Can You Identify These Amazonian Animals?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.