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The Amazon rainforest inspired scientists to coin the term ‘biodiversity’ for good reason—this region is home to 10 percent of all known plant and animal species on Earth.
The Amazon rainforest hosts an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna, where evolution has crafted creatures that are not only beautiful and fascinating but sometimes downright bizarre. We’ve curated a list of some animals we believe truly embody the wonder of this unique ecosystem.
1. Blood-Sucking Fish
The candiru fish is a tiny but scary creature. It’s a type of catfish that lives in the Amazon River. This fish is known for its odd habits. It sticks to the gills of bigger fish and drinks their blood. Some people say it can even get into human bodies, but this might not be true. The candiru is very small, about the size of a toothpick. It’s hard to see because it’s clear.
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2. Tree Stump Bird
The potoo is a bird that looks like a tree stump. It sits very still during the day and only moves at night. This bird is great at hiding. It picks a broken branch to sit on and stays there for a long time. The potoo lays just one egg on its branch. Both the mom and dad take turns sitting on the egg. It’s very hard to spot a potoo because it blends in so well.
3. See-Through Frog
Glass frogs are small frogs with a cool trick. You can see through their skin! Their belly is clear, so you can see their organs inside. This helps them hide from animals that might want to eat them. Glass frogs are tiny, about the size of a coin. They come in different shades of green. Some glass frogs even eat their own babies.
4. Water-Walking Lizard
The Jesus lizard got its name because it can run on water. When it’s scared, this lizard opens up its toes. It has special skin between its toes that helps it stay on top of the water. A Jesus lizard can run on water for up to 20 meters! These lizards live near water in the rainforest. They’re good at climbing trees, too.
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5. River-Swimming Shark
Bull sharks are big fish that can live in both salt water and fresh water. They’ve been seen far up the Amazon River, even 2,500 miles from the ocean! These sharks are huge. The females can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh 690 pounds. Bull sharks are known to be very dangerous. Some people think they’re the most dangerous shark in the world.
6. Spider Faker
The decoy-building spider is a new discovery. It’s a tiny spider, only 5mm long. But it does something amazing. It builds a fake spider in its web! The fake spider is much bigger than the real one. The spider makes its decoy out of dead leaves and bits of stuff. Scientists first found this spider in Peru. They think it might be a new type of spider that no one knew about before.
7. Giant Rodent
Capybaras are the biggest rodents in the world. They can weigh up to 200 pounds! These animals like to hang out in groups. Sometimes, there can be 100 capybaras in one group. But usually, there are 10 to 20. Lots of animals like to eat capybaras, like jaguars and caimans. Because of this, capybaras only live about 4 years. They don’t eat meat, so they’re not dangerous to people.
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8. Massive Fish
The arapaima is a huge fish that lives in the Amazon. It can grow over 8 feet long and weigh more than 200 pounds! The biggest one ever found was almost 15 feet long. This fish is special because it can breathe air. It has to come up to the surface every 5 to 15 minutes to take a breath. Some people use the arapaima’s scales as nail files. They also think its tongue can help cure sick stomachs.
9. Shocking Fish
The electric eel isn’t really an eel. It’s more like a catfish. This fish can make electricity in its body. It can shock things with up to 600 volts of power! That’s enough to light up 100 light bulbs. Electric eels use their shocks to protect themselves and to catch food. They have a weird way of having babies. The dad makes a nest out of spit, and the mom lays eggs in it. One mom can have 3,000 babies at once!
10. Rosy River Mammal
Pink dolphins live in the Amazon River. They can grow bigger than humans. No one knows for sure why they’re pink. Some people think it’s because they have a lot of blood close to their skin. There’s an old story about these dolphins. People say they can turn into men at night and trick women. Of course, this isn’t true, but it’s a fun story to tell around the campfire.
Wrapping Up
The Amazon rainforest is home to a world of astonishing creatures, each with its own unique quirks and adaptations. From blood-sucking fish to pink dolphins, these animals highlight the wonder and complexity of one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems.