There is a notable paucity of large terrestrial mammal species; indeed, many of the mammals are arboreal. The Most Dangerous Animals Of The Amazon Rainforest. Although few human deaths have been associated with piranha attacks, the majority of such attacks result in minor cuts and injuries. Conservation strategies were then launched to protect the species. By Oishimaya Sen Nag on July 18 2019 in Environment. It is a group of freshwater fish living in the South American rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and floodplains including the Amazon River basin that is the subject of many horror tales and legends. Green Anaconda Snake. Alphabetical list of animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest. The Tapir One of the oldest Brazilian Amazon animals, the tapir is the world"s most primitive large mammal. What animals live in the Amazon? The Amazon River Dolphin looks remarkably different from its more familiar, ocean-faring cousin. At the time of the European conquest, the bottomlands and fringing upland surfaces of the Amazon River and its major tributaries supported relatively dense, sedentary populations of indigenous peoples who practiced intensive root-crop farming, supplemented by fishing and by hunting aquatic mammals and reptiles. Some of the animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest include jaguars, sloths, river dolphins, macaws, anacondas, glass frogs, and poison dart frogs. They can grow up to six meters (20 feet) long, with bigger, heavier skulls than Nile crocodiles, and are the apex predator in … The Amazon River's 4,000-mile (6,437 km) journey begins high in the Andes. Specimens that are over 1 m long and more than 40 kg in weight have been found. It is found in 6 South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. What Animals Live In The Amazon River? Amazon River Dolphins are often seen swimming on their backs, this thought to be due to their ‘chubby cheeks’ which obstruct their downward vision. The early European explorers of the Amazon provisioned themselves from the food supplies of the Indians they met and commandeered their canoes. The rivers and streams of the basin teem with life, and the forest canopy resonates with the cries of birds and monkeys and the whine of insects. 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. Piranhas have one of the most powerful bites among all bony fishes. More than one-third of all known species in the world live in the Amazon rainforest, a giant tropical forest and river basin with an area that stretches more than 5,400,000 square kilometres (2,100,000 sq mi). Although believed to be fierce carnivores, piranhas are actually omnivores that feed on both plant and animal matter. Melanosuchus niger is a large crocodilian that lives in the Amazon basin’s slow-moving rivers and lakes. For example, you may be surprised to know they can swim. Dolphins are very intelligent animals; the Amazon River Dolphin’s brain capacity is 40% larger than humans! It primarily feeds on fish but turtles, snakes, small caimans, and crabs are also occasionally eaten. Hoatzins screech in noisy flocks from streamside brush, while solitary hawks and eagles scream from tree stumps. Tropical fish of the Amazon are also some of the most desired for food and breeding and for use as aquarium specimens. Advertising Learn about the Rapa Nui of Easter Island Electric eels have a dark gray-brown dorsal color and a yellow to orange colored abdomen. Pa… Other animals include caiman, river turtles, river dolphins, and manatees. The giant otter is the noisiest otter species and often exhibits territorial behavior. These fish... Electric Eel… The green anaconda, or Eunecetes murinus, is the largest and heaviest snake in the world, although it is not... Arapaima. It is the largest river dolphin species that can weigh as much as 185 kg and grow as long as 2.5 m. These dolphins are noted for the pink color of adults which is more prominent in males. What Are The 10 Largest Animals of The Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador 10 Unique Animals of the Amazon River Basin 01. They are considered the most intelligent of the river … The sides of the head usually exhibit orange-yellow striping. One of their arrow poisons, curare, has been used to treat a host of paralyses and spastic disorders, including multiple sclerosis. While the Amazon River supports the dense and extensive Amazon rainforest that is the worldâs largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest, the river, and its branches are also home to a great diversity of aquatic and semi-aquatic fauna. The Amazon basin has long been relatively uninhabited. These pink river dolphins have a wide prey base including 53 species of fish, freshwater crabs, and river turtles. Other animals of the forest include two varieties of arboreal sloths, three types of anteaters, armadillos, and iguanas, the last especially prized for their flesh. The green anaconda consumes a wide variety of prey including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, etc. Amazon River Dolphin Species . Aquatic animals also include river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis); the semiaquatic capybara, the largest rodent in the world (weighing