Mammals of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest

When we hear the words Amazon rainforest, our imagination travels through a vast universe of diverse animals ranging from playful mammals like the capuchin monkey to exotic birds like the macaw or peculiar insects like the Goliath bird-eater. They all have in common that they have known how to enter the dense jungle and have made the Amazon their only home.

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

Although the jaguar is considered the largest and most dangerous feline in America for being an avid and influential predator, its presence in the Amazon rainforest allows other species to be protected in order to maintain the ecosystem in balance. Jaguars usually stay on the ground, but they are excellent tree climbers, as well as swimmers; these skills allow them to hunt other terrestrial mammals, such as capybaras, tapirs, and deer, or aquatic animals, such as turtles and fish, among others.

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

This unique mammal is similar to a mouse but larger. In fact, it is considered the largest rodent in the world, weighing up to 90 kilos. It is very friendly and often serves as a vehicle to transport other smaller species on its back, such as birds or tiny mammals. Its herbivorous diet consists of grass, herbs, and aquatic vegetation.

Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)

Also known as Boto, it is a highly appreciated mammal in the Amazon due to the mythological legends surrounding the magic that supposedly inhabits it. Due to its elongated snout and characteristic pink color, it is considered the most intelligent and striking river dolphin. Unfortunately, it is in danger of extinction due to uncontrolled hunting and river pollution.

⏭️Read more: Amazon Pink River Dolphin

Howler Monkey (Alouatta Seniculus)

This mammal honors its name, as it is considered the loudest animal in the Amazon rainforest, whose howls can be heard for kilometers. Their physical characteristics vary according to their gender; males are black, and females are reddish to yellow. They feed on leaves, fruits, and flowers.

Giant otter (Saimiri vanzolinii) 

Its nickname is Giant due precisely to its large size, which can reach two meters in length. This mammal is only found in the Amazon rainforest, and unfortunately, it is also on the list of animals in danger of extinction. Its diet consists of fish, crustaceans, and even small alligators and anacondas.
 

Black-headed squirrel monkey (Saimiri vanzolinii)

The black-headed squirrel monkey is small in size, with a tail more significant than its body. An adult can weigh up to 800 grams. Another characteristic that distinguishes them is their black cap in the female and grey in the male. They live in the forests of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Their sociable behavior leads them to be in groups of 20 to 60 primates, although this is only an approximate number because they can be seen in herds of hundreds of them.

Collared anteater (Tamandua mexicana)

The collared anteater is a mini version of the giant anteater; it barely measures 60 cm, and its tail is 35 cm. It has four fingers on its hands and five on its feet. Their diet is based on ants, leaves, larvae, honey, bees, bird eggs, etc. They have a reproduction time of 130 to 150 days and only give birth to one baby.

The bearded emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens) 

This species of primate is distinguished by its long, white mustache. Its small body measures between 25 and 30 cm, and its tail is 35 to 40 cm. Its weight varies between 300 and 500 grams. They feed on fruits, insects, and nectar. It is worth noting that the male of this species helps raise his baby by carrying it at all times except when the mother must breastfeed it.

Puma (Puma concolor) 

The puma is a solitary mammal that can measure between 80 and 150 cm in length and can weigh between 34 and 105 kilos. It is an excellent hunter that feeds on deer, capybaras, and other mammals. Pumas have large hind legs and soft, light brown fur. They usually sleep during the day and are active at night and dawn.

Amazonian tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

The Amazonian tapir is an enormous terrestrial mammal with a thick build, brown fur, small, rounded ears, and a short snout. It enjoys life on the banks of rivers and swampy forests. Its primary foods are grasses, leaves, tender shoots, fruits, and aquatic vegetation. The young have white spots that serve as camouflage.

Manatees (Trichechus inunguis) 

This hybrid mammal, with an appearance comparable to a hippopotamus and a seal, lives in rivers with white and black waters below 300 meters of altitude. It feeds on grass, water lettuce, grama lote, and all kinds of aquatic vegetation. Its peculiarity is that it brings its nostrils to the surface of the rivers to breathe every four minutes.

Birds of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest

Going into the Amazon rainforest is not only about seeing terrestrial and aquatic life or majestic forests; it is also about looking up to find just a few of the 1,300 species of birds that live in the dense jungle. Explore some of these with us:

Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)

This bird of prey, considered the largest in the jungle and the most giant eagle in the world, is part of the list of top predators, along with the jaguar and the anaconda. It feeds on monkeys and sloths, but it is also known to eat large birds such as the toucan and can even hunt deer.

Scarlet macaw (Ara macao and Ara chloropterus).

