By Contributing Writer
The Amazon rain forest stretches over nine South American countries. It spans over 2 million square miles and is home to many species of animals, some of which are not found elsewhere in the world.
Numbers
Scientists estimate that over half the world's animal population lives in the Amazon rain forest. This includes approximately 2,000 species of birds and mammals. Per square mile of rain forest, there are an estimated 50,000 species of insects. Among the waters of the rain forest, there are over 3,000 species of fish.
Types
Amphibians and reptiles such as anacondas, boa constrictors, crocodiles, and the poison dart frog call the Amazon home. Large cats such as the jaguar, various species of monkeys, parrots, lizards and bats are also indigenous to the region. The anteater, sloth and tapir are other types of unusual animals that dwell in the Amazon rain forest.
Considerations
There are four distinct layers to the Amazon rain forest, beginning with the forest floor and ending with the treetop canopy. Animal life thrives in all four layers.
Potential
The plant and animal life in the rain forest is so diverse and numerous that scientists estimate they have only studied 1 percent of all the species that live in the Amazon rain forest.
Fun Fact
There are more species of fish in the waters connected to Amazon rain forest than there are in the entirety of the Atlantic Ocean.
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