their food for up to a month, and sleep 10 hours a day. They usually move very slowly, but can reach surprising speeds when chassed by predators. Some extinct sloth species have attained the size of elephants ! Source

By Christian Mehlführer,

Giant River Otter

The Giant Otter is the largest animal from the weasel family and can reach up to 1.7 meters in length ! It is one of the most endangered mammal species in the neotropics. Habitat degradation and loss is the greatest current threat. Source

Photo : wikicommons

The “Jesus Lizard”

The basilisks are known as “Jesus Lizards”, because of their ability to run on water for long distances before sinking. Researchers have unveiled how these lizard achieve their special feat, learn more here. Watch their stunning performance in the video below at 0:49.

The Glass Frog

Glass Frogs are primarily a lime green color but some members of the family have a translucent abdominal skin, making their organs visible to the naked eye.

Photo by D. F. Cisneros-Heredia

The Spider Monkey

Spider monkeys are among the largest South American monkeys. All spider monkey are under serious threat, while the black-headed spider monkey, and brown spider monkey are critically endangered. They are hunted for food due to their large size, they are also threatened by habitat destruction due to logging and land clearing.

Photo by http://www.birdphotos.com

The Capybara

Capybara’s are the largest rodent species alive. They are highly social and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals. Male have extra large scent glands on their snouts, which they use for marking.