What color is the Amazon? Most people will tell you it’s overwhelmingly green, and they aren’t wrong — between vines, leaves, waterlilies, tree frogs, and the feathers of parrots, the rainforest is filled with almost every shade of green you could think of.
When you take it all in at once, it’s a magnificent sight. However, when you take the time to look closely at each individual shade, you’ll discover that the beauty of the Amazon is far more multifaceted than you could have imagined.
Here’s a look at 51 of the rainforest’s most striking green shades as found on the plants and animals that call it home.
1. Red-Lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis)
The red-lored Amazon is a smallish parrot that nests in tree cavities. It’s also a popular pet. While many of these birds live in the Amazon, they also tend to adapt very well to habitats that have been disturbed by human development. There are even feral colonies in some cities as far north as California.
2. Giant Amazon Water Lily (Victoria amazonica)
These huge, strikingly beautiful waterlilies are named for Queen Victoria. Each leaf can have a diameter of up to 10 feet, and when the plants bloom, you can see delicate pink or white flowers. The massive leaves of this waterlily can support even large animals — like crocodiles — that might want to rest in the sun for a moment. Some individual leaves can support nearly 500 pounds!
3. Emerald Glass Frog (Centrolene prosoblepon)
Many of the green shades in the Amazon are deep and saturated. But some, like the color of the emerald glass frog shown above, are closer to celery or spring green. Like other glass frogs, the emerald glass frog has a surprising feature you might not know about. Because of green bile salts in its body, even its bones are green!
4. Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra)
There are many tree species colloquially called “kapok trees.” This variety is native to the Amazon, and it’s one of the world’s largest trees. Its trunk is often around 10 feet in diameter, and it can be 240 feet tall or more. Kapok trees are important for the overall health of the rainforest, and they’re useful to humans as well. The pollen and nectar the tree produces are food sources for bees, hummingbirds, and other animals. Its seed pods produce a cotton-like fiber that can be used as a filling for mattresses and pillows, and it’s also used by some Amazonian tribes to make blowguns.
5. Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)
Various species of kingfisher can be found all over the world, but few of them have the deeply intriguing, metallic green coloration of the Amazon kingfisher. Like other kingfishers, this bird dives into the water to catch fish, and you can often see it hovering in the air as it looks for potential prey.
6. Astrocaryum Palm Tree
There are lots of different species of Astrocaryum palms in the rainforest, and to the untrained eye, many of them look the same. All of them are beautiful, though! They’re also some of the most iconic plants in the Amazon, and they’re a fantastic source of income for many local people. These trees produce a highly durable fiber that can be used to make nets, hammocks, and even various kinds of textiles.
7. Northern Caiman Lizard (Dracaena guianensis)
The name of this uniquely prehistoric-looking lizard is somewhat confusing — it is not a caiman (an animal related to alligators and crocodiles). It’s more closely related to tegus, which are similarly bulky lizards. The bright green body of the northern caiman can help it camouflage in the rainforest environment. It has an extremely strong jaw because it primarily eats snails, and watching a northern caiman lizard enjoy a meal is truly a sight to behold. This colorful lizard will capture a snail in its jaws, throw its head back, and crush it with its powerful back teeth. It then spits out pieces of the shell!
8. Keel-Billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)
The keel-billed toucan is probably one of the rainforest’s most iconic animals. Though it’s just one bird, its body is a rainbow of colors, and its beak is the most colorful of all. Between fresh leafy green, vivid orange, sky blue, and blood red, the toucan’s beak looks as if it’s been painted by an artist.
9. Malachite Butterfly (Siproeta stelenes)
Butterflies across the world are known for their bright and beautiful coloration. Green is a somewhat uncommon shade in the butterfly world, and that makes the malachite butterfly that much more extraordinary. It’s named for malachite, a mineral with a similarly brilliant green coloration. As you might imagine, when set against the backdrop of the rainforest, this butterfly could be easily mistaken for a pattern of light and shadow falling across a leaf. However, when it’s resting on red clay soil like the butterfly above, you can truly appreciate its brilliance!
10. Flaming Sword (Vriesea splendens)
This striking plant is a bromeliad, or a relative of the pineapple. It has bright, waxy green leaves, but most people recognize it for its brilliantly bright, sword-like flowers. While it’s native to the Amazon, it’s kept as a houseplant all over the world.
11. Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii)
This unusual-looking bird is hard to miss. Its reddish head and breast are almost complementary to its green back and wings, and its bluish tail makes it look like something out of a rainbow. While you won’t find it in the densest part of the Amazon, it’s often spotted nesting along rivers and streams.
12. Açaí Palm (Euterpe oleracea)
Açaí berries have earned a reputation as a superfood in recent decades, but did you know they originated in the Amazon? They can still be found in the rainforest, but they’ve also become a widely cultivated commercial crop in the region and beyond.
