10 ANIMALS OF THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON (EAST) - BIOLOGY - 2025

Some of the most outstanding animals of the Amazon or eastern Ecuador are the squirrel monkey, the capybara, the macaw, the jaguar, the hummingbird, the manatee or the giant otter.

Eastern Ecuador, also called the Amazonian zone of Ecuador, is a region that includes large areas of tropical forest and represents almost half of the territory of the South American country.

In its extension are the provinces of Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Zamora and Morona.

It has several indigenous groups that have populated its forests for hundreds of years and still inhabit the area, selling handicrafts to tourists who visit the forests, as the tourist interest grows more each year.

Thanks to its diversity and climate, eastern Ecuador is home to hundreds of species of animals characteristic of the Amazon.

Featured animals of eastern Ecuador

Squirrel monkey

They are small long-tailed monkeys, they have short orange fur on their limbs and the upper part of their head is dark.

They are omnivores, they can eat both seeds and fruits as well as insects or small birds. They are very stealthy and spend most of their time climbing trees to stay at the top.

Capybara or chigüiro

It is the largest rodent on earth. They are normally found in groups and live near water sources.

Their fur is dark and they have practically no tail. They enjoy rolling around in the mud to protect themselves from the sun and the females of this species are usually larger than the males.

Their diet is mainly based on herbs or aquatic plants.

Macaw

This species of bird prefers hot and humid climates. They are normally in large groups of up to 8 members and feed mainly on seeds, fruits and some insects.

It is characterized by being very colorful, with colors like red, blue and yellow.

Jaguar

It is one of the most significant predators in the Amazon and the third largest feline in the world. They like to swim very much, so they are always in areas close to the water.

Its skin is yellowish with the characteristic black spots all over its body. This predator can swim, climb and run at high speed, making it very difficult for its prey to escape.

Unfortunately, the beauty of its skin has caused hunters to kill a large part of this species and today it is considered to be in danger of extinction.

Frogs or toads

The most common species of toads in eastern Ecuador is known as the giant neo tropical.

This animal has poisonous glands that kills most of its predators, which is why it is called a pest in some areas.

They normally feed on small insects and invertebrate animals.

Hummingbird

It is a popular small bird for its wings that move very fast. They have a dark color and some species have greenish tones.

They are about 9 centimeters tall and feed on the nectar of flowers and small insects.

Giant otter

Mammal that inhabits the fresh waters of the Amazon. Their skin is usually light or dark brown and can grow up to 1.50 meters long.

Their tail and webbing on their legs allow them to swim fairly quickly. They feed on small fish and usually hunt in groups of up to 15 individuals.

Currently due to human interest in their skin, it is also in danger of extinction.

Amazonian manatee

It is a unique freshwater siren. It feeds on aquatic plants and some terrestrial plants and in the rainy periods they usually increase the number of times they eat per day to increase their body fat and prepare for periods of low food.

This species is usually solitary and in mating seasons they can be seen in pairs. The manatee's skin is dark gray and hairless.

Rattlesnake

It is one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. Its main characteristic is the sound that its tail produces when it feels threatened, very similar to a rattlesnake.

It usually attacks its prey at night and these are usually small mammals. They can be up to two meters long.

Sloth

It is an animal known for having slow movements. They are usually grayish in color with white spots on the eyes.

Their arms are longer than their legs and they are usually found alone. Their diet is based on tree leaves where they usually hang to sleep.

References

1. "Fauna in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest" in Manatee Amazon Explorer. Retrieved on September 14, 2017 from Manatee Amazon Explorer: manateeamazonexplorer.com.
2. Dillinger, J. "What Animals Live In The Amazon Rainforest?" in World Atlas (July, 2017). Retrieved on September 14, 2017 from World Atlas: worldatlas.com.
3. Butler, R. "Amazon Wildlife" in Mongabay (January, 2017). Retrieved on September 14, 2017 from Mongabay: rainforests.mongabay.com.
4. "The Wildlife of Ecuador" in Adventure Life. Retrieved on September 14, 2017 in Adventure Life: adventure-life.com.
5. Gonzalez, G. "Fauna and Flora of the East" in Easy Viajar. Retrieved on September 14, 2017 in Easy Viajar: easyviajar.com.