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10 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts and How to Make A Fun Iguana

August 10, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

There are more than 100 different Amazon Rainforest lizards. Too, you’ll love my Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon page.

Today we are focusing on 10 of the more well-known ones.

There are fierce hunters, those with beautiful changing skin, swimmers, stalkers, night creepers, and fascinating.

10 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts and How to Make A Fun Iguana

One thing you know about the Amazon rainforest is that it is going to have the most beautiful and amazing creatures in its lush greenery.

We are doing a super fun craft as well, taking a few discarded items and turning them into a cute replica of the beautiful and fascinating green iguana found in the Amazon Rainforest.

I highly suggest taking a field trip to a larger pet store and seeing just how many of the Amazon lizards below you can spot.

5 Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts

Green Iguana – Iguana can grow as large as 6 feet long and weigh almost 18 pounds, with an average of around 9-12 pounds. They are the largest of all the lizards in the Amazon. They can be brownish, orange, gray, lighter or dark green, or even black.
Amazon Bark Anole – Ambush predators that feed on insects found on the trunks and large limbs of large trees like ants, wasps, beetles, and roaches. Their skin closely resembles the markings of tree bark and can change color on top to help blend in more, this is their main defense mechanism.
Crocodile Tegu- A semi aquatic lizard that has a flattened, paddle-like tail and is found in the Amazon Basin. This lizard feeds on arthropods, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
Bridled Forest Gecko- Scurry around the base of trees and in the tree litter. They can be diurnal if they have artificial lighting at night.
Collared Tree Runner- AKA Plica umbra, AKA Jewel of the Amazon is a beautiful species of lizard that looks very chameleon-like, with its array of green, tan, and brown scales. Males have a bright yellow throat, and they are found on branches and tree trunks.

5 More Amazon Rainforest Lizards Facts

Basilisk Lizard-These amazing Amazon dwellers can run at speeds of up to 15 mph and can run on the surface of the water without sinking.
Chameleons- These famous reptiles are known for their ability to change their skin color. They have prehensile tails and feet that split at nearly a 180-degree angle which allows them to have a superior grip on the branches where they live.
Caiman Lizard- Can grow to2 to 4 feet and up to 10 pounds. They are a semiaquatic species and spend part of their time in the water, an interesting adaptation is a third, clear eyelid that acts like a goggle when submerged.
Banded Tree Anole- These lizards are found at the tops of the tallest Amazon trees and are strictly arboreal and have excellent skin camouflage.
Turnip Tailed Gecko- At not quite 5 inches these lizards are one of only 2 nocturnal lizards. It has flaps of skin that act as a parachute when they jump from trees.

Then, look at some of these resources for a fun study about lizards.

Amazon Rainforest Lizards Resources

Grab a reference book like Lizards of the World to find out more about Amazon Rainforest Lizards and others.

Lizards of the World: A Guide to Every Family (A Guide to Every Family, 1)

A lavishly illustrated overview of the world’s lizards. Lizards are one of nature’s great success stories: survivors from the time of the dinosaurs, they have taken advantage of almost every habitat on earth, from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra and even our homes. From chameleons and skinks to geckos and iguanas, there are close to 7,000 species of lizards around the world. This expert guide explores their extraordinary diversity and adaptations.Lizards of the World features an in-depth introduction covering the evolution, anatomy, and lifestyle of lizards, followed by profiles of species from every family, accompanied by stunning color photographs. This invaluable guide highlights the enormous range of habitats, appearance, and activity among lizards. Many thrive in extreme conditions, and have adapted to keep cool, warm, or hydrated. Some can protect themselves by changing color to blend in with their surroundings, while others have fringed toes enabling them to run across sand, or can parachute out of a predator’s reach. Covering diet and reproduction as well as defense strategies and conservation, Lizards of the World showcases the unique natural history and beauty of these remarkable creatures.

Iguana M Reptile Collection

Check out this gorgeous Iguana statue for the garden.

Plastic Lizard Toys

MULTIPLE SHAPES: These wild reptile lizard toys come in 12 styles and colors and measure 3.1-5.2 inches.

GET TO KNOW NATURE: Each toy lizard toy has a detailed texture and unique pattern, the lifelike shape can well let children feel the magic and beauty of nature.

Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Nature Anatomy and Wildlife Anatomy are wonderful resources for many nature topics, I did find lovely illustrations with chameleons and anoles included as well as a bit on the rainforest itself.