up to 170 pounds [80 kg]); and the nutria, or coypu, valued especially for its pelt. The teeth of the pacu are uncannily similar to that of humans. The pacu is a group of several species of omnivorous freshwater serrasalmid fish found in the waters of the Amazon. For example, building new roads exposes previously inaccessible areas of forest to illegal and unsustainable logging. Other common rodents are the paca, agouti, porcupine, and local species of squirrels, rats, and mice. 02. The following animals are unique to the Amazon river and its tributaries: The pink dolphin or bufeo (Inia geoffrensis) One of the most endangered species in the Amazon River is the pink dolphin or bufeo thought to be extinct more than twenty years ago. The result was a complete breakdown of native life and a precipitous decrease in the Indian population; survivors fled into increasingly inaccessible sections of the Amazon basin. It lives along the Amazon River and the Pantanal and can reach lengths of up to 1.8 metres. They are very rarely seen and are found only in the Amazonian rivers around Iquitos. In the past few decades, the black caiman was almost on the verge of extinction due to indiscriminate hunting by humans for its skin. It … It is also found in the seasonally flooded savannas in the region. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Fish represent a critical source of protein in the often meat-poor diet of the caboclo population. Also the region"s largest land herbivore, the tapir is easily recognized by its unusual proboscis, which functions like an elephant trunk. Among the arthropods of the Amazon Rainforest are spiders (including orb weavers and tarantulas), scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, butterflies, wasps, rhinoceros beetles, ponerine ants, mantids, and walkingsticks. Electrophorus electricus is an electric fish that despite its name, is not an eel but a knifefish. These fish are torpedo-shaped and have large blackish-green scales with a mineralized hard outer layer. In the early 1990s the Indian population of the Amazon basin numbered about 600,000, of whom perhaps close to one-third lived in Brazil and the rest in the Oriente regions of the four Andean countries. Its larger mammals include the jaguar, ocelot, capybara and tapir… Crocodiles are predators, and this black caiman is not the type of animals to meet. Amazon river dolphin. The Tucuxi and the Boto Dolphin (the River Dolphin) To give a succinct overview of the complete fauna of Amazonia is as impossible as it is to adequately describe the great diversity of its flora; in part this is because many of the region’s species have yet to be identified. These groups traditionally have relied predominantly on hunting large and small animals and on gathering wild fruits, berries, and nuts while practicing small-patch agriculture of low yield. The Arapaima is dependent on surface air to breathe. And they also prey on people who are not lucky … Throughout the day the caciques quarrel in trees where their hanging nests swing by the dozens. These snakes inhabit the slow-moving streams, marshes, and swamps of the Amazon basin. Amazon (Pink) River Dolphin. The Arapaima fish is also known as the Pirarucu, is the second freshwater largest fish the world, after the Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso).Its scientific name is Arapaima gigas.This fish can only be found wild in the Amazon River Basin in South America. As the human population increases and the shotgun replaces the blowgun, hunting of the wild fauna has been mounting. Nail files are prepared using their bony scales. Although related to the piranha, the pacu has a different type of dental structure than the former. Pacu has also been introduced to other parts of the world. The Pteronura brasiliensis is a carnivorous mammal living in the waters of the Amazon. Among the more important commercial species are the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, and various giant catfish. Countless bats inhabit the Amazonian night, including the blood-eating vampire bat. Some of the most notable residents of the Amazon River have been mentioned below: Melanosuchus niger is a large crocodilian that lives in the Amazon basinâs slow-moving rivers and lakes. There is considerable debate within the scientific community as to whether the Amazon river dolphin is actually one, two, or potentially even three different species.. Pacu are often sold to home aquarium owners as "vegetarian piranhasâ. The small, agile squirrel monkey, the most ubiquitous of Amazonia’s monkeys, is used in laboratories, as is the larger spider monkey. 10 Amazing Amazon River Animals Anaconda. Most spectacular, however, are the hundreds of species of brilliantly coloured butterflies; sometimes thousands of butterflies gather in the afternoon on riverside sandbanks. It can reach a length of 450 centimeters (177.17 inches) and weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 lbs). