The variety of wildlife we got to experience was truly spectacular.  We were chatting on our bus transfer to the Cuyabeno Reserve that we were hoping to see a lot of birds and monkeys and were wondering what kinda creepy crawly jungle things we would see.  I specifically remember saying that it would be amazing if we got to see an anaconda, sloth, or tucan, knowing full well this was not a petting zoo, so any animal sightings would be on their terms and not ours.  This was a key element for us: seeing the animals in their natural environment.
Twenty minutes into our boat ride from the gateway to the reserve...Anaconda, another ten minutes...Sloth.
We were totally amazed and happy to have experienced the Amazon Basin and hope to return there someday.
Anaconda
Anaconda
Estimated to be 11 feet long
Estimated to be 11 feet long
Anaconda
Anaconda
Mama sloth and her baby
Mama sloth and her baby
Truly a special sight to see
Truly a special sight to see
Dragonfly hitching a ride on the motorized canoe
Dragonfly hitching a ride on the motorized canoe
Social Spider - Thousands of tiny spiders living together.
Social Spider - Thousands of tiny spiders living together.
Peleides Blue Morpho Butterfly
Peleides Blue Morpho Butterfly
The wings are not actually blue in color.  They use diffraction of UV light from millions of tiny scales to create the brilliant blue as a way to frighten off predators.
The wings are not actually blue in color. They use diffraction of UV light from millions of tiny scales to create the brilliant blue as a way to frighten off predators.
We saw six monkey species: Monk Saki, Wolly, Red Howler, Capuchin, Flying Monkey (no photos), and Owl Monkey (or Night Monkey).
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Monk Saki Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Red Howler Monkey
Red Howler Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Wooly Monkey
Owl Monkey (or Night Monkey)
Owl Monkey (or Night Monkey)
The variety of birds we got to see and hear was amazing.  
Ahinga - similar to a cormorant
Ahinga - similar to a cormorant
Hoatzin - best described as a clumsy  turkey.
Hoatzin - best described as a clumsy turkey.
Research indicates that the hoatzin is the last surviving member of a bird line that branched off in its own direction 64 million years ago, shortly after the extinction event that killed the non-avian dinosaurs.
Research indicates that the hoatzin is the last surviving member of a bird line that branched off in its own direction 64 million years ago, shortly after the extinction event that killed the non-avian dinosaurs.
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Ibis
Ibis
Scarlet Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Black Caracara
Black Caracara
Harpy Eagle
Harpy Eagle
Tiger Heron
Tiger Heron
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Yellow-Winged Cacique
Yellow-Winged Cacique
Yellow-Winged Cacique
Yellow-Winged Cacique
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Orange-Winged Parrot
Orange-Winged Parrot
Orange-Winged Parrot
Orange-Winged Parrot
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
Fiery-Billed Toucan
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
White-Throated King Bird
Yellow-Headed Vulture
Yellow-Headed Vulture
Yellow-Headed Vulture
Yellow-Headed Vulture
White-Throated Toucan
White-Throated Toucan
White-Throated Toucan
White-Throated Toucan
Bugs and other assorted creepy crawly things 🪲
Bush Cricket
Bush Cricket
Giant African Land Snail
Giant African Land Snail
Tropical Wolf Spider
Tropical Wolf Spider
Bush Cricket
Bush Cricket
Bush Cricket
Bush Cricket
Oriental Moth Stinging Nettle Slug
Oriental Moth Stinging Nettle Slug
Black-Footed Yellow Sac Spider
Black-Footed Yellow Sac Spider
Golden Org Weaver Spider
Golden Org Weaver Spider
Tropical Wolf Spider
Tropical Wolf Spider
Tropical Wolf Spider
Tropical Wolf Spider
Tailless Whip Scorpion
Tailless Whip Scorpion
Tarantula
Tarantula
Beetle (possibly Dung Beetle)
Beetle (possibly Dung Beetle)
Themisto Amberwing Butterfly
Themisto Amberwing Butterfly
Bush Cricket
Bush Cricket
Big-ass Mosquito
Big-ass Mosquito
Millipede
Millipede
Leaf Cricket
Leaf Cricket
Leaf Cricket - what we didn't see was the red glow (most likely the eyes of a spider) and the purple glow (potentially from the eye of a small snake!)
Leaf Cricket - what we didn't see was the red glow (most likely the eyes of a spider) and the purple glow (potentially from the eye of a small snake!)
Iguana
Iguana
Iguana
Iguana
Iridescent Green Scarab
Iridescent Green Scarab
Grass Spider
Grass Spider
South American Common Toad
South American Common Toad
Dragonfly
Dragonfly
I think this was a cricket of some sort. It was as large as an oversized crawfish 😳
I think this was a cricket of some sort. It was as large as an oversized crawfish 😳
Not a great photo but this is a Fer-de-Lance snake. It's a very poisonous pit viper.
Not a great photo but this is a Fer-de-Lance snake. It's a very poisonous pit viper.
South American Common Toad
South American Common Toad
Grasshopper
Grasshopper
Grasshopper
Grasshopper
Spiny Orb Weaver Spider
Spiny Orb Weaver Spider
The Amazon river dolphin, also known as the pink river dolphin, is the largest species of river dolphin. Their unique pinkish coloration sets them apart from other dolphin species. The exact reason for their pink coloration is still not fully understood, but it is believed to be due to a combination of genetics, diet, and environmental factors.  The texture of the body is robust and strong but flexible. Unlike oceanic dolphins, the cervical vertebrae are not fused, allowing the head to turn 90 degrees.  They have one of the widest-ranging diets among toothed whales, and feed on up to 53 different species of fish, such as croakers, catfish, tetras, and piranhas. They also consume other animals such as river turtles, aquatic frogs, and freshwater crabs.
Back to Top