Today, we’re learning about mammals in the Amazon Rainforest. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids
When you talk about the mammals in the Amazon Rainforest so many adorable and amazing animals come to mind- capybara, tapir, howler monkey, anteaters, jaguar, Brazilian brown bat, and a popular favorite, the sloth.
All these mammals are unique and important as a big part of the Amazon rainforest biome.
There is so much to learn about them as well as preserving their habitat.
Too, we are making an easy no-sew sloth plush with a little hot glue, and some felt to add a crafty dimension to your studies.
Mammals of The Amazon Rainforest Facts
First, look at these facts about mammals of the Amazon Rainforest.
- The primary predators of sloths are harpy eagles and arboreal cats like the jaguar.
- Sloths climb down to the forest floor from their preferred hangout in the canopy to poop once a week.
- There are more animal species living in the rainforest than in any other part of the world.
- There are over 500 mammal species found in the Amazon rainforest alone.
- The giant otter is one of the endangered species in the Amazon Rainforest due to poaching.
- The capybara is the largest rainforest rodent but also the largest rodent on the planet and can weigh up to 200 pounds.
- Amazon River Dolphins have the largest bodies and brains of any freshwater dolphin, and they are pink.
- Giant Armadillos are listed as vulnerable status due to loss of habitat through deforestation and being hunted for their meat.
- Ocelots are nocturnal and mainly consume small rodents but will also eat birds, and iguanas.
Then, here are some fun books about the Amazon rainforest.
21 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Resources
Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.
It is a great way to expand the growth with children through physical science.
This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.
Which rainforest animal is a frog that uses its eyes to help it swallow its food? Which rainforest animal is a bird with a big, colorful bill? Let's learn more about rainforest animals such as sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and more! Read With You's Who Am I? series encourages children to be more curious about the world around them as they learn fun facts about animals from across the globe.
Part of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series that includes Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt and Over and Under the Snow!Under the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world. Turn the pages of this beautiful and educational book to discover in words and mesmerizing illustration:
Animals like the slender parrot snake and the blue morpho butterfly.
The canopies where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call.
Capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms.
Sloth Toy Figurine
The rainforest is home to millions of plant and animal species. Some animals live high up in the trees, some crawl across the forest floor, and some tunnel underground, but they all depend on one another and the rain to survive. With colorful illustrations and fascinating diagrams from author-illustrator Kate Duke, In the Rainforest is a lively look at the most vibrant ecosystem on our planet.
This book introduces readers to the largest snake in the world: the anaconda. Readers learn about the life cycle, behavior, physical characteristics, and habitat of anacondas
Expanding the popular collection of animal books in the Learn to Draw Series, Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals will teach kids how easy it is to draw a variety of exciting and exotic creatures from around the world. Each project starts with a basic shape and progresses with simple-to-follow steps to a finished realistic final colored artwork. While they’re learning, kids will also discover fun facts about each featured animal.
Imaginations will soar from the forest floor, up through the canopy and back down again, following the circle of life in this clever adaptation of the song “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The jungle comes alive as children learn about a wide variety of the animals (jaguars, emerald tree boas, leafcutter ants, sloths, poison dart frogs, toucans, and bats) and plants (kapok trees, liana vines, and bromeliads) living in the lush Amazon rainforest. Delve even deeper into the jungle using sidebars and the three-page “For Creative Minds” educational section.
While it covers more than just the rainforest this is a fabulous resource to have on your shelves. You will find plenty of great pictures and information on many animals that live there- crocodiles, harpy eagles, monkeys, tapir , sloths,Jaguarundi, and the food web.
COLORFUL ARTWORK: Kids will love the colorful puzzle artwork showing the animals, plants, trees and birds that call the rainforest home. The storage box shows the completed puzzle artwork and is an ideal place to keep pieces safe and free from damage.
Tells a story of a man who came to cut down a kapok tree and encounters many of the beautiful and exotic native creatures who make their home in the Amazon Rainforest.
FUN FACTS: How about Reptiles versus Amphibians?! That's just one of the topic cards in this kids card game. Find out more fun facts from Eggs to the Komodo Dragon!
How fun!
FRESH & FRUITY: Fruidles single-flavor gummies pack giant taste into one delicious flavor. After one bite of these fruity gummies, you'll taste the difference of giant fresh fruit flavors & a deliciously soft chew you won't find with other gummy candies.
This bright and exciting Hello, World! board book teaches toddlers all about the amazing world of a rainforest—with easy-to-understand facts about the incredible animals who make their home there.
Human beings have inhabited the banks of the Amazon River since 13,000 BC and yet they make up just a small percentage of the "population" of this geographic wonderland. The Amazon River basin teems with life—animal and plant alike.
Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.