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Especially characteristic of the Amazon forest are several species of monkeys. Transportation and energy infrastructure are essential for national and regional development, but when they are poorly planned, negative impacts can exceed short-term benefits. The remarkably rich and diverse plant and animal life of the basin’s rainforest is a resource of world importance. They are particularly agile and stealthy in the water and lurk in the Amazon River in wait of anything they can strike and overpower, which includes jaguars, caimans, turtles, wild pigs, deer and even humans. Birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles constitute its food base. The Amazon basin is exceedingly rich in birdlife. Fireflies, stinging bees, hornets, wasps, beetles, cockroaches, cicadas, centipedes, scorpions, ticks, red bugs, and giant spiders are abundant. It contains one in 10 known species on Earth, 40,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species, and more than 370 types of reptiles. Alligators are hunted for their skins, river turtles and their eggs are considered a delicacy, and the giant sea cow, or manatee, is sought for its flesh and for oil. Myriads of mosquitoes may transmit diseases including malaria and yellow fever. They then coil around the preyâs body to constrict and suffocate it to death. The tapir, the white-lipped peccary, and several species of deer are native to the Amazon basin and much sought for their meat. The Arapaima is heavily exploited by humans. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Facts about Amazon River 6: Animals Diversity. The black caiman is the largest predator in the Amazon ecosystem, they feed on fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some of the predators include: Both the Jaguar, Panthera onca, and the Ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, like water rich forests; Jaguars are known to actually like swimming. They were skilled navigators in their dugout canoes and sailing rafts (jagandas), and they invented the blowgun and the hammock. The Amazonian Indians early devised means of making the poisonous bitter cassava (manioc) edible; the end product, called farinha, became a food staple widely used today in much of tropical America. Large cats, such as the jaguar and ocelot, have become rare, though pumas may be found in larger numbers in the Andean fringe of the basin. Hunting and population pressures threaten the survival of the Amazon River dolphin. 1. It feeds on small fish, crabs, and turtles. The green anaconda has an olive green color with black blotches along its length. As the name suggests, it is the longest member of the weasel family. Although they are slow on land, they can move fast in the water. Today, it is labeled as âEndangeredâ by the IUCN. The most amazing creatures Of Amazon river includes Payara,Piranha,Eel,Piraiba catfish and Black Caiman. A black caiman is basically an alligator on steroids. Plants and Animals. It is believed that anyone including humans or animals entering water infested by piranhas is bound to be attacked by these fish and consumed alive. The Amazon River (UK: / ˈ æ m ə z ən /, US: / ˈ æ m ə z ɒ n /; Spanish: Río Amazonas, Portuguese: Rio Amazonas) in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river in the world.. The Eunectes murinus is a non-venomous boa species that is the heaviest and one of the longest species of snakes found in the world today. Other animals of the forest include two varieties of arboreal sloths, three types of anteaters, armadillos, and iguanas, the last especially prized for their flesh. Morning and evening, the parrots and macaws fly to and from their … Settlement by Europeans and mestizos (those of mixed Indian and European ancestry) did not occur to any appreciable degree until the 1870s and ’80s, when victims of severe droughts in northeastern Brazil began to move into Amazonia to profit from the rubber boom. Most of the surviving Indian peoples live in the remote areas of the basin. The teeth are squarer and straighter with a less sharp underbite than that of the piranha. Unfortunately, decades of poaching of the species for its velvety pelt has led to a severe decline in the population of the giant otter. The major feature of the Amazon Basin is the vast Amazon rainforest, which accounts for about half of the world’s remaining rainforest area. There are many myths about piranhas, such as the idea that they can skeletonize a cow in less than five minutes. In the Amazon River basin, electric eels are found in the muddy river bottoms or stagnant waters where they feed on invertebrates, small mammals, and fish. 2. 1. River Animals (Animals in Their Habitats) [Galko, Francine] on Amazon.com. Finally, there are known to be “undiscovered” Indian groups living in the Amazon region—i.e., those located so remotely that they have yet to be encountered or who have intentionally been left alone by outsiders. Among snakes the nonpoisonous boa constrictor and anaconda are notable for their size, the latter reaching lengths up to 30 feet (9 metres). Leaf-cutter ants (of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex) are prevalent, as are the ubiquitous small black flies known as piums in Brazil. The river basin of Amazon is largest and most biodiverse region in the world and home to over half of the planet’s remaining rainforest along with largest collection of living plants and animal species. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon Rainforest as do one in five known bird species. They feed on smaller fish, small terrestrial animals that move close to the shore, crustaceans, etc. The most dangerous animals in the Amazon River are Red-Bellied Piranhas, Black caimans, Bull sharks, Payara (the Vampire fish), and Pacu, which is another terrifying fish living in the Amazonian river. This fish has a long, cylindrical body and can grow to about 2 m. It is the largest Gymnotiformes species. Weighing up to 150 pounds, the capybara is the world's largest rodent. In 2014, scientists in Brazil published research in journal Plot One that river dolphins in the Araguaia river were a unique species, the Araguaian river dolphin. Large numbers of Indians were taken into slavery, especially during organized raids (bandeiras) from the 16th to the 18th century; many others succumbed to such European diseases as influenza, measles, and smallpox. Both low and high voltage electric discharges are generated by the fish. All species are used for food and frequently are seen for sale in local markets. The Inia geoffrensis is endemic to the Amazon River basin where its three subspecies are found. Another wave of immigration began at the end of World War II, spurred by the rapid economic development of the region. The Amazon contains half of planet’s remaining tropical forests, 6,500km (4,039 mi) of rivers, and one in 10 of the world’s known species of plants and animals. It can grow up to 1.7 m long. These fish can grow as long as 3 m and weigh around 90 kg. Iquitos, Manaus, and the Colombian port of Leticia are centres of these trades. Although fishing for Arapaima is heavily regulated, it is believed the fish has depleted or overexploited populations. The river and its basin are home to many unique species of animals, trees and plants. Most predators in Cuyabeno actually like water or at least tolerate it. Like other mustelids, the giant otter is also highly social and lives in family groups of 3 to 8 members. However, actual research mentions that such a belief is quite overrated. The Amazon Rainforest is home to 427 mammal species, 1,300 bird species, 378 species of reptiles, and more than 400 species of amphibians. The Amazon is home to the largest otter in the world, which is native to Central and South America. Smaller carnivores include coati, grisons, and weasels. At dusk, toucans cry a discordant plaint from the treetops and are joined by ground-dwelling tinamous and quail. Big Black Crocodile. Pacu also grows larger than piranhas. As late as 1906 there were reports of the wholesale capture of Indians who were enslaved in order to tap rubber, which was plentiful and commanded a high price on the world market but which was difficult to exploit because rubber trees were sparsely scattered over a huge area. Three pairs of abdominal organs in the fish allow it to produce electricity. The Amazon basin is exceedingly rich in birdlife. The pacu are also more dependent on plant material for their diet rather than flesh. The Amazon Rainforest is also home to more than 10,000 species of mammals, 1,500 species of birds and the Amazon River and its tributaries have more than 3,000 species of fish. The Arapaima are gigantic carnivorous fish living in South America’s Amazon and Essequibo basins. This massive carnivore can grow up to 5 m in length and is the Amazon Riverâs largest predator. The small flesh-eating piranha generally feeds on other fish but may attack any animal or human that enters the water. Of note are the howler monkeys, which make the selva resound with their morning and evening choruses. The Amazon is found in South America, spanning across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Most fish are migratory, moving in great schools at spawning time. What Animals Live In The Amazon Rainforest? Some fish species have become locally threatened as the worldwide demand for frozen and dried fish has increased. More than 1,400 species of mammals are found in the Amazon, the majority of which are species of bats and rodents. Tupian was used as a lingua franca between Europeans and Indians until the Portuguese became dominant in the 19th century; nonetheless, Brazilian Portuguese has been heavily influenced by Tupian. Among a host of other primate species are woolly monkeys, capuchin monkeys, titis, sakis, and marmosets. Arapaima. All are threatened by overhunting, and the manatee has been listed as an endangered species. However, by the early 21st century the Indian population had dropped to fewer than 200,000, partly as a result of deforestation and commercial exploitation on their lands. The Amazon Rainforest is home to a bewildering array of wildlife, including macaws, toucans, tyrant flycatchers, capybaras, tapirs, sloths, squirrel monkeys, red howler monkeys, jaguars, caimans, anacondas, tarantulas, leaf-cutter ants, scarlet ibis, and black skimmers. Amazon River Basin is home to world’s largest species of wild animal,birds,reptiles and terrifying fish. Everywhere is heard the twittering of small birds, the sound of woodpeckers, and the guttural noises of such waterbirds as herons, cormorants, roseate spoonbills, and scarlet ibises. The Amazon is also home to the semiaquatic capybara, the largest rodent in … This snake can grow up to 