Today is Amazon Rainforest Day so I’ve decided to share some of the amazing animals that live there.
Related: 5 ways to help reduce deforestation
Amazon river dolphin
- Known as ‘pink river dolphin’
- Brain capacity is 40% bigger than ours
- Classed as vulnerable by WWF
- Dams, water and food is contaminated by mines which is why they are vulnerable
- Fishermen kill and injure them because they believe they are a threat to fish stocks
Giant otter
- Can be up to 7ft
- Classed as endangered and only 2000 – 5000 remain
- They are threatened by habitat loss and hunters (for their fur)
Spider monkey
- Live in the upper layers of the forest
- They are the most intelligent of the ‘new world’ monkeys
- Logging destroys their habitat
Capybara
- World’s largest rodent
- 4.4ft
- They live in groups of 100+
- Semi-aquatic
- Omnivore
- Can be kept as pets
- They are invasive species in the US -> believed to be in Florida as escaped or abandoned pets
Glass frog
- So transparent that you can see their internal organs!
- Mostly active at night so are very hard to spot
- During breeding season, they live alongside rivers and streams
- They leave the frogspawn on leaves overhanging the river and then go back to the canopy
- Some frogs even come back and care for their young which is very unusual
- They are a good bioindicator which is where they provide information and clues to the health of the environment they live in
Jesus lizard
- Also known as the ‘common basilisk’
- Can run up to 20m on water at over 5 miles/hour
- They run on their hind feet
Jesus lizard video – this video is so cool, would deffo recommend that you watch it!
Mata mata
- A turtle that is completely aquatic
- Odd shaped head, with a horn on and a long neck
- Although it never leaves the water, it can breathe air and walk
- They act as a vacuum when eating prey – goes straight through their stomach as they can’t chew
Kinkajou
- Known as ‘honey bear’, ‘bear monkey’ and ‘lion monkey;
- They are rarely seen by us because they are nocturnal and live in the treetops
- Classed as a carnivore but eat 90% fruit
- They are known as ‘honey bears’ because they drink nectar from flowers
- Can be kept as pets but are deadly to humans because they carry a potentially deadly parasite -> Roundworm
Piranha
- Suffer from bad press!
- They aren’t aggressive or dangerous
- The natives swim with them
- They rarely attack larger animals, including humans, they get most of their food from remains of already dead animals
- If they’re hungry or something drifts into their territory, they will attack
Guianan cock-of-the-rock
- 10 – 12 inches in size
- Semi circle crest on their heads
- Female -> olive grey
- Male -> bright orange
- The males have a ‘dance-off’ mating ritual with one female
- The female then gives a peck on the back of the one they choose and can end up watching 40 males before choosing!
I had a lot of fun finding out about all these animals, I think my favourite might be the Amazon river dolphin due to the fact that they’re pink! 🐬💗
Which of these animals are your favourites? And have you heard of any before?
Best wishes, Cx
Some of my info was from:
That’s fun! I had no idea there are such big otters in the world, and the Jesus lizard video is cool!
Ikr! x
I love this post! I love the unique idea of this post. These animals are the true wonders of this planet.. we should protect them 💓
Thank you! Definitely agree xx
LOVED THIS POST!!! A really great way for us to appreciate some of the amazing creatures on this planet!! For me I love the river dolphin – but all are amazing and I just hope we can save them and their habitats before it’s too late💖
Thank you!! Sameeee xx
Ah this was such a cool and fun post! I definitely learned something new. The big otters are cool! I love otters anyway, they’re so funny x
Thank you 🙂 x
WOW. IT WAS A GREAT POST. Such a creative one. My favourite would be river dolphin but all the animals are amazing. 😊🥰💖
Thank you!! agreed x
Welcome dear!🥰