In the water, in the air, or on the land, Amazonia is a remarkable place for plants and animals.
Over 2,500 species of fish wriggle their way through the waters of the Amazon – far more kinds of fish than in any other river in the world. Birds abound, too. From screeching parrots and screaming macaws to tiny hummingbirds, more than 1,300 species of birds make their nests in the Amazon rain forest. In fact, almost one-half of all the species of birds in the world live here. If you like creepy crawlers, Amazonia is a place to visit. Millions of different kinds of insects buzz around the banks of the Amazon and crawl along the forest tree trunks.
However, if you’re looking for elephants, zebras, and other large mammals, you won’t find them here. The puma, a member of the cat family, is one of the few large animals that lives in the Amazon forest. But don’t expect to see pumas. They stay as far away from humans as possible.