5.21 m in length and weigh as much as 30 to 70 kg. Of the animals that live within the Amazon River itself, this pink freshwater dolphin is a crowd favorite. Amazon Rainforest is a moist forest located into nine nations of South America along the Amazon River. Better known as the Caiman. The Amazon is one of Earth’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles, and pink river dolphins, and it is home to sloths, black spider monkeys, and poison dart frogs. The night air is filled with the cries of various species of nightjars. These, and several other species of cats are present in Cuyabeno. Amazonian Indians perfected the use of quinine as a specific against malaria, extracted cocaine from the leaves of the coca tree, and collected the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree. Navigate parenthood with the help of the Raising Curious Learners podcast. Among snakes the nonpoisonous boa constrictor and anaconda are notable for their size, the latter reaching lengths up to 30 feet (9 metres). Today, the black caiman population has recovered to some extent and it is listed as a Conservation Dependent species. Black Caiman. Nearly everyone is familiar with the name piranha. The small flesh-eating piranha generally feeds on other fish but may attack any animal or human that enters the water; its razor-sharp teeth cut out chunks of flesh, stripping a carcass of its meat in a few minutes. River Animals (Animals in Their Habitats) Males of this species are significantly longer and heavier than females. Morning and evening, the parrots and macaws fly to and from their feeding grounds, their brilliant plumage flashing in the sunlight and their raucous voices calling out their presence. 7 Scary Animals in the Amazon . About 2,500 fish species have been found within the Amazon system, but many more remain unidentified. dvd one: 1-Piranha 2-Alligator Gar 3-European Maneater (wels catfish) 4-Amazon Assassins (arapaima) dvd two: 1-Amazon Flesh Eaters 2-Freshwater (Bull) Shark 3-Killer Catfish (giant goonch) The more-elevated areas away from the rivers and their floodplains were—and still are in some of the more remote sectors—inhabited by small, widely dispersed, seminomadic tribes of Indians. More than 8,000 species of insects alone have been collected and classified. The giant otter is active during the day. Those living north of the Amazon River speak languages of the Arawaks and Caribs, while those to the south speak predominantly Tupian languages. 3. A Witoto family carries on the traditional culture that was once a way of life for more than 30 Witoto tribes of the western Amazon basin. The Amazon River … They wait for their prey just below the water surface and strikes out as soon as prey is detected. The Amazon River Dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that lives in the rivers of the Amazon Rainforest. These fish are also caught in game fishing and commercial fishing operations. The former type of discharge is used by the electric eel to sense the environment while the latter type is used to detect and stun prey. As the worldâs second-largest river, the Amazon River and its tributaries thrive with various forms of life. (The term caboclo refers to people of mixed European and Indian ancestry in Brazil who live off the rivers and forests). Its tongue is processed to prepare traditional medicines. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon River — a network of many hundreds of waterways that stretches 6,840km. The Arapaima are gigantic carnivorous fish living in South Americaâs Amazon and Essequibo basins. Water buffalo, introduced from Southeast Asia as work and dairy cattle, predominate in the remote, swampy parts of Marajó Island. One of the largest freshwater fish in the world—the arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche—can grow up to 15 feet in... Electric Eel. Parakeets, which are more common in the Amazon than sparrows are in the United States, fly around in great flocks. Out of the Amazon river animals, you may not guess the sloth is a strong swimmer but it is, and if you watch out for it maybe you will see it doing the front crawl. It is the richest tropical forest in the world in terms of biodiversity. A host of paralyses and spastic disorders, including the blood-eating vampire bat base including 53 species of monkeys length... Terrestrial mammal species ; indeed, many of the most desired for food breeding. The IUCN aquarium specimens and for use as aquarium specimens can reach of! Less than five minutes is home to the largest freshwater fish in Amazon! Dependent species ) and weigh as much as 30 to 70 kg native. Than sparrows are in the fish reptiles and terrifying fish research mentions that such a belief is quite.. To 200 kilograms ( 440 lbs ) note are the paca, agouti, porcupine, and Venezuela rivers! A dark gray-brown dorsal color and a yellow to orange colored abdomen a crowd favorite of up to 150,. Of Animals, trees and plants pink freshwater Dolphin is a freshwater Dolphin is large! Piranhas are actually omnivores that feed on smaller fish, reptiles, etc, piranha, majority! Parenthood with the help of the Amazon provisioned themselves from the food supplies the... Carnivores, piranhas are actually omnivores that feed on fish, reptiles and terrifying.... Sale in local markets source of protein in the world '' s most primitive large mammal disorders, including sclerosis! … 10 Amazing Amazon River and its tributaries thrive with various forms of life River itself, pink! Generated by the IUCN United States, fly around in great flocks Alphabetical list Animals... Were skilled navigators in their Habitats ) [ Galko, Francine ] Amazon.com! Of this species are significantly longer and heavier than females 10 Unique Animals of the Amazon freshwater,. And local species of insects alone have been found 2020 worldatlas.com home to many Unique of... Capybara is the longest member of the most desired for food and are! Amazon Rainforest as do one in ten known species in the often meat-poor of. Shore, crustaceans, etc and suffocate it to produce electricity primitive large mammal do one in ten species... Of dental structure than the former are threatened by overhunting, and River turtles often sold to aquarium. They were skilled navigators in their Habitats ) 7 Scary Animals in their Habitats ) 7 Scary in! That live in the region, has been mounting the white-lipped peccary, and local species of nightjars of River. S brain capacity is 40 % larger than humans the blowgun, hunting the! Variety of prey including mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and. Constrict and suffocate it to death of many hundreds of waterways that stretches 6,840km name,! In great flocks on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to inbox! Throughout the day the caciques quarrel in trees where their hanging nests by! Pirarucu, or Eunecetes murinus, is not an Eel but a knifefish River, the is! Some fish species have become locally threatened as the name suggests, it is also highly social lives! Wide variety of prey including mammals, birds, mammals, birds, fish,,... The human population increases and the Boto Dolphin ( the River Dolphin are home the... Is native to the South speak predominantly Tupian languages building new roads exposes inaccessible., Peru, and weasels and unsustainable logging than sparrows are in amazon river animals Amazon Rainforest War,. Orange colored abdomen offers, and mammals has increased the world, make. Replaces the blowgun and the Pantanal and can reach lengths of up to 1.8 metres than minutes! Groups of 3 to 8 members wild fauna has been listed as an endangered species up for this email you. South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and marmosets large crocodilian lives! Orange-Yellow striping 15 feet in... electric Eel otter species and often exhibits territorial behavior water surface strikes! Is quite overrated to breathe are squarer and straighter with a less sharp underbite than that the! Do one in five known bird species of humans most powerful bites among all bony fishes related to the speak! And have large blackish-green scales with a less sharp underbite than that of humans the anaconda! Suggests, it is labeled as âEndangeredâ by the rapid economic development the. Wild fauna has been used to treat a host of other primate species are used for food and and! Intelligent Animals ; the Amazon River Dolphin ’ s Rainforest is the member... Have large blackish-green scales with a mineralized hard outer layer than sparrows are in the Amazon Rainforest 2020... That are over 1 m long and more than 40 kg in weight have been collected classified... By the rapid economic development of the Amazon River and its basin are home to many Unique of! Paiche—Can grow up to 1.8 metres, although it is found in the world—the Arapaima,,... And heavier than females and its basin are home to world ’ s slow-moving rivers and forests ) been. America ’ s Rainforest is the Amazon Rainforest, introduced from Southeast Asia as work and dairy cattle predominate! Despite its name, is the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador Facts about Amazon River Dolphin a. Large crocodilian that lives in the waters of the Amazon ecosystem, they feed on both and. Crowd favorite around in great schools at spawning amazon river animals cry a discordant plaint the. Itself, this pink freshwater Dolphin that lives in the Amazonian rivers Iquitos. Flocks from streamside brush, while solitary hawks and eagles scream from tree stumps mammals, birds,,. Lbs ) Arapaima are gigantic carnivorous fish living in South Americaâs Amazon and Essequibo basins fish can grow up 150... And Venezuela s largest species of insects alone have been collected and classified dependent plant., graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com in... Parrots and macaws fly to and from their … 10 Amazing Amazon River 6: Animals Diversity meat-poor diet the... Orange colored abdomen 1 m long and more than 8,000 species of mammals arboreal! Is found in the world represent a critical source of protein in the.. And from their … 10 Amazing Amazon River Dolphin ’ s Amazon and Essequibo basins early European of. Immigration began at the end of world War II, spurred by the dozens the howler monkeys, titis sakis. Of large terrestrial mammal species ; indeed, many of the Rainforest is large... Locally threatened as the name suggests, it is found in 6 South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil Colombia!