About Amazonia
The Amazon River stretches more than 4,000 miles. The tropical rainforest of its watershed is home to millions of species of plants and animals, making it the planet's most diverse ecosystem.
The Zoo is home to an Amazonia Exhibit and animals from Amazonia, as well as many animals from other parts of South America.
Young Giant Anteater Relocated
Cyrano, the Zoo's male giant anteater born in March 2009, is growing up. He was weaned months ago and is now living in a different area of the Zoo from his mother. 
Find out about his move in the latest keeper update.
This is only the second anteater to be born here in the Zoo's 121-year history.
A Zoo First: Strawberry Dart Frogs Hatch at Amazonia
A story of creation is unfolding in the National Zoo's Amazonia exhibit and it involves a mammoth amount of attention and loving care by one of the Amazon’s smallest amphibians. For the first time in its history, the Zoo has bred strawberry dart frogs, which are known primarily for their vibrant colors and poisonous skin. These frogs also stand out among others because of their dedication to their young as they undergo metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to frog.
Twig Catfish Eggs Hatch
In mid-November, dozens of twig catfish eggs hatched in an off-exhibit area at Amazonia. About a week earlier, the female laid a single layer of 30 to 60 transparent eggs on the glass of the animals’ aquarium. The male then assumed all responsibility for guarding the eggs. By day three or four, the embryos within were visible and moving. Read more.
Spectacled Bear Update
The Zoo's spectacled bears are currently on exhibit only on weekends because of construction on an adjacent exhibit.
Learn more.
Can’t see any animals?
Watching Amazon river fishes:
Here is a glimpse into the rich and vibrant underwater life of the Amazon. When the large, serpent-like arapaima swims past the camera, you will get a close-up look at one of the largest freshwater fish in the world reaching up to ten feet in length and weighing 300 pounds. Red-tailed catfish, black pacus, and other fish share this 27,000-gallon aquarium below a living tropical forest.
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Amazonia photo gallery
Amazonia Exhibit
The Zoo's Amazonia Exhibit leads visitors into the realm of the Amazon River Basin, where
giant arapaima, pacu, red-tailed catfish, and piranhas swim
in shallow water, and poison arrow frogs, titi monkeys, tanagers, and a two-toed sloth inhabit the world above.
Living kapok, avocado, and cocoa trees spread their roots
in this enclosed tropical habitat. 
Take an audio tour of the exhibit.
Adjacent to the exhibit, the Amazonia Science Gallery offers a glimpse into the scientific research Zoo staff conduct in the lab and in the field.
Tropical Wildlife at the Zoo
Elsewhere in the Zoo are golden lion tamarins, native to Brazilian tropical forest, which have been saved from extinction by Zoo conservationists. Golden Lion Tamarin Program
Leaf-cutter ants, Cuban crocodiles, and two species of bats hail from tropical and subtropical forests in the Americas. And, many of our familiar North American breeding birds spend the winter in these forests. Migratory Bird Center
Beyond Amazonia
Tropical forest also covers parts of Central and West Africa, home to western lowland gorillas and pygmy hippos, and the site of a major biodiversity study in Gabon, and Madagascar, home to lemurs.
In Asia,
elephants, tigers, clouded leopards, orangutans, gibbons,
Eld's deer, gharial, and many other Zoo species live
in tropical forests. Asia
Trail
Sometimes people are surprised to learn that rainforest does not blanket all of South America. Large expanses of this continent are grasslands, home to capybara, maned wolves, maras, and seriemas, among other species found at the Zoo.