These birds are the well-dressed queens of the jungle. They sport strikingly colored plumage with red, yellow, and blue tones. They can live in their habitat between 30 and 50 years; however, under human care, they can live up to 75 years. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, and soil rich in minerals.

Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)

This unique-looking bird, with a long, extended crest on its head, could not play a very important role in the jungle. However, the truth is that it is the food of predators such as birds of prey and snakes. Its diet consists of branches, leaves, etc.

Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco)

The toucan is one of 40 different species. It is recognized by the unique colors of its elongated beak, which can measure 23 cm and range between yellow, orange, green, and red. It can weigh 500 grams and measure 56 cm. Its food sources are fruits, small vertebrates, insects, bird eggs, and spiders.

Amazonian kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)

This peculiar carnivorous bird with green and silver plumage measures between 29 and 30 cm and weighs approximately 110 grams. It feeds on butterfly fish, wasps, small beetles, winged ants, dragonflies, cicadas, etc. It chooses excavated sites in ravines with depths of 1.5 meters to lay its eggs.

Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus)

The cock-of-the-rock is a rather exotic bird, declared the National Bird of Peru in 1947. Its dazzling red plumage is responsible for its admirable beauty, although this only occurs with the males; the females are gray to brown, a characteristic of their sexual dimorphism. They live at altitudes of 500 to 2500 meters above sea level.

These majestic birds live in the rocks of the forests, hence their name. Their diet consists of fruits, and they are excellent seed disseminators.

Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis)

The Paradise Tanager is a small bird that could be described as a living rainbow. Its green head, orange back, black wings, and blue and purple belly make it a spectacle in itself. It measures 13 to 15 cm and weighs 20 grams. It likes to live in the treetops of the Amazon plains and feed on fruits.

Potoo Bird (Nyctibius griseus)

Just as there are birds with vibrant and striking colors, the Potoo bird is the opposite. Its brown plumage is the perfect camouflage for perching during the day on the bark of trees and going unnoticed. It measures between 25 and 58 cm and can weigh 250 grams. Its diet is based on insects such as moths, beetles, and small vertebrates.

Reptiles of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest

Within the vast diversity of animal life that we can find in the Amazon rainforest, reptiles are just a tiny part of this immeasurable world.

Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

Considered one of the most giant snakes in the world, reaching up to 10 meters in length, it is grayish green in color and constrictor, meaning that its body is quite muscular and heavy. In addition, among its characteristics are its swimming skills, but it can also be on land. It is carnivorous, so its diet consists of fish, aquatic birds, reptiles, and mammals.

Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger)

Sometimes, it can be confused with the crocodile due to its remarkable similarity, but its black color distinguishes it. It can reach up to 6 meters, and it is long, with a large jaw, tail, and short legs. The black caiman is considered the largest predator in the Amazon, and its carnivorous diet is based on deer, capybaras, and even tapirs. There is evidence that these reptiles can harm humans.

Emerald boa (Corallus batesii)

As its name indicates, this emerald-green snake has bright green scales that give it a certain charm. It can measure between 1.5 and 1.68 meters in length. The emerald boa is carnivorous and feeds on birds, amphibians, small reptiles, and animals similar in size to its own. The emerald boa usually stays among the branches of trees and rarely comes down to the ground.

Iguana (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana can measure between 0.70 cm and 2 meters in length and weighs 15 to 17 kilos. It has a large dewlap under its jaw, and curiously, if its numerous small teeth fall out, they grow back. This herbivorous reptile feeds on leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis)

They can be easily recognized by their characteristic yellow spots on one side of their face. Females are usually twice as large as males; males measure 40 cm, females 80 cm. The latter has a shorter and very narrow tail. These turtles are omnivorous; they feed on fish, crustaceans, grasses, and fruits.

Amphibians of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest 

The Amazon rainforest is a paradise for amphibians, as its warm, humid environment provides the perfect habitat for these creatures. From brightly colored frogs to stealthy salamanders, Amazon amphibians are as diverse as they are fascinating.

Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

This frog, considered the most dangerous on earth, can measure 2.54 cm and weigh 28 grams. A 5 cm frog can have enough poison to kill up to ten men. It is believed that the poison dart frog in captivity is not poisonous; most likely, its high toxicity comes from its diet in the jungle, which consists of ants, termites, crickets, flies, and beetles.

