Spanning over 6.7 million square kilometres and home to 47 million people, the Amazon rainforest is the world’s largest tropical forest. It is believed to harbour around 10% of all known species on Earth, making it one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. With an estimated 400 billion trees creating a vast and intricate environment, the Amazon plays a critical role in regulating the global climate and supporting countless forms of life.
Amongst the lush, towering trees and winding rivers, there is an incredible array of wildlife that thrives in the humid conditions. Sleek big cats prowl on solitary hunting expeditions, while elusive aquatic creatures of rare, almost mythical beauty glide through the waters. The Amazon is a thriving sanctuary, teeming with life, where every corner reveals a new wonder in this unparalleled realm of biodiversity. Here, we discuss some of the fascinating wildlife to look out for on your cruise to the Amazon.
Jaguar
Common Name: Jaguar
Scientific Name: Panthera onca
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Size: Between 5.6 - 9 feet with a tail up to 0.9 metres long
Weight: Up to 350 pounds
Swift and agile, the majestic jaguar is commonly hailed as the king of the rainforest. Typically, jaguars are orange or tan with rosettes and unique black spots. Brown and black jaguars also have unique rosette markings and spots, although these may be harder to see at first glance.
Jaguars play a crucial role in helping to maintain a balanced food chain and healthy ecosystem making them natural protectors of the rainforest. Part of the Pantherinae family, they are known for their sheer size, impressive strength and exceptional predatory skills. Unlike many other big cats, jaguars are great swimmers and have a natural affinity for water. They can be spotted effortlessly gliding through rivers and streams in pursuit of prey. Though these mighty felines primarily hunt on the ground, their strong, muscular limbs and large paws enable them to easily scale trees and execute swift, precise pounces upon their targets.
Sloth
Common Name: Sloth
Scientific Name: Folivora
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: Up to 27 inches long
Weight: Up to 17.6 pounds
In the Amazon rainforest, both two-toed and three-toed sloths thrive, each uniquely adapted to their treetop habitat. These slow-moving creatures are often labelled lazy but their pace is a survival strategy. They move so slowly that algae can grow on their fur, providing natural camouflage that helps them blend into the dense rainforest, making them nearly invisible to predators.
Despite their reputation as slow and sluggish, they are excellent swimmers and are much faster in water than on land. It may also surprise you to learn that sloths are incredibly strong. In fact, they are said to be three times stronger than humans. From the moment they are born, they can lift their entire body weight and more with just one arm. Specialised tendons in their hands and feet allow them to effortlessly lock into position, enabling them to sleep peacefully and securely high in the trees without expending energy or risking a fall. If a sloth does happen to slip, they can fall 100 feet without sustaining an injury.
Black Spider Monkey
Common Name: Black Spider Monkey
Scientific Name: genus Ateles
Type: Mammal
Diet: Omnivores
Size: Up to 26 inches long
Weight: Up to 13.2 pounds
Black spider monkeys are agile and highly intelligent creatures, easily recognisable by their long, slender limbs and tail which functions as a fifth limb. Their prehensile tail is capable of supporting their entire body weight and enables them to eat, forage, and climb - which is essential as spider monkeys tend to live up high in the forest canopy. When a spider monkey gives birth, a deep bond is forged between mother and infant. This connection remains strong for several years, as the young monkey clings to its mother’s back, learning vital survival skills, before eventually venturing out on its own.
As they swing gracefully through the trees, black spider monkeys unknowingly act as nature’s gardeners, assisting in the dispersal of seeds from the fruits they consume. This crucial process helps promote plant growth and regeneration, ensuring that the forest remains lush and diverse. Tragically, all species of spider monkeys are critically endangered, facing the looming threat of extinction due to habitat loss and deforestation.
Capybara
Common Name: Capybara
Scientific Name: genus Hydrochoerus
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: Up to 4.3 feet long
Weight: Up to 174 pounds
Capybaras, the largest rodents on Earth, are closely related to guinea pigs and rock cavies. Their pig-like bodies are perfectly adapted for life in water, making them excellent swimmers. The strategic placement of their eyes, noses, and ears on the top of their heads allows them to stay alert and aware while keeping most of their body submerged as they travel through waterways.
Unlike many other rodents, capybaras' teeth never stop growing, requiring constant grazing on plants to wear them down and maintain proper function. As herbivores, they play a key role in shaping their ecosystem. However, adult capybaras face natural predators such as jaguars, pumas, and caimans, while their young are especially vulnerable to snakes, birds of prey, and smaller felines. Despite their calm demeanour, capybaras must remain constantly vigilant to survive in the wild.
Pink river dolphin
Common Name: Pink river dolphin (or Amazon river dolphin)
Scientific Name: Inia geoffrensis
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Size: Up to 8 feet
Weight: Up to 160 pounds
The incredibly rare pink river dolphins can be found in the Amazon rainforest’s waterways. These magnificent creatures captivate with their rosy hue and remarkable intelligence. Their shy and elusive nature adds to the almost mythical aura surrounding them.
Although Amazon river dolphins are born grey, they develop their distinctive pink colouring as they age, and can even blush a deeper shade of pink when excited, much like humans—further enhancing their unique charm. Males are known to be a deeper shade of pink compared to females but this is thought to largely be due to scar tissue from rough games and fighting. As a top predator, they play a vital role in maintaining the health of the region’s rich aquatic ecosystem by controlling fish population, maintaining oxygen levels and serving as an indicator of the general ecosystem health.
Toucan
Common Name: Toucan
Scientific Name: Ramphastidae
Type: Bird
Diet: Herbivore
Size: Up to 24 inches long
Weight: Up to 1.9 pounds
Toucans are among the most recognisable and vibrant birds in the Amazon rainforest, known not only for their striking, colourful beaks but also for their boisterous calls that echo through the canopy. Often taking on a leadership role within their environment, they perch high above, using their loud vocalisations to guide other birds to prime foraging spots, acting as sentinels of the treetops.
Interestingly, toucans don’t build their own nests. Instead, they repurpose old woodpecker nests or natural tree cavities as their homes, demonstrating their resourceful nature. These birds are known for their strong family bonds, with smaller flocks of toucans often spotted together throughout the year, suggesting that family groups remain close-knit over time. Their social behaviour, combined with their commanding presence and dazzling appearance, makes them true icons of the rainforest's vibrant avian community.