Amazon Rainforest Animal Activities

Also, look at more Amazon Rainforest animal activities.

Finally, look at this fun Amazon Rainforest lizards iguana craft.

How to Make an Iguana Lizard Craft

We are making an iguana with some beautiful orange and green coloring, but you can opt for any of the iguana colors that you wish for your craft.

You will need:

One paper towel roll.
Two toilet paper rolls.
Orange craft foam
Green paint
Paintbrush
Scissors
2 craft sticks

Cut up the center of one end of the paper towel roll about five or 6 inches and wrap it around itself to create a tapered end. Use hot glue to secure the taper in place.

Hot glue the tail by inserting the intact end of your paper towel roll inside the first toilet paper roll. Repeat, adding the second toilet paper roll.

Squeeze together the end of the toilet paper roll and glue it to create a mouth.

Cut two popsicle sticks into three equal pieces. Hot glue, the rounded ends onto the sides of your iguana for legs.

Paint the entire thing green and set it aside to dry.

While you’re waiting for your paint to dry, cut an orange fringe the length of the paper towel roll (dorsal crests) out of orange craft foam, four orange feet, and the dewlap hanging under its neck.

Once the paint has dried you can hot glue the fringe on the back.

Glue the dewlap under the neck portion into place.

Add the orange feet that you cut onto the bottom of the green craft stick legs and glue.

Use a black marker or paint to add more details like eyes, nostrils, stripes, etc.

You can take your iguana on adventures outdoors or display him in the house as you learn about Amazon Rainforest lizards.

How to Make A Fun Origami Frog Amazon Rainforest Craft

May 29, 2023 | 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I’m showing you how to make a fun origami frog Amazon Rainforest craft. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon, Rain Forest – Animals of the Amazon, and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

Working on an Amazon Rainforest craft is a fantastic hands-on way to learn about the amazing flora and fauna of the Amazon Rainforest.

From painting to paper folding there are so many ways to learn new art skills while you also get inro some zoology or botany about the Amazon.

How to Make A Fun Origami Frog Amazon Rainforest Craft

Also, creating an origami frog is fun, great for building fine motor skills, and can be done while learning about the colorful jumpers that make their home in the canopy layer.

So, simply choose different colors of origami paper and add a little detail with markers to create an army of frogs. And yes, army is the right word for a group of frogs.

About Origami

Additionally, you can use these origami frogs as a tool for learning about the markings of the various Amazon Rainforest frogs, as a STEM activity for measuring distances, building, problem-solving, fine motor, and attention to detail.

Origami was first called “orikata” in Japan meaning “folded shapes” and was later changed to origami meaning folded paper.

While you can use any paper you like if it is square.

To get good folds and flexibility you really want to use the special origami paper. This very thin paper is specially designed for folding and works beautifully, but it will take some practice to get good at it

Creating origami frogs is also a great opportunity to learn more about the frogs found in the Amazon Rainforest.

Amazon Rainforest Questions

Study their markings, habits, habitat, food source, and adaptations as you create a fun folded version of them.

Here are 5 great research questions on Amazon Rainforest frogs that your child can find in resource books or by searching Google.

What country is the Amazon Rainforest found in? The majority,60%, is in Brazil, followed by 13% in Peru, 10% in Colombia, and the rest in Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela
How many different species of tree frogs are found in the Amazon Basin? Over 1000 species
What is the world’s biggest rainforest? The Amazon, followed by Congo Basin.
What is deforestation? It is the action of clearing a wide area of trees.
What is the lifespan of a red-eyed tree frog? 5 years in the wild.

Look at these books to add to your unit study.

16 Rain Forest Animals For Kids Books & Resources

Add these rain forest animal books, games, and toys to round out your study of the animals of the rain forest.

All the Way Down: Amazon Rainforest

This book explores the rainforest layer by layer and the creatures that make their home in each part of the rainforest.

Rainforest Animals (Who Am I?)

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.

Over and Under the Rainforest

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.

In the Rainforest (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

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.

Anacondas (Rain Forest Animals)

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

Learn to Draw Rainforest & Jungle Animals

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.

The Rainforest Grew All Around

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.

Wildlife Anatomy: The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World

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.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

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.

Professor Noggin's Reptiles and Amphibians Trivia Card Game

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!

Hello, World! Rainforest Animals

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.

