Can You Identify These Amazonian Animals?

By: Elizabeth Lavis
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Identify These Amazonian Animals?
Image: Wiki Commons by Christian Mehlführer

About This Quiz

The Amazon rain forest has been nicknamed the "lungs of the planet," and it is really easy to see why. The lush, deep jungle of the Amazon is full of some of the most incredible plants and animals on earth. The foliage is dominated by massive leaves that are taller than a person, great old-growth trees that have been around for centuries, and more flowers and greenery than anywhere else in the world. Living in all of this bountiful nature are unique animals that call this green slice of paradise their home. Trekking deep into the Amazon means meeting some of these wondrous creatures.

From venomous creepy-crawlies like the Brazilian Wandering Spider to elegant and aloof sloths, the Amazon is teeming with animals big and small. The river itself is full of creatures that you will not see anywhere else on the planet. The Amazonian dolphin is an incredible shade of pink and can be seen leaping through certain parts of the river. Swimming below you'll find the Bull Shark, an apex predator of the Amazon and one of the most dangerous creatures in the region.

How well do you know your Amazonian animals? It's time to head deep into the jungle to find out!

Anaconda Which Amazonian slitherer is pictured here?
Anaconda
Anacondas are a species of water boas that live in tropical regions of the world, specifically the Amazon. Although humans are not their natural prey, they have been known to attack us if provoked.
Monitor lizard
Iguana
Komodo dragon

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Pink River Dolphin This Amazonian animal is a river dweller. Who can name it?
Orca
Pink river dolphin
Amazonian pink river dolphins get their distinctive color from their diet. It is a rare treat to see one of these animals in the wild, and you can take many tours down the river to try to get a glimpse of one.
Amazonian eel
Tropical catfish

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Dart Frog This little leaper is a prominent creature in the Amazon. Who can name it?
Xenopus
Poison dart frog
Poison dart frogs might look beautiful, but they are covered in tons of toxins that deter predators and keep them safe in the wild. Their poison has been used for ritualistic purposes for centuries.
True toad
Ghost frog

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Keel-billed Toucan Which bright Amazonian bird is instantly recognizable?
Toucan
Toucans are notable for their massive, brightly colored bills. They live in most tropical regions but are especially prevalent in the deep Amazon. They are also highly social animals.
Macaw
Parakeet
Swallow

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Parakeet This household pet comes from the Amazon. What is it?
Toucan
Parakeet
Parakeets are popular pets, and can even learn to mimic human language. These smart creatures generally do better when kept in flocks of more than one, which is how they live in the wild.
Condor
Blue jay

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8 manatee Which aquatic animal pictured here is native to the Amazon river?
Orca
Manatee
The Amazonian manatee is the smallest version of manatee on the planet. It lives in the Amazon River in places like Brazil, Peru and Colombia and is notable for its white patched belly.
Dolphin
Electric eel

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Leafcutter Ants Which industrious creatures can be found all over the Amazon floor?
Leafcutter ants
Leafcutter ants are fascinating creatures that are capable of destroying leaves and carrying them across the rain forest floor. They work well together and transport leaves in one single line.
Peanut bugs
June bug
Beetle

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Howler Monkey Their howl can shake up the rainforest. Who are these Amazonian monkeys?
Spider monkeys
Gibbons
Howler monkeys
Howler monkeys might cause a racket, but they are actually harmless to humans. They are one of the loudest animals on the planet and communicate with each other from high in the trees.
Sloths

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Porcupine These creatures are native to parts of Brazil. Who can name them?
Tapir
Porcupine
Amazonian porcupines are unique because they have amazing prehensile tails that they can use to swing from tree to tree. These animals are generally not threatening but can be dangerous when provoked.
Anteater
Capybara

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Spider Monkey This Amazonian monkey swings high in the trees. What is it?
Spider monkey
Spider Monkeys are known as "New World" monkeys because they are found predominately in the Americas. They live high up in the trees and got their name from how they hang by their tails.
Orangutan
Gorilla
Gibbon

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Anteater It's nose gives it a fascinating shape. What is this unique Amazonian animal?
Anteater
Anteaters have been around longer than just about any creature on Earth, and they live mostly in the Amazon. Their long, tapered snouts enable them to get at ants and termites in small spaces.
Tapir
Capybara
Sloth

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macaw It's the unofficial mascot of the Amazon. Who can name this colorful bird?
Parakeet
Toucan
Condor
Macaw
These brightly colored Amazonian birds are some of the most recognizable animals in the whole region. They have an impressive lifespan of 50 years and are highly intelligent.