Features a frog, a fly and a parrot with articulated wings and tail, opening mouth and rotatable eyes 3-in-1 model: rebuilds into a chameleon or a tropical fish
Vampire bats and killer ants? That's what Jack and Annie are about to run into when the Magic Tree House whisks them away to the Amazon River. It's not long before they get hopelessly lost. Will they be able to find their way back to the tree house? Or are Jack and Annie stuck forever in the rain forest?
NatureI n a tropical rain forest in Central America, a red-eyed tree frog spends the night looking for food while avoiding potential predators. Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers.
Explores the richness of the Amazon rainforest, how humans have damaged it, and efforts being taken to protect it. Clear text, vibrant photos, and helpful infographics make this book an accessible and engaging read.
Also, look at these videos.
Mammals of The Amazon Rainforest Videos
Videos are a wonderful way to learn a lot about animals and get a close-up look at ones you may never see in person, whether in the wild or even at a zoo.
I found a great selection of videos on YouTube for you to enjoy together as a family.
- Animals of Amazon
- Sloths in The Amazon Rainforest
- Wild Kratts Relaxing With Sloths
- Swimming With Sloths
- Incredible Facts About Capybara
- Virtual Field Trip Amazon Rainforest
- Rainforest Animals
Also, add some hands-on activities.
Hands-on Mammals of The Amazon Rainforest Activities
- Check out this adorable Tapir Printed Craft.
- Grab a map or globe and help your child identify where the Amazon rainforest is.
- Create a beautiful diorama like this Rainforest Small World– AMAZON RIVER BASIN.
- This anteater craft is great for your younger Amazon researchers.
- Colorful printable Amazon Animal books for preschoolers offer some great facts and photos without having to invest a lot of money.
- Keep kids moving with Amazon Rainforest Theme Gross Motor Cards.
- Research and write about or make a diorama, science board display, or other craft to represent your animal. This Schleich Sloth is an adorable addition to dramatic play or dioramas.
- While creating your fun craft you can watch videos and definitely include a fun reference book, I was able to find two wonderfully illustrated pages on sloths in Wildlife Anatomy as well as many other mammals of the Amazon Rainforest, animals like margay, jaguarundi, capuchin, tapir, capybara, and anteaters.
And here are more rainforest activities for kids.
More Rainforest Activities for Kids
- Blue Morpho Butterfly Adaptations In The Tropical Rainforest and Fun Symmetry Craft
- Amazon Rainforest Predators and Make a Fun Pasta Emerald Tree Boa
- Creating Fun Red Eyed Tree Frog Manipulatives for Rain Forest Math
- Cute Colorful Toilet Paper Roll Rainforest Frogs for a Rainforest Frog Craft
- 18 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books and Fun Resources
- Beautiful And Colorful Amazonian Rainforest Animals Lapbook For Kids
- 100+ Best and Free Tropical Amazon Rainforest Educators Resources
- The Ultimate Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the Amazon Rain Forest
- 3 Free and Amazing Amazon Rainforest Lapbooks for Kids
- Rainforest Crafts for Kindergarten: Make an Easy Paper Plate Monkey
- 19 Fun Hands-on Rainforest Activities for Kindergarten
- Rainforest Science Activities For Kindergarten Amazing and Fun Living Terrarium
- Wildlife in the Amazon Rainforest – Create Fun Macaw and Toucan Crafts
Finally, how to make this adorable sloth craft.
How to Make a No Sew Sloth
You will need:
- Brown felt
- Cream felt
- Tan felt
- Black Felt
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun/sticks
- Something round about 4”-5” wide
For the main body of the sloth, I opted for a by-the-yard brown felt that was a little prettier than standard craft felt.
However, you can recreate the same design with the regular texture of craft felt as well.
Trace your round object on the backside of the brown felt.
Cut out the circle.
Fold in half and begin to shape the head at one end, cutting through both sides like this.
Cut out two arms/legs and trim as needed to shape your body a bit more.
Open the felt and run hot glue along the edge on one half, quickly fold the other half over and press into the glue to close it up.
Because the felt I bought was so plush I felt that I didn’t really need to stuff it.
But if you want to you can add some stuffing or a few of your felt scraps before gluing it up to give it a fuller belly.
To create the face, fold a small piece of your cream felt in half and cut out a mask shape. You can measure it by holding it against the face of your sloth, trimming it as you need.
Cut tan felt into two small strips with a rounded end.
Take the black felt and cut two little eyes, a nose, and a mouth, of course, he’s smiling, he is too cute not to.
Assemble the face by gluing everything to the mask shape and then adhering to the head.
If you like you can glue your sloth to a small branch, so he looks like he is hanging by folding the tip of his hands and feet over and securing them with glue.
I couldn’t resist cutting out a little green felt tropical leaf to add to his branch.
