Endemic Animals of Brazil

Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari ), also known as the indigo macaw, is a large all-blue Brazilian parrot, a member of a large group of neotropical parrots known as macaws. It was first described by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1856. Lear's macaw is 70–75 cm (27+1⁄2–29+1⁄2 in) long and weighs around 950 g (2 lb 2 oz). It is coloured almost completely blue, with a yellow patch of skin at the base of the heavy, black bill.Although there are records of the macaw ...
from Britain from the early 1830s, this bird was only generally recognised as an independent species in the late 1970s. It is rare with a highly restricted native range, which was only discovered in 1978, although intensive conservation efforts have increased the world population about thirtyfold in the first two decades of the 21st century. It inhabits a dry desert-like shrubby environment known as caatinga, and roosts and nests in cavities in sandstone cliffs. It mostly feeds on the nuts of the palm species Syagrus coronata, as well as raiding maize from local farmers. Its ecology also appears curiously linked to cattle ranching. Less

The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the Little blue macaw - no longer lives in the wild and is by a long way the world’s rarest macaw. It had a very restricted natural habitat due to its dependence on the tree for nesting, feeding, and roosting. Due to deforestation in its limited range and specialized habitat, the bird was rare in the wild throughout the twentieth century. The Spix’s macaw has always been very rare in cap ...
tivity, partly due to the remoteness of its natural range. Its last known stronghold in the wild was in northeastern Bahia, Brazil and sightings were very rare. After a 2000 sighting of a male bird, the next and last sighting was in 2016. The Spix’s macaw is now maintained through a captive breeding program at several conservation organizations under the aegis of the Brazilian government. Less

The black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus ), also known as the golden-rumped lion tamarin, is a lion tamarin endemic to the Brazilian state of São Paulo, almost exclusively at the Morro do Diabo State Park. Its limited geographical range makes it the rarest of the New World monkeys, with little known about it. It was thought to be extinct for 65 years until its rediscovery in 1970.In 2016 an adult couple was found to the east, in the ...
Caetetus Ecological Station, after six years with no sightings.A 2020 assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that there was 1,600 individuals living in the wild, 1,200 of which are found in Morro do Diablo State Park. They are usually found in groups of 4 to 9, living in the secondary and primary forests along the circumference of its home range.On average, the black lion tamarin weighs 300–700 grams (11–25 oz). Less

The Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a small, endangered primate, endemic to the Atlantic coast of Brazil. It is a member of the family Callitrichidae. In spite of its name, this monkey isn't related to lions. Instead, this species is so called due to exhibiting a magnificent ring of hair that shines in the sun, resembling an elegant lion mane. Otherwise called 'Golden marmoset', this New World monkey is one of the 4 species of ...
lion tamarin and one of the world's rarest animals. The Golden lion tamarins have been an important part of local legends and fables. Less

The silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus ) is a New World monkey that lives in the eastern Amazon Rainforest in Brazil.The fur of the silvery marmoset is colored whitish silver-grey except for a dark tail. Remarkable are its naked, flesh-colored ears which stand out from the skin. They reach a size of 18 to 28 cm (7.1 to 11.0 in) and weigh from 300 to 400 g (11 to 14 oz).Silvery marmosets are diurnal and arboreal, using their claws to climb trees. Ori ...
ginally rain forest inhabitants, plantations have caused them to expand their range. They spend the night in tree hollows or in very close vegetation. They live together in small groups and mark their territory with scent glands, driving out intruders by shouting or by facial expressions (lowered brows and guarded lips).The diet of the silvery marmosets predominantly consists of tree sap. To a lesser extent, they also eat bird eggs, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates.After a 145-day gestation period, the female bears two (or rarely three) offspring. As is the case for many callitrichids, the father and the other group members take part with the raising of the offspring. Within six months the young are weaned, with full maturity coming at about two years of age.Studies show that Silvery Marmosets prefer secondary growth forests and edge growth forests due to some of the benefits that the habitat presents such as an abundance of insect prey and dense vegetation. Less

The rock cavy is a rodent species endemic to eastern Brazil, which has also been introduced to the Atlantic island of Fernando de Noronha. The rock cavy is called mocó in Brazilian Portuguese, and koriko pexerumen in the Xukuru language of Pernambuco, Brazil. Less

The blond capuchin (Sapajus flavius ) is a species of capuchin monkey endemic to northeastern Brazil. This endangered species was rediscovered in 2006. It can live in exceptionally large groups of over 150 individuals, and like other capuchin species, exhibits a complex and high level of sociality. It is threatened by loss of habitat due to agriculture, primarily sugarcane fields. In many cases this has caused sugarcane to make up a large ...
portion of their diet, which would otherwise consist of mostly fruit and small animals. The blond capuchin is known to inhabit both the Atlantic forest and Caatinga biomes, although the habitation of the Caatinga may be a recent choice caused by human encroachment into its former habitats. Like other primate species, the blond capuchin is also threatened by poaching and capture for the illegal pet trade. Less

