KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of the Atlantic Forests of South America

Brazil · Paraguay · Argentina

Ahe Atlantic Forests of South America is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 14,215 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

Bahia coastal and Alto Paraná Atlantic forests

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola2,450
  2. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus1,877
  3. Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas1,549
  4. Crested Caracara Caracara plancus1,485
  5. Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta1,468
  6. Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca1,400
  7. Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus1,382
  8. Chalk-browed Mockingbird Mimus saturninus1,235
  9. Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis1,224
  10. Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia1,215

Plants

  1. Cuban Buttercup Turnera subulata390
  2. Upright airplant Tillandsia stricta317
  3. Paraná Araucaria Araucaria angustifolia294
  4. Mile-a-minute vine Ipomoea cairica285
  5. Bitter Melon Momordica charantia281
  6. Tillandsia geminiflora279
  7. Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolia275
  8. Butterfly ginger lily Hedychium coronarium270
  9. Madagascar Periwinkle Catharanthus roseus244
  10. Tropical milkweed Asclepias curassavica240

Mammals

  1. Black capuchin Sapajus nigritus1,004
  2. Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris988
  3. Brazilian Squirrel Sciurus brasiliensis657
  4. Big-eared Opossum Didelphis aurita650
  5. Geoffroy’s Tufted-ear Marmoset Callithrix geoffroyi622
  6. South American Coati Nasua nasua508
  7. Crab-eating Fox Cerdocyon thous338
  8. Black-tufted-ear Marmoset Callithrix penicillata317
  9. Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus299
  10. White-eared Opossum Didelphis albiventris295

Insects

  1. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera1,301
  2. White Peacock Anartia jatrophae921
  3. Gulf Fritillary Dione vanillae748
  4. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis669
  5. Black Witch Ascalapha odorata659
  6. Orcus Checkered-Skipper Burnsius orcus644
  7. Narrow Stingless Bee Tetragonisca angustula640
  8. Red Postman Heliconius erato609
  9. Red Peacock Anartia amathea605
  10. Hairy Darkling Beetle Lagria villosa604

Spiders and kin

  1. Silver Garden Orbweaver Argiope argentata1,631
  2. Gray Wall Jumping Spider Menemerus bivittatus1,436
  3. African Hermit Spider Nephilingis cruentata1,392
  4. Golden Silk Spider Trichonephila clavipes995
  5. Adanson's House Jumper Hasarius adansoni536
  6. Brown Widow Latrodectus geometricus491
  7. Corythalia conferta437
  8. Red House Spider Nesticodes rufipes431
  9. Spinybacked Orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis372
  10. Lycosa erythrognatha362

Reptiles

  1. Argentine Black-and-white Tegu Salvator merianae1,065
  2. Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia899
  3. Amazon Lava Lizard Tropidurus torquatus549
  4. Yarará Lancehead Bothrops jararaca540
  5. Giant Ameiva Ameiva ameiva340
  6. Boa Constrictor Boa constrictor313
  7. Broad-snouted Caiman Caiman latirostris211
  8. Military Ground Snake Erythrolamprus miliaris177
  9. Lichtenstein's Green Racer Philodryas olfersii159
  10. Neotropical Rattlesnake Crotalus durissus155

Amphibians

  1. Cururu Toad Rhinella diptycha554
  2. Yellow Cururu Toad Rhinella icterica497
  3. Blacksmith Tree Frog Boana faber471
  4. Striped Toad Rhinella crucifer302
  5. Ornate Forest toad Rhinella ornata283
  6. White-edged Tree Frog Boana albomarginata267
  7. Fuscous-blotched Snouted Tree Frog Scinax fuscovarius253
  8. Elegant Forest Tree Frog Dendropsophus elegans238
  9. Bahia Smooth-horned Frog Proceratophrys boiei225
  10. Semi-lined Tree Frog Boana semilineata205

Mollusks

  1. African Giant Snail Lissachatina fulica600
  2. Asian Tramp Snail Bradybaena similaris335
  3. Megalobulimus dryades132
  4. Bulimulus tenuissimus130

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.