13. Orchid Bee (Euglossini)
When most people think of bees, they picture the fuzzy black and yellow bumblebee. However, bees come in a wide range of colors. The brilliant, metallic green orchid bee is especially memorable. Not all orchid bees are green — there are many different species in the Euglossini tribe, and some of them are gold, blue, or other metallic shades.
14. Waxy-Monkey Tree Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor)
It only takes one look at this unusual tree frog to understand how it got its name. Its coloration lets it easily camouflage in the forest, but during mating season, that camouflage doesn’t always do much good. Males tend to have loud, vocal fights that make them very easy for predators to find.
15. Tucunaré Peacock Bass (Cichla temensis)
Not all colorful animals in the Amazon live on land. There are many species of fish in the Amazon River, and as a result, the river has become a popular sport fishing destination. The speckled peacock bass is one of the most popular gamefish. Its coloration can vary considerably, but many adults are a mix of olive green and gold.
16. Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
The spectacled caiman is a relative of the crocodile and can often be seen along the banks of the Amazon River or resting on the massive leaves of giant water lilies. Some individuals have a blackish-brown coloration, but others, like the one in the picture, are a dull, mossy green.
17. Liana Vines
A liana is not a species or family of plant. The name instead denotes a specific style of plant growth. A liana is a sturdy, woody vine that reaches sunlight by climbing trees, and the lianas in the Amazon are what give it its iconically dense appearance. However, these vines are also an essential part of the ecosystem — they form a sort of “highway” for countless species of animals to travel along.
18. Brazilian Cicada (Carineta diardi)
Some cicadas are more colorful than others, and this one is reminiscent of a strand of Christmas lights! Between its green-lined wings and its colorful spots of red and green, it’s easily one of the world’s brightest cicadas.
19. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
While the giant anaconda isn’t the longest snake in the world (that honor goes to the reticulated python), it is the heaviest and largest. Its color is sometimes described as a “dull” green, but as you can see, its shine is magnificent!
20. Mahogany Tree (Swietenia macrophylla)
Beautiful, tall mahogany trees are a fixture in the Amazon, but they’ve steadily become rarer. There’s a worldwide consumer demand for mahogany furniture, and because the wood of the tree creates a warm, rich tone when used for guitars and other musical instruments, it’s also harvested for this purpose. Unfortunately, while there are legal protections in place to conserve the mahogany trees in the Amazon, it’s estimated that 80% of mahogany on the market is the result of illegal logging.
21. Charapa Turtle (Podocnemis cayennensis)
Some of the most captivating shades of green in the Amazon can be found in the tiniest details. Charapa turtles might not be the most colorful creatures, but as you can see in the picture, they have the most beautiful emerald-green eyes in the animal kingdom!
22. Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos)
Every illustration of the Amazon includes massive green leaves, and the leaves of the giant taro are among the most recognizable. Interestingly enough, while its sap will irritate your skin if you come into contact with it, the giant taro plant is edible if you cook it for a very long time.
23. Condoto Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus spurrelli)
At first glance, the striking green and black pattern on the Condoto stubfoot toad might make it look like a poison dart frog. However, even though it doesn’t have the traditional “warty” appearance associated with most toads, it’s very much a toad.
24. Red-and-Green Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
Even people who aren’t very familiar with bird species will usually be able to associate a macaw with the rainforest. Scarlet macaws are probably the most recognizable, but the red-and-green macaw is a close second. The birds in the picture are visiting a “clay lick,” where they chew and eat red clay. Scientists believe they might do this to help neutralize the toxins they consume as part of their diet.
25. Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
Much of the rubber used today is synthetic, but the real thing comes from the rubber tree. These trees are still grown on commercial plantations, where they are “tapped” for rubber. A vessel in the tree is damaged, allowing the rubber to leak out and be collected.
26. Surinam Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta)
The Surinam horned frog comes in a wide variety of colors, from verdant green to deep burnt orange. It’s one of the species sometimes nicknamed “Pacman frogs” because its round shape and very wide mouth make it look a lot like the video game character Pacman.
27. Blue-Headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)
These cute, colorful birds are native to the Amazon, but they also make great pets. While they can be vocal, they’re quieter than most parrots, and when they’re raised around people, they tend to be very affectionate toward their owners.
28. Wild Poinsettia (Warszewiczia coccinea)
This pretty evergreen tree is famous for its red flowers. Although it can be found growing in the wild, it’s also cultivated widely as an ornamental plant.
29. Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
In certain lights, the green ibis looks almost black. However, when it’s in the sunlight, its green-bronze iridescence is unmistakable. It can often be found wading in shallow water, hunting for fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals.
30. Lobster-Claw Plant (Heliconia)
This colorful plant is most famous for its flowers. However, as you can see, its leaves are striking in their own right. Their ridged, waxy surface creates a great backdrop for its eye-catching, claw-like flowers.
