Fauna of
the Amazon
Rainforest
The scientific journal of
A.N. Explorer
Animals of the Forest Floor
South American Tapir
Herbivore
They can have a body length of 1.8 – 2.5 m and an
average weight of about 225kg. South American Tapirs
stand at about 77-108 cm at the shoulder. They are
actually good swimmers, and their main predators are
Black Caimans, Orinoco Crocodiles and jaguars. Baby
tapirs have a pattern of spots and stripes on their back,
to help them to blend in with the mottled shadows of
the forest floor.
Green Anaconda
Carnivore
A green anaconda can reach a length of 6.6m and
above. The largest specimen ever found was 8.5m long.
They use constriction to kill their prey (squeeze them to
death) and eat basically anything they can kill,
including fish, birds, a variety of mammals and even
other reptiles. They are also capable of eating larger
prey like tapirs, deer, capybaras and caimans, but they
do not regularly do so.
White-Lipped Peccary
Omnivores
This species of peccary’s body length ranges from
about 90-139 cm and their adult weight is 25-40
kg. They stand 40-60 cm high at the shoulder.
Herds of peccaries can consist of 20-300
individuals. They feed mostly on fruit, and do not
usually eat leaves or fruit. The herd can spend up
to two thirds of their day feeding or travelling to
find food.
The Amazon Rainforest is home to approximately
one tenth of all species in the world, and Brazil is
thought to have the greatest biodiversity on the
planet. It has the most known plant species
(55,000), freshwater fish species (3000) and
mammal species (over 689). It has the third most
known bird species, 1832, and the second most
known reptile species, 744. Brazil has the second
biggest population of endemic species in the world.
Here is a collection of the observations I made on
the animals I saw on my last voyage there.
Animals of the Treetops
Sloth
Folivores (herbivore mainly eating leaves)
They are usually between 50-60 cm long. The reason they
move so slowly is because leaves provide little energy, so
they have to conserve what they have. An interesting
feature of the sloth is its fur. On most mammals, the hairs
grow towards the extremities (hands and feet), but
because sloths spend so much time upside down, their
hair grows away from their extremities. Not only this, but
algae grows in their fur, giving them a greenish tinge.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Omnivores
Typical specimens are around 26cm long and weigh
around 620g. They move in a way more similar to squirrels
than other primates. Tamarins are active for an absolute
maximum of 12 hours a day, and use a different sleeping
den daily to help evade predators. Groups are usually of
around 2-8 members. Golden Lion Tamarins only live in
three areas of tropical rainforest on Brazil’s southeastern
coast.
Toco Toucan
Omnivore
They are usually around 55-65cm
long, with
a bill of up to 23cm long. Their diet is very varied, and
consists of fruit, insects, frogs, small reptiles and small
birds and their eggs. Having long bills aids their food
gathering, as they can reach into tree trunks and other
places that would perhaps be out of reach for other
species.
Hyacinth Macaw
Primarily eats nuts and seeds
It is the largest parrot by length in the
world at 100cm from head to tail. They weigh 1.2-1.7 kg.
Their feathers are entirely blue, and they have yellow
skin around their eyes and beak. Hyacinth Macaw nests
can be found in tree cavities and on cliff faces. Of all
macaws, they have the most even temper.