Where Is the Amazon?

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.

Canopy, Card Game, Features 25 Unique Species of Rainforest Animals and Plants

Compete to grow the most bountiful rainforest! Carefully select what grows in your forest, and give rise to a thriving ecosystem.

Afternoon on the Amazon

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?

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Scholastic Bookshelf)

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.

Protecting the Amazon Rainforest (Saving Earth's Biomes)

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.

More Rainforest Activities for Kids

Finally, look at how to make origami frog Amazon Rainforest craft.

How to Make An Origami Amazon Rainforest Craft

The most important thing to remember for this activity is to try to fold straight along the edges and create a sharp crease by using the bone folder or a craft stick on every fold.

You will need:

Origami paper
Markers
Bone folder or craft stick

Fold the paper in half, creasing sharply along the fold.

Next, fold each corner, one at a time, down to the center crease, and unfold each right after you make your crease.

Fold the paper down right along the x in the center of your crease then open it back up.

Push the sides of the creases inward, folding them in to create a point on the paper.

Fold the top flaps up from the center and crease outward.

Fold the sides inward under the crease, at this point, it should resemble Yoda a bit.

Bring the bottom of the paper up to just under your fold and press.

Open the last fold.

Push the centers in with your fingers and pull the bottom corners out simultaneously, crease well.

You can see here this is where I always have the most trouble with, sometimes that paper just doesn’t want to cooperate, just keep trying.

Fold the corners down to create the back feet.

Create a single accordion fold between the front and back feet, making the “spring” for your frog to jump.

Use markers to add eyes and create any of the beautiful colors and varieties of Amazon Rainforest frogs like our Red Eyed Tree Frog and Blue Poison Dart Frog.

Press gently on the back end to make the frog hop.

20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl

May 28, 2023 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a list of 20 tropical rainforest foods and a fun acai bowl. And I have more ideas on my pages Rain Forest – Amazon and Rainforest Amazon Activities for Kids.

When exploring the tropical rainforest you can hardly forget the amazing and unique foods that come from there.

Besides, tropical rainforest foods are some of our favorite imported treats.

20 Tropical Rainforest Foods and Make an Acai Bowl

Some you may have already known come from there and others may surprise you.

Too, reading, internet research, a trip to the store or local market, and of course taste testing can all be part of a great study on tropical rainforest foods.

I have simple directions for a wonderful bowl that tastes like the rainforest with superfruits, nuts, and of course rich chocolate.

Acai Bowls have become very popular for good reasons.

Tropical Rainforest Foods Facts

First, look at some of these rainforest food facts.

Each cacao pod can hold up to 60 beans, and it can take anywhere from 8-14 pods to make a single pound of cocoa.
Acai is a staple food around the rainforest and is known as a superfood due to its high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and anti-cancer properties.
At least 80% of the developed world’s food is thought to have originated in the tropical rainforest.
There are about 3000 fruits found in rainforests. In the US we use about 200 of them while the indigenous tribes make use of over 2000.
The most popular food source for locals in the Amazon rainforest is Cecina (pork).
In 2020 an estimated 20.2 million metric tons of bananas were exported from tropical rainforests.
40% of exported pineapples come from the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica.
Tropical rainforest honey contains a much higher amount of beneficial enzymes, antioxidants & bioactive compounds than most honey found anywhere else.

Tropical Rainforest Foods-Hands-On Activities

Next, look at some of these tropical rainforest foods hands-on activities.

Take a trip to the grocery store and try to identify as many foods as you can as those that come from the tropical rainforest, look for labels and stickers in the produce department to determine exactly where they come from.

When you make your acai bowl, use Food Anatomy to look up tropical fruits, how chocolate is made, as well as seasonings and nuts that come from the rainforest.
Poll a large group (Facebook is great for crowdsourcing) and graph their favorite rainforest food or how many of the various foods they have tried.
Identify on a map or globe which tropical rainforest each food comes from.
Hone in on our favorite tasty treat with the Chocolate Grows in The Rainforest Study.

Then, look at more foods to try.

10 More Tropical Rainforest Foods to Try

While today I have a delicious and simple acai bowl recipe for you to try, I also have 10 other recipes either made with exotic tropical rainforest foods or created with the rainforest theme.

More Fun Food Activities

Learn About Fruits Around the World Fun With Food Activities

Then, look at some of these fun Amazon rainforest books.