The biodiversity of the Amazon is a fascinating enigma. Various compelling hypotheses attribute this diversity to factors such as time, climate, and even the evolution of the Andes. The AMERICAS Project – AMazon Evolution driven by RIver CApture eventS – introduces an additional hypothesis: that historical alterations in the configuration of Amazonian rivers may have served as a breeding ground for aquatic species in the Amazon. Fish, for instance, which inhabit these waterways, are passively relocated when changes occur in the interconnection of rivers. It’s akin to altering the railway track without notifying the passengers. According to evolutionary theories, this scenario is a perfect recipe for the emergence of new species. Crucially, these changes leave imprints in both the landscapes and the DNA of fish. The AMERICAS project aims to investigate these records to determine the significance of this mechanism in the Amazon and, consequently, its impact on the evolution of life overall.