Amazonian tree frog (Hypsiboas picturatus)

This frog can reach up to 8 cm in length. The females are larger than the males. The head is long and wide. The back is grayish or yellowish. The skin in the male is rough, and in the female, smooth. Its diet is based on insects, beetles, flies, etc…

Glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium yaku)

This frog was recently discovered in 1998, but it was not until 20 years later that its discovery was made official and its characteristics determined by the biologist who led the research, Juan Manuel Guayasamín. Its most notable characteristic is its transparent skin, hence its name of glass. The species that have been found measure 2.2 cm. The males are in charge of taking care of the eggs that the females lay on the underside of the leaves.

Cane Toad (Rhinella Marina)

This giant toad is toxic to animals that eat it. It can measure 10 to 15 cm and weigh 2.7 kg. Its skin is quite dry, with bumps above the eyes and snout. It is brown, olive, or red in color. Its diet consists of beetles, insects, spiders, carrion, small vertebrates, garbage, and smaller members of its species.

Salamander (Bolitoglossa altamazonica)

The salamander is a rather exotic animal. It has an elongated body, with bumps on the lips that are very characteristic of its species. It has a long tail and short limbs. Its color varies in different shades of brown. It feeds on invertebrates, ants, spiders, beetles, centipedes, termites, and snails.

Insects of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest

Even the smallest and most invisible animal is necessary in the Amazon rainforest, and insects play an essential role in pollinating and decomposing dead animals.

Bullet ant (Paraponera clavata)

This insect lives up to its name because its bite is considered to be the most painful that an animal can inflict, so much so that its pain is similar to that caused by a bullet in the body. It is an omnivorous insect that feeds on leaves, fruits, nectar, other insects, and plant sap.

Blue morpho butterfly (Morpho peleides)

The blue morpho butterfly is in danger of extinction, among other things, because its life span is three months, which makes it very difficult to compensate for the time of birth with the time of mortality. It is considered the most giant butterfly on earth, 8 inches long, and it feeds on fruits and nectar.

Leaf-cutter ant (Atta sexdens)

As their name suggests, leaf-cutter ants are insects with powerful abilities to cut leaves and carry them. They measure from 1 to 2.5 cm, at least this is the size of a worker, while the queen measures 5 cm in length and can live up to 20 years. Their body is dark brown.

Bird-eating tarantula (Theraphosa blondi)

According to Guinness Records, this spider, also known as the Goliath tarantula, is considered the most enormous arachnid in the world. Its body measures 13 cm alone, but if its legs are included, it reaches 30 cm. It feeds on insects, mice, frogs, and small vertebrates.

Assassin bug (Reduvius personatus)

This insect is a heteropteran with more than 7000 species. It has a long beak that injects poison into its victims. It measures between 4 and 40 mm. It feeds on cockroaches, fleas, nymphs, etc.

Peanut-headed bug (Fulgora laternaria)

It is called that way because of its peanut-shaped head, which can measure between 23 and 24 mm long, and its false eyes, which make it look like a lizard. Its entire body measures between 85 and 90 mm. It feeds on sap from some plants. When it feels attacked, it gives off an unpleasant smell.

Cocoon moth (Urodida teje)

The Urodidae are cocoon moths, quite strange insects known for their unique tail extended in the air. Little is known about their functions. This cocoon can be seen hanging from the underside of leaves, where the moth larva weaves a protective casing around itself to metamorphose into its adult form.

Fish of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest 

The rivers and lakes of the Amazon rainforest are teeming with fish, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. From the infamous piranha to the massive arapaima, the fish of the Amazon are as unique as they are fascinating.

Arapaima (Arapaima gigas)

Also known as pirarucu, it is considered the largest river fish. It is found throughout the Amazon and can be seen in the Madre de Dios River in Peru. It can measure up to 3 meters in length and weigh 250 kilos. Its diet is based on fish, seeds, fruits, and insects. It can also jump at high speed from rivers and catch birds in the air, labradors, and even monkeys in the trees.

Piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri)

These animals with very striking teeth have been the favorites to show in Hollywood movies. They can measure between 15 and 25 cm and weigh 300 grams. They are omnivorous, so they eat fish, nuts, seeds, and other types of animals.

Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus)

The electric fish of the Amazon is a spectacle of nature. It is capable of making electric discharges of 700 watts and two amps. It can measure between 2 and 2.5 meters in length and is brown to green in color. It has a habit of coming to the surface to swallow air. The eel is a carnivorous fish that feeds on fish, crustaceans, worms, aquatic insects, and mollusks, among other things.

Red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)

This fish is often confused with the piranha due to its remarkable similarity; its teeth are strong, to the point that it can break basil nuts, and its leading food is fruit, although if they have the opportunity, they can eat meat and small fish. The female is distinguished from the male by its more rounded belly.

Where to See Amazon Rainforest Animals in Peru?