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armadillo This shelled animal is prevalent in the Amazon. Who knows what it is?
Tapir
Armadillo
Armadillos are shelled creatures that can be found in many warmer parts of the Americas. In the Amazon, they grow to massive sizes, flourish, and populate a lot of the undergrowth.
Porcupine
Sloth

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Jaguar It's the spotted beauty that stalks the Amazon. Who knows the name of this majestic cat?
Puma
Tiger
Lion
Jaguar
Jaguars are the largest cats on the American continent, and their habitat stretches from Central America to Argentina. They are an apex animal in the Amazon, where their population is dwindling.

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Blue Morpho butterfly This bright winged creature can be found all over the Amazon. What is it?
Monarch butterflies
Blue Morpho butterflies
Blue Morpho butterflies are some of the most spectacular creatures in the Amazon. They are notable for their bright blue hue and tend to fly in groups. You can find them in many parts of the rain forest.
Owl butterflies
Cloudless sulphur butterflies

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Boa Constrictor This massive snake is the stuff of legends. What is it?
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictors are massive snakes that kill their prey by suffocating and squeezing them. Although these creatures are known to be fearsome, they do not normally actively hunt humans.
Anaconda
Pit viper
Jesus lizard

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Electric Eel This aquatic animal can give you quite a shock. What is it?
Manatee
Bull shark
Electric eel
Electric eels are actually knife fish and are indigenous to the Amazon. While the shock from one of these animals is not generally fatal, electric eels can deliver a big enough blast to render you unconscious.
Catfish

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Pit Viper These snakes are known for being exceptionally dangerous. What are they?
Anacondas
Pit vipers
Pit vipers are very dangerous because they are venomous and also can be exceptionally aggressive if disturbed. Amazonian wanderers could easily come across, and disrupt, one of these creatures without knowing it.
Boa constrictors
Cobras

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River Otter Who can name the aquatic river mammal pictured here?
Manatee
River otter
River otters are carnivorous animals that live in the Amazon River. Although they might look cute, river otters are actually very intuitive predators that are capable of dominating their space.
Ocra
Tapir

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Golden Tamarin Monkeys Which tiny monkeys come in a beautiful bronze hue?
Orangutans
Howler monkeys
Woolly monkeys
Golden tamarin monkeys
Golden tamarin monkeys are "new world" animals that live high in the trees of the Amazon. There are several different types, but the ones pictured here are the plush golden variety.

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Sloth These slow-moving creatures can be found in the trees of the Amazon. What are they?
Sloths
Sloths are slow-moving, graceful animals that adorn many of the treetops in the Amazon. They are notoriously shy herbivores and they will not interact with humans if they can help it.
Tapirs
Howler monkeys
Kinkajou

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Capuchin Monkey Who can name this friendly white-faced monkey?
Spider monkey
Howler monkey
Capuchin monkey
Capuchin monkeys are also known as white-faced monkeys and are generally very social. Some of them have even learned how to live and thrive alongside humans, and benefit from their association with us.
Gorilla

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Green Iguana Which green lizard lives all over the Amazon?
Iguana
Iguanas are tropical creatures that live in the trees of the Amazon. They are generally fairly shy around humans, although some people do keep these cute reclusive reptiles as pets.
Jesus lizard
Gecko
Monitor lizard

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Assassin Bug What bug pictured here has an appropriate name?
Assassin bug
Assassin bugs might be small, but they can still be fairly problematic to humans. Their venom will kill similar sized prey quickly and can leave people with a painful sting. They can also transmit Chagas Disease.
Bullet ant
Beetle
Flying cockroach

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Piranha This little fish is a famous carnivore. Who knows the name?
Tambaqui
Candiru
Piranha
Piranhas are small fish with very sharp teeth. In movies, they are showed as being fierce predators that descend in swarms to eat humans alive. In real life, a school of piranhas is unlikely to kill a human.
Catfish

