Our guide to Brazil’s wildlife

Brazil has the greatest biodiversity of any country on the planet, making it a top destination for nature lovers. It has the most known species of mammals, plants and freshwater fish, and ranks third on the list of countries with the most bird species. This all is hardly surprising, given that Brazil lays claim to 60% of the Amazon Rainforest, plus the world’s largest tropical wetland, the Pantanal. These habitats are teeming with an astonishing variety of wildlife, from jaguars to sloths, anteaters to river dolphins. Get a taster of what you might experience on an extraordinary vacation spent discovering Brazil’s wildlife.

Brazil’s wildlife: iconic species

Brazil’s Big Five are the giant otter, the tapir, the giant anteater, the green anaconda, and its famous big cat, the jaguar. The Pantanal has one of the highest densities of jaguars anywhere in the world, making it the best place on the planet to search for these beautiful, elusive animals. And while you’re looking for them, they will be looking for dinner: jaguars prey on all kinds of mammals and fish, but are especially partial to capybaras and caimans. They are strong swimmers and when not hunting, they might be seen lounging on the riverbanks.

From the river you can also spot the world’s largest otter, often reaching six feet long, and tapirs, a strange-looking mammal sometimes described as resembling a cross between a pig and an elephant, and weighing between 300–700 pounds. Despite their impressive size, they are also excellent swimmers and love wallowing in the mud to cool off, which is when they can become prey to the deadliest creature on our list, the green anaconda. The world’s largest snake kills its prey by wrapping itself around its victim and constricting its airway until the heart stops beating. It’s one of the Amazon’s most dangerous animals, capable of killing an adult capybara and swallowing it whole.

Habitats: from forest canopy to riverbank and floodplain

The Amazon Rainforest is a dense, tropical and delicately balanced ecosystem, based around rainfall and evapotranspiration – the loss of water from the soil and plants by evaporation. This is the moist, humid environment that one-tenth of the world’s species call home. High up in the forest canopy, you’ll probably hear the howler monkeys before you see them, plus spider monkeys and tamarins, and if you’re lucky you might see a sloth moving slowly through the branches. Many species inhabit the rivers and one of the best ways to see Brazil’s wildlife is by boat; by gliding silently over the water you will spot mammals, primates and birds without disturbing them. Journey through the forest up the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon, and keep your eyes peeled for playful pink river dolphins and turtles.

More than 20 times the size of the Everglades, only 3% of the Pantanal is dry land and it’s renowned as one of the world’s most productive habitats. Each year, tropical rains trigger extensive floods, transforming the region into a vast nursery for aquatic life, including 260 species of fish. When the waters recede during the dry season, the Pantanal becomes a magnet for a diverse array of birds and other wildlife, creating one of the hemisphere’s most spectacular natural phenomena.

Birdwatching in Brazil

With an estimated 800 species, the Pantanal offers exceptional birding opportunities. Amongst many others, you may spot the largest parrot on the planet, the hyacinth macaw; the flightless greater rhea; the jabiru, a colossal bird with a white body, red throat and black head; the spectacled owl; and more than a dozen species of herons, egrets and bitterns. Tick off the yellow-billed cardinal, the gregarious guira cuckoo and various woodpeckers, wrens, ibis and parrots.

The fabulous toucan is a symbol of the Amazon, and needs no introduction, but while they’re prevalent you may be hard-pressed to see one as they stay high in the lush treetops. You’re more likely to see the bright green Amazonian parrot, or the vibrant feathers of blue-and-yellow or red macaw, intelligent and social birds adding splashes of colour to the forest canopy. For sheer size and presence, the harpy eagle is king of the Amazon, standing over a metre tall with a two-metre wingspan, and feeding on monkeys, sloths and other birds. At the other end of the spectrum there are more than 300 species of tiny delicate hummingbirds, plus kingfishers, kites, antbirds and the punk of the jungle, the hoatzin.