Tambopata National reserve

Location: In the department of Madre de Dios, in the districts of Tambopata and Inambari, province of Tambopata.

What Amazon Rainforest animals can you see?

The Tambopata National Reserve is home to approximately 648 bird species, spanning 388 genera and 60 families. It also hosts 108 mammal species from 85 genera and 28 families, along with 103 reptile species. Additionally, the area contains 323 fish species across 205 genera and 39 families, as well as approximately 1,200 butterfly species and 93 amphibian species from 31 genera and 9 families. Some of the Amazon rainforest animals that you might encounter are:

• Macaws
• Giant River otters
• Jaguars
• Capybaras
• Toucans
• Harpy eagles

Manu National Park

Location: In the western Amazon basin, spanning Paucartambo (Cusco) and Manu (Madre de Dios), covering the entire Manu River basin.

What Amazon Rainforest animals can you see?

Manu National Park hosts remarkable wildlife diversity, including nearly 160 mammal species, over 1,000 bird species (mostly residents), around 140 amphibians, 50 snakes, 40 lizards, 6 turtles, 3 caimans, and 210 fish species. Insects are abundant, with an estimated 30 million species, including over 1,300 butterflies, 136 dragonflies, 300 ants (40 species found on one tree), and more than 650 beetles. Some of the Amazon rainforest animals that you might encounter are:

• Cock-of-the-rock
• Tapirs
• Capybara
• Armadillos
• Monkeys
• Harpy eagles

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

Location: In the Loreto region, within the provinces of Loreto, Requena, Ucayali, and Alto Amazonas.

What Amazon Rainforest animals can you see?

The area hosts over 1,025 vertebrate species, accounting for 27% of Peru's vertebrate diversity and 36% of the Amazon's total. Some of the Amazon rainforest animals that you might encounter are:

• Pink River dolphins
• Manatees
• Piranhas
• Yellow-spotted river turtles
• Anacondas

Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve

Location: In the Loreto region, Maynas province.

What Amazon Rainforest animals can you see?

Allpahuayo Mishana boasts 145 mammal species, including two endemic ones: the Equatorial saki monkey (Pithecia aequatorialis) and the less-studied rodent (Scolomys melanops). It is also the only protected area for the black titi monkey (Callicebus torquatus).

The reserve is home to 475 bird species, with 21 exclusive to white-sand forests and 9 endemic to the Napo Ecoregion. Additionally, there are 83 amphibian species, many endemic to the Napo Ecoregion, 120 reptile species, and 155 fish species. Some of the Amazon rainforest animals that you might encounter are:

• Iquitos Gnatcatcher
• Poison dart frogs
• Leafcutter ants
• Toucans and tanagers
• Emerald boas

How to get to know the Amazon rainforest in Peru

If you've come this far fascinated by the Amazon rainforest animal tour, imagine how much excitement you would feel if you were seeing these beautiful animals up close. Come with us to explore the Amazon rainforest in Peru. We offer different alternatives; choose the one that best suits you.

Choose a base camp

Some travelers begin their journey through the Amazon in Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, two cities that give you access to the Peruvian Amazon. From here, you can embark on guided tours or stay in ecolodges that give you a base to explore the jungle.

Take a boat ride

Like traveling through Venice by gondola but with imposing nature around, a river cruise along the Amazon and its tributaries offers you a unique perspective of the rainforest. In addition, you will have the opportunity to observe wildlife, visit remote villages, and explore the canals that run through the jungle.

Join a guided tour

Guided tours are one of the best ways to explore the Amazon. You will have an expert guide at your disposal who will gladly give you details about wildlife while informing you about ecological measures to keep the jungle ecosystems healthy. You will be safe at all times. Many tours also offer specialized activities, such as bird watching, night walks, and fishing.

Stay in an eco-lodge

Eco-lodges are undoubtedly a great alternative that allows you to comfortably and sustainably explore the Amazon. These lodges are usually located in remote areas, which will guarantee you a magical and unique experience in the heart of the jungle.

Respect the environment

Remember that when you visit the Amazon, it is very important that you reduce your impact on the environment by following the principles of leaving no trace, avoiding disturbing wildlife, and supporting ecological practices.

When exploring the Amazon rainforest in Peru, you will witness the incredible diversity of life that thrives in this unique ecosystem. Whether you spot jaguars in the jungle, listen to the calls of howler monkeys, or marvel at the vibrant plumage of macaws, the Amazon offers an experience like no other.

The jungle may be dense and mysterious, as a nature lover don't forget to be patient and wait to see all that this world of life, beauty and wonders has to offer, always from a safe distance without interrupting the life cycle of the Peruvian Amazon.

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." - Charles Darwin