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tapir What herbivore is very common in the Amazon?
Sloth
Orangutan
Tapir
Tapirs are large creatures that resemble pigs and are very common in the Amazon. They are herbivores that will spend much of their time on land, but also like to swim in the water.
Anteater

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capybara These friendly animals are very prevalent in the Amazon. What are they?
Capybara
Capybara are the largest rodents in the world and are mostly known for their ability to get along with all sorts of other animals. They are traditionally a little shy around humans though!
Tapir
Sloth
Anteater

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Woolly monkey This fluffy primate is one of the most intelligent on Earth. What is it?
Woolly monkey
Woolly monkeys are larger creatures that live in big social groups in the Amazon. They are one group of "new world" monkeys that are very prevalent in the trees of the Amazon rain forest.
Orangutan
Howler monkey
Gibbon

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Kinkajou What cute Amazonian creature lives high in the trees?
Kinkajou
Kinkajous are arguably some of the most adorable creatures in the Amazon. They live high in the trees and are generally nocturnal. These animals thrive in the canopy of the Amazonian rain forest.
Spider monkey
Sloth
Tapir

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Amazonian Tortoise It's an ancient species. Who can name of this rain forest turtle?
Amazonian tortoise
The Amazonian Tortoise is a large, shelled animal that lives along the banks of the Amazon River. It is generally shy around people but is usually not considered to be very aggressive.
Sea turtle
Snapping turtle
Colombian tortoise

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Giant Centipede This venomous creature is common in the Amazon. What is it?
Giant centipede
Giant centipedes are common in many tropical climates but are especially problematic in the Amazon. Their poison will not generally kill a human, but it can cause substantial damage and scarring.
Amazonian worm
Basilisk
Assassin bug

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Caiman This large reptile that dominates the Amazon river. What is it?
Crocodile
Alligator
Monitor lizard
Caiman
The caiman is a species of lizard that shares some characteristics with alligators and crocodiles. They have very sharp teeth and can be dangerous if startled. It's best to give caimans a wide berth.

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Harpy Eagle What Amazonian bird of prey is pictured here?
Harpy eagle
Harpy eagles are one of the largest birds of prey in the world. They are extremely strong and can even lift monkeys and sloths right out of the trees. This massive predator is found in all parts of the Amazon.
Hawk
Condor
Bald eagle

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Bull Shark Sharks are not just for the high seas! Who can name this one found in the Amazon river?
Bull shark
Bull sharks are common in the Amazon River and are one of the major predators in the region. Like many large animals that live in the river, they pose a threat to any humans who enter their territory.
Reef shark
Great white shark
Tiger shark

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Jesus Lizard Which little lizard has a unique name?
Komodo dragon
Special gecko
Jesus lizard
The Jesus lizard gets its name from a unique ability to be able to run across water. It can be found all over the banks of the Amazon river and is one of the most unique creatures in the region.
Monitor lizard

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Glass frog Which frog, pictured here, can be found all over the Amazon?
Poison dart frog
Cane toad
Glass frog
Glass frogs are generally bright green. In addition to their emerald hue, they can sometimes have a more transparent skin, which is where they get their name. Glass frogs are considered endangered.
Tree frog

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Brazilian Wandering Spider What creepy crawly creature is one of the most fearsome in the Amazon?
Tarantula
Huntsman spider
Dandy long legs
Brazilian wandering spider
Brazilian wandering spiders are among the most venomous creatures in the world. Like many poisonous spiders, they will not actively harm humans unless provoked or startled — which is easy to do in the Amazon jungle!

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Basilisk What reptile pictured here is very common in the Amazon?
Gecko
Komodo dragon
Basilisk
Basilisks might have been popularized in "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets", but real-life basilisks are not nearly as fearsome. They are very common in the Amazon rain forest.
Monitor lizard

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Candiru This tiny fish is one of the most feared in the Amazon. Who can name it?
Piranha
Candiru
Candiru are also known as toothpick fish and are one of the most feared creatures in the Amazon for one simple reason; they can — and do — swim into people's bodies through various openings.
Electric eel
Tambaqui

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Bullet Ant This ant packs a powerful sting. Who can name it?
Fire ant
Leafcutter ant
Giant ant
Bullet ant
Bullet ants get their name because their sting feels like getting shot with a bullet. They are prevalent in the Amazon and are considered to be a dangerous or even sometimes deadly pest.

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