The golden-bellied capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos ), also known as the yellow-breasted or buff-headed capuchin, is a species of New World or neotropical monkey. It lives mainly in trees and are omnivorous, eating a wide variety of both plant and animals as food. Golden-bellied capuchin normal home range is in the Atlantic forest of Brazil and it is critically endangered due to forest fragmentation and habitat loss mainly due to agriculture, ...
there are currently efforts to protect them by the local government. Less

The Golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis) is a highly venomous pit viper species native to Brazil. The species is named for the light yellowish-brown color of its underside and for its head shape that is characteristic of the genus Bothrops. It is one of the most venomous snakes in Latin America. Less

Atretochoana eiselti is a species of caecilian originally known only from two preserved specimens discovered by Sir Graham Hales in the Brazilian rainforest, while on an expedition with Sir Brian Doll in the late 1800s, but rediscovered in 2011 by engineers working on a hydroelectric dam project in Brazil. Until 1998, it was known only from the type specimen in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna. Originally placed in the genus Typhlonectes in ...
1968, it was reclassified into its own monotypic genus, Atretochoana, in 1996. It was also found to be more closely related to the genus Potamotyphlus than Typholonectes. The species is the largest of the few known lungless tetrapods, and the only known lungless caecilian. Less

The golden parakeet or golden conure, (Guaruba guarouba ), is a medium-sized golden-yellow Neotropical parrot native to the Amazon Basin of interior northern Brazil. It is the only species placed in the genus Guaruba.Its plumage is mostly bright yellow, hence its common name, but it also possesses green remiges. It lives in the drier, upland rainforests in Amazonian Brazil, and is threatened by deforestation and flooding, and also by the ...
now-illegal trapping of wild individuals for the pet trade. It is listed on CITES appendix I. Less

The jandaya parakeet or jenday conure (Aratinga jandaya ) is a small Neotropical parrot with green wings and tail, reddish-orange body, yellow head and neck, orange cheeks, and black bill, native to wooded habitats in northeastern Brazil. It is a member of the Aratinga solstitialis complex of parakeets very closely related to, and possibly subspecies of the sun parakeet.The bird has a wide range, but is locally rare in the wild; they are common ...
in aviculture, where they are known as "jenday conures". Less

The tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis ) is a species of cottontail rabbit. As traditionally defined, its range extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, but this includes several distinctive population that have since been split into separate species. Under this narrower definition, the true tapeti only occurs in the Atlantic Rainforest of coastal northeastern Brazil and it is classified as "Endangered" by the IUCN. The American Society ...
of Mammalogists concurs, but also tentatively classifies several distinct populations that have not yet received proper species names into S. brasiliensis, and thus considers it to range from Venezuela south to Argentina. Less

The Pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) is a Critically Endangered primate species found in a restricted area of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. It was named the mascot of Manaus, Brazil in 2005. Less

The green-thighed parrot (Pionites leucogaster ), also known as the eastern white-bellied parrot, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. The species was previously known as the white-bellied parrot (or white-bellied caique in aviculture) and contained three subspecies including the nominate race, but recent morphological work suggested the species should be split into three:green-thighed parrot or eastern white-bellied parrot ...
(Pionites leucogaster ) black-legged parrot or western white-bellied parrot (Pionites xanthomerius ) yellow-tailed parrot or central white-bellied parrot (Pionites xanthurus )The green-thighed parrot is found in humid forest and wooded habitats in the Amazon south of the Amazon River in Brazil. It is generally fairly common throughout its range and is easily seen in a wide range of protected areas, such as the Cristalino State Park (near Alta Floresta), Xingu National Park, and Amazônia National Park in Brazil. However, it is believed that deforestation in the Amazon will cause a rapid decline in population. Less

The Araguaian river dolphin or Araguaian boto (Inia araguaiaensis ) is a South American river dolphin population native to the Araguaia–Tocantins basin of Brazil. Less

The campo troupial or campo oriole (Icterus jamacaii ) is a species of bird in the family Icteridae that is found in northeastern Brazil. At one time thought to be conspecific with the Venezuelan troupial and orange-backed troupial, it is now accepted as a separate species. It is a fairly common bird and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as a "least-concern species". Less

