Amazon Basin · Near Manaus, Brazil · Forest floor
You just walked into Amazon.
Zdeněk Macháček · UnsplashHarpy eagle
Harpia harpyja
One of the world's largest and most powerful eagles. Its huge talons — larger than a grizzly bear's claws — can snatch monkeys from the canopy.
Where you are
The largest tropical rainforest on Earth.
The Amazon spreads across eight countries and French Guiana, fed by a river that carries more water than any other. Heat, rain and year-round growth stack life into layers — and most animals stay in the layer they were built for. This site is your guide to who lives where, how they behave, and how to study or meet them responsibly.
The descent
Climb down through the forest, one layer at a time.
Emergent layer
A few giant trees break through the roof of the forest into full sun and wind. Only strong fliers and light climbers live this high.
Canopy
The crowded green roof where most of the forest feeds. Fruit, flowers and leaves are here, so most animals are too.
Understory
Dim, still and humid. Young trees and broad leaves wait for a gap of light, and hunters use the shade for cover.
Forest floor
Very little sunlight reaches the ground. Leaf litter breaks down fast, and the largest land animals move along trails and riverbanks.
River
The Amazon and its tributaries connect every layer. Pink dolphins, caimans and giant otters hunt in the shallows.
Field kit
Open your pack. Tools for work and study.
Track identifier
Match a footprint by shape, size and toe count.
Species compare
Compare two animals side by side: size, diet, layer, activity, status.
Field checklist builder
Build a printable checklist for a region, layer and time of day.
Sound library
Listen to calls and learn to tell them apart.
Safety distance guide
How close is too close, animal by animal.
Glossary
Plain definitions for field and biology terms.
Readings
When the forest is awake
Conservation status
How safe is each species?
- Amazon river dolphin Endangered
- Giant otter Endangered
- Harpy eagle Vulnerable
- South American tapir Vulnerable
- Jaguar Near Threatened
- Scarlet macaw Least Concern
- Brown-throated sloth Least Concern
- Poison dart frog Least Concern
- Black caiman Least Concern
- Toco toucan Least Concern
- Howler monkeys Least Concern
- Emerald tree boa Least Concern
- Blue morpho butterfly Least Concern
- Leafcutter ant Least Concern
- How the forest layers work Least Concern
Plan your expedition
Three questions, and we mark your trail.
Tell us why you came into the forest. We point you to the guides, tools and data that fit. No sign-up, nothing stored.