Nocturnal wildlife in Brazil

At night the rainforest is a different experience, when sounds and smells are intensified, and a Brazilian night safari is a unique opportunity to spot nocturnal creatures – ocelots, anteaters, tapirs and armadillos. Take a canoe trip with a guide to help you spot black caimans, the largest species of alligator, and track jaguars which hunt by both day and night. On the cuter end of the spectrum, the margay is a petite nocturnal wildcat with large eyes that help it hunt for small animals like monkeys, birds, and even frogs. Or what about the kinkajou or honey bear, known to fall out of their trees in the evening light as they begin their search for food. The jungle is never silent, so you’ll be listening for owls and nightjars whilst gazing at the Milky Way and the Southern Cross like you’ve never seen them before.

Brazil’s reptiles, amphibians and insects

The creatures that make some of us squirm are integral to Brazil’s ecosystems. From lizards, snakes and spiders, to green iguanas, poison dart frogs and giant cane toads, all have a role to play in maintaining ecological balance and integrating into the complex food web of the rainforest and wetlands. Arachnophobes look away now, as we peek from behind our hands at the largest tarantula in the world, the Goliath birdeater whose legs span up to 11 inches, and the golden silk orb-weaver, famous for its large, intricate webs made of incredibly strong golden silk that can span several feet. Spiders control insect populations, which helps prevent the overpopulation of herbivorous insects that could otherwise damage plant life. In turn, spiders serve as prey for birds, reptiles and small mammals.

Brazil is home to a spectacular array of butterflies and moths, such as the vibrant blue morpho butterfly with its striking iridescent wings, and enormous Caligo owl butterflies fluttering from trunk to trunk. Down on the forest floor you’ll find an incredible diversity of ants, including leafcutter ants, which are fascinating for their complex societies and ability to harvest and farm fungi. In our run-through of creepy crawlies, we’ll end with two magnificent beetles: the titan beetle, the world’s largest insect at over six inches, and the Hercules beetle, another whopper with large, horn-like pincers.

Brazil’s captivating sea creatures

Brazil’s coast is a giant playground for all sorts of sea creatures, including sea turtles, dolphins, rays, and even whale and bull sharks. You can spot humpback and southern right whales as they migrate to Brazil’s coastlines between June and November each year, to give birth and nurse their young. The coastline is also a nesting ground for several species of marine turtles, including the endangered leatherback and loggerhead turtles, which travel thousands of miles to return to Brazilian beaches to lay their eggs every year. In the coastal shallows of the seagrass beds and mangroves, search for the tiny Brazilian seahorse and watch out for spiny lobsters in the coral reefs.

Conservation of Brazil’s wildlife: challenges and successes

One of the most pressing issues in Brazil is deforestation, particularly in the Amazon where large-scale logging, agricultural expansion and building have led to the loss of vast forest areas. The Amazon holds large amounts of carbon and deforestation contributes to climate change, which impacts the fragile ecosystems and threatens already-endangered species.

Brazil’s illegal wildlife trade is another threat, with animals like jaguars, macaws and various reptiles captured and sold, disrupting ecosystems and driving species towards extinction. Pollution and habitat degradation from industrial activities, mining and urbanisation are also contributing to the degradation of natural habitats, with rivers and wetlands particularly affected.

While it’s hard not to see a bleak future, Brazil is investing heavily in conservation and has established several protected areas and national parks, including the Amazonia and Pantanal Matogrossense National Parks. Indigenous groups and local residents often have deep knowledge of the land and play a crucial role in the sustainable management and protection of natural resources; several community-based conservation initiatives are underway, which you can ask our local experts more about exploring during your visit.

Projects and initiatives

Reforestation programs such as Amazonia Live, an effort led by the Rock in Rio music festival, and the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes project, aim to restore deforested areas and help Brazil to its target of reforesting 30 million acres of land by 2030. Smaller initiatives like wildlife corridors are helping to connect fragmented habitats, allowing species like jaguars and tapirs, which require expansive territories, to migrate and maintain genetic diversity.

Make it happen

Craft your unique trip to explore Brazil‘s wildlife, with help from our trusted and experienced experts. They’ll connect you with the best naturalist guides and place you in accommodations that benefit both the communities and the country’s precious natural habitats.