Corythomantis greeningi, occasionally called Greening's frog, is a venomous frog species in the family Hylidae. Endemic to eastern Brazil, it lives in Caatinga habitat. It is usually situated on vegetation, including in bromeliads, and on rock outcrops. Breeding occurs in temporary streams. Although suffering from habitat loss, it is not considered threatened by the IUCN. The specific name greeningi was in honour of Linnaeus Greening ...
(1855-1927), an English businessman and naturalist known for his work on arachnids, reptiles and amphibians. Less

The Noronha skink (Trachylepis atlantica ) is a species of skink from the island of Fernando de Noronha off northeastern Brazil. It is covered with dark and light spots on the upperparts and is usually about 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) in length. The tail is long and muscular, but breaks off easily. Very common throughout Fernando de Noronha, it is an opportunistic feeder, eating both insects and plant material, including nectar from the Erythrina v ...
elutina tree, as well as other material ranging from cookie crumbs to eggs of its own species. Introduced predators such as feral cats prey on it and several parasitic worms infect it.Perhaps seen by Amerigo Vespucci in 1503, it was first formally described in 1839. Its subsequent taxonomic history has been complex, riddled with confusion with Trachylepis maculata and other species, homonyms, and other problems. The species is classified in the otherwise mostly African genus Trachylepis and is thought to have reached its island from Africa by rafting. The enigmatic Trachylepis tschudii, supposedly from Peru, may well be the same species. Less

The blue-bellied parrot or purple-bellied parrot (Triclaria malachitacea ) is the only species in its genus. It is generally considered endemic to the humid Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, but there are two unconfirmed records from Misiones in Argentina. It occurs up to 1000 m. (3300 ft).It is a relatively long-tailed parrot with a total length of c. 28 cm. (11 in). It is green overall and the beak is whitish. Only the male has the blu ...
ish-purple patch on the belly for which this species is named. It has a whistled call and pairs will sing in duet, but it is typically fairly quiet and therefore easily overlooked.It has been recorded feeding on seeds, fruits, flower buds, nectar and some insects. The nest is placed in the cavity of a large tree or palm. It nests between September (October in Rio Grande do Sul) and January. The pair is highly territorial during the breeding season.Much of the original forest cover in its range has been removed in favour of cultivated crops like tobacco and bananas. Now mostly restricted to remnant forest strips on slopes and ridges, which cover far less than 10% of the original range. Previously, it was believed that 5,000–10,000 birds survived, but recent evidence suggests that c. 10,000 survive in the state of Rio Grande do Sul alone. Significant populations also exists in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, but population estimates for these are not available. Regardless, numbers are dwindling throughout its range due to further habitat changes. The cage-bird trade is not considered a major threat at this point, as only a small number are captured for the local market, but nevertheless fair numbers reached the Netherlands in the 1970-1980s. It occurs in 14 protected areas. Less

The black-striped capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus ), also known as the bearded capuchin, is a New World monkey in the family Cebidae. They can be found in northern and central Brazil. These capuchins mostly live in dry forests, and savannah landscapes between the Rio Araguaia and the Rio Grande. Known for its tool use, the black-stiped capuchin has been shown to use tools in a wide variety of situations, ranging from using rocks for nut cracking ...
to using sticks for digging. They were, until recently, considered a subfamily of the tufted capuchin, but because of more research and insights, they are considered their own species by many.They often live in highly social groups ranging from 6-20 individuals. Females are philopatric, show coalition, and linear dominance hierarchy. Females reach sexual maturity around 5 years of age and give birth about every 24 months to a single infant. Less

The vulturine parrot (Pyrilia vulturina ), not to be confused with Pesquet's parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus ), is a Neotropical parrot, which is endemic to humid forest and adjacent habitats in the eastern Amazon of Brazil. Less

The blue-eyed ground dove (Columbina cyanopis ) is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Cerrado region of Brazil. Less

The white-collared kite (Leptodon forbesi ) is a South American raptor. It is endemic to northeastern Brazil. Less

The grey-breasted parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus ) is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to Ceará in north-eastern Brazil and restricted to a few mountains with relatively humid forest and woodland in a region otherwise dominated by arid Caatinga. They now only live in two locations, Serra do Baturité and Quixadá.Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of the white-eared parakeet, as Pyrrhura leucotis gr ...
iseipectus. The split was based on their widely disjunct distributions, differences in measurement of bill, and subtle differences in colour of crown, ear-coverts and chest. A recent study based on mtDNA has failed to confirm the status of the grey-breasted parakeet as a species distinct from the white-eared parakeet, while confirming the species status of Pfrimer's parakeet.After a decade of conservation efforts that included providing nest boxes, the population has seen a significant increase in size from less than 250 to upwards of 1,000 individuals. In 2017, the species was down-listed on the IUCN Red List from Critically Endangered to Endangered. Less