31. Katydid
There are many, many different genera of katydids in the Amazon, and unless you’re an expert, it can be difficult to tell them apart. However, they do have something in common — they’re excellent leaf mimics! Some, like the one above, look just like living leaves, but others have spots, oddly shaped wings, and other features that make them look like dead plant matter.
32. Green Aracari (Pteroglossus viridis)
The green aracari is a type of toucan, and like many toucans, it has an incredible variety of colors. The cooler-leaning greens of its body form a beautiful complement to the warmer shades on its face and beak.
33. Red Flowering Ant Tree (Triplaris americana)
You might wonder why this striking tree is known as an “ant tree.” The name comes from the fact that venomous ants live inside it. They get their food from the tree, and in return, they protect it by attacking anything that disturbs (or sometimes even touches) the tree.
34. Green-and-Gold Tanager (Tangara schrankii)
Tanagers come in all kinds of fantastic colors, and the bright green and yellow of its feathers make the green-and-gold tanager a standout. The black and green pattern on its back helps it stay hidden in the rainforest’s dense foliage.
35. White-Lined Leaf Frog (Phyllomedusa vaillantii)
As you might guess, most frogs in the Amazon must be mostly or entirely green to camouflage effectively. The vivid green of the white-lined leaf frog’s body almost perfectly matches the color of many rainforest plants.
36. Banana Tree (Musa spp.)
The banana tree is known the world over for its delicious fruit and giant leaves. And as you can see, younger bananas are sometimes green enough to match the plant’s leaves.
37. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
The iguana is another of the Amazon’s more familiar faces. It’s common in the wild and as a pet, but replicating the temperature and humidity conditions it needs to thrive can be a challenge for keepers.
38. Peruvian Booted Racket-Tail Hummingbird (Ocreatus underwoodii peruanus)
All hummingbirds are cute, but this one is especially so — it even has little buff boots! It’s also one of the most brilliantly green animals on the list, as most of its body is a glittering emerald green.
39. Green Thornytail Iguana (Uracentron azureum)
Between its neon-green coloring and highly distinctive pattern, this little lizard is hard to forget. It only reaches about 3.5 inches in length (excluding the tail), and its diet is made up mostly of ants.
40. Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes spp.)
Pitcher plants might be pretty, but they’re a death trap for insects! Insects are drawn to the nectar-filled “pitchers,” but they soon become trapped and digested by the plant.
41. Camu Camu (Myrciaria dubia)
Like many Amazon plants, the camu camu tree has evergreen leaves. Its fruit has recently begun being harvested for commercial purposes, and it’s especially popular in Japan.
42. Fringed Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus)
This cute leaf frog is a pretty, mint-like shade of green, but it isn’t always that color. At night, it turns a deep shade of burgundy. This darker coloring doesn’t reflect light as easily, helping the frog stay hidden.
43. Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
It isn’t hard to see where the name of the vividly striped zebra plant comes from! Like many of the stunning plants in the Amazon, this one has also been domesticated and is grown all over the world.
44. Green-Banded Urania (Urania leilus)
Most people imagine moths as dull, brownish creatures. So it might come as a surprise that the green-banded urania is actually a moth! It flies during the day and can be spotted both in the rainforest and along riverbanks.
45. Green Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus)
The green vine snake is especially adept at camouflage, largely because it looks a lot like a vine itself. Although its venom is extremely toxic to small animals, it has a minimal effect on humans.
46. Balsa Tree (Ochroma pyramidale)
The balsa tree is one of the Amazon region’s most important commercial crops. That’s largely because its wood, which is lightweight, strong, and workable, is useful across a wide range of industries. It’s used in building boats, surfboards, and model planes, and it’s even used to create “breakaway” doors and props for TV.
47. Zimmerman’s Poison Frog (Dendrodates variabilis)
Poison dart frogs are some of the most colorful creatures in the Amazon, but many of them are red, yellow, and other hot colors. The soft sage-green and teal pattern of Zimmerman’s poison frog is certainly a departure.
48. Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis)
Some birds are so brightly colored they don’t look real, and the paradise tanager is one. Its neon green mask might look unnaturally bright, but it’s just an extra-vivid feature of the bird’s authentic plumage.
49. Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
The red-eyed tree frog is one of the most iconic rainforest creatures of all. With red eyes, orange toes, a green body, and blue and yellow markings, it includes nearly every color of the rainbow!
50. Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
Like water lilies, water lettuce makes a beautiful sight as it floats along atop the water. The name might make you think it’s edible, and it technically is. However, its large concentration of calcium oxalate makes it taste unpleasantly bitter.
51. Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
Many animals in the Amazon have evolved to be just as brilliantly green as the foliage. The emerald tree boa is a great example. These snakes can vary somewhat in color — some are a warm-tinted yellowish green, and others are shades of deeper, cooler-leaning emerald like the snake in the picture.