The red-cowled cardinal (Paroaria dominicana ) is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).It is endemic to Brazil. It occurs in a wide range of dry to semi-humid open to semi-open habitats in north-eastern Brazil, especially the Caatinga region. It has been introduced (probably by means of escaped caged individuals) to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, being locally ...
common even in urban areas. Less

The Atlantic royal flycatcher (Onychorhynchus swainsoni ) is a passerine bird in the family Tityridae according to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). It is endemic to Brazil. Less

The red-billed curassow or red-knobbed curassow (Crax blumenbachii ) is an endangered species of cracid that is endemic to lowland Atlantic Forest in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia and Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. Its population is decreasing due to hunting and deforestation, and it has possibly been extirpated from Minas Gerais. It is currently being reintroduced to Rio de Janeiro by means of individuals bred in captivity. As ...
suggested by its common name, the male has a largely red bill, but this is lacking in the female. Less

The red-necked aracari, or red-necked araçari (Pteroglossus bitorquatus ), is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans, toucanets, aracaris, etc.It is found in Bolivia and Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. Less

The diademed amazon (Amazona diadema ) is a parrot in the family Psittacidae formerly considered conspecific with the red-lored amazon (Amazona autumnalis ). Amazona diadema is restricted to the state of Amazonas in north-western Brazil. Less

Kawall's amazon (Amazona kawalli ), also known as the white-faced amazon, white-cheeked amazon or Kawall's parrot, is a relatively large species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to the south-central Amazon. After not having been recorded in the wild for around 70 years, the species was rediscovered in the 1980s. Less

The dwarf tinamou (Taoniscus nanus ) also known as the least tinamou, is a small, superficially partridge-like bird with short tail and wings. Less

The Brazilian ruby (Clytolaema rubricauda ) is a species of hummingbird in the "brilliants", tribe Heliantheini in subfamily Lesbiinae. It is endemic to Brazil. Less

The Caatinga parakeet (Eupsittula cactorum ) or cactus parakeet or Cactus conure is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to the Caatinga region in north-eastern Brazil.The Caatinga Parakeet is a parakeet that is found in the regions of Cerrado and Caatinga regions. Due to the environment that the Caatinga Parakeet live in their diet mainly consists of dryland vegetation of the regions of Caatinga. These Parakeets are ...
often sold as pets in markets or are illegally traded across the countries and in the regions. The Caatinga Parakeet is a colorful bird. Both male and female birds are generally a green and yellow avian. The immature parakeet is generally paler than their mature counterparts. Their head, face, and chest area are a brown color while their abdominal regions are orange and the tail is tipped with blue. Less

The golden-crowned manakin (Lepidothrix vilasboasi ) is a small species of perching bird in the manakin family (Pipridae). It is endemic to the south-central Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, and it is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Santarém parakeet (Pyrrhura amazonum ), also known as Hellmayr's parakeet or in aviculture as Hellmayr's conure or the Santarém conure, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is found in the eastern and central sections of the Amazon basin south of the Amazon River, only just extending onto the northern bank of this river. Less

The yellow-legged tinamou (Crypturellus noctivagus ) is a species of tinamou found in wooded and shrubby habitats in tropical and subtropical eastern Brazil. This superficially quail-like bird has a grey-brown plumage and two easily separated subspecies. It has declined due to human activities, and is therefore listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Less

The green-crowned plovercrest (Stephanoxis lalandi ) is a species of hummingbird. It is endemic to Brazil, where it has a large range but is considered to be uncommon. Like most if not all hummingbirds, their diet consists of arthropods and nectar, and males will form leks with other males in order to attract females. Less

The biscutate swift (Streptoprocne biscutata ) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae. It is found in Brazil and Paraguay.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest. Less

The Belem curassow (Crax fasciolata pinima ) is a highly endangered subspecies of curassow endemic to Brazil. It is known as the Mytunxî in the Tupi language, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and BirdLife International have described it as a separate species since 2014, though some authorities including the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) still consider it a subspecies. This bird is critically endangered as ...
its highly limited range is located within the most deforested part of Amazonia. As with its relative, the Alagoas curassow, it was considered extinct in the wild (albeit with only five individuals in captivity) for many years due to most of its vital habitat being destroyed. However, the species was still listed as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as suitable though very scant habitat remained. After over 40 years of no confirmed wild records, a research team with the assistance of Pirahã guides managed to rediscover several in the Gurupi Biological Reserve in December 2017. A recording of the birds' alarm calls was also taken and posted online. Less

The sombre hummingbird (Eupetomena cirrochloris ) is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and heavily degraded former forest.This hummingbird was formerly placed in the genus Aphantochroa but based primarily on a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014, Aphantochroa has been merged into Eupetomena. Less

The Alagoas antwren (Myrmotherula snowi ) is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae. It is endemic to Brazil. Less