Despite being much smaller compared to its northern counterpart, South America has quite the variety to offer in terms of biodiversity, with almost 50% of that of the entire world. The continent has several unique species that evolved over the years due to its relative isolation, including sloths, capybaras, tapirs, and over 450 species of reptiles.
Most of the species living in South America are found in the Amazon rainforest or the Andes Mountains. For instance, jaguars and capybaras are commonly seen in the Amazon rainforest, while llamas and spectacled bears live in the Andes.
List of Animals living in South America
Mammals
- Alpaca
- Angora Goat
- Black Squirrel Monkey
- Capuchin Monkey
- Capybara
- Chinchilla
- Collared Peccary
- Cotton-top Tamarin
- Cougar
- Darwin’s Fox
- Emperor Tamarin
- Flying Squirrel
- Fruit Bat
- Geoffrey’s Tamarin
- Giant Anteater
- Giant Armadillo
- Giant Otter
- Golden Lion Tamarin
- Gray Fox
- Guanaco
- Guinea Pig
- Howler Monkey
- Jaguar
- Kinkajou
- Kodkod
- Llama
- Maned Wolf
- Ocelot
- Patagonian Mara
- Pied Tamarin
- Pink Fairy Armadillo
- Pink River Dolphin
- Red-handed Tamarin
- South American Coati
- South American Tapir
- Spectacled Bear
- Three-toed Sloth
- Two-toed Sloth
- Vampire Bat
- Vicuña
- Viscacha
- White-faced Capuchin
Birds
- Andean Condor
- Avocet
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Blue Footed Booby
- Burrowing Owl
- Elegant Tern
- Galapagos Finch
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Potoo
- Harpy Eagle
- Harris Hawk
- Hepatic Tanager
- Humboldt Penguin
- Jacana
- Keel-billed Toucan
- Killdeer
- King Vulture
- Macaw
- Night Heron
- Parrotlet
- Roseate Spoonbill
- Royal Flycatcher
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Toco Toucan
- Umbrellabird
Reptiles
- Amazon Tree Boa
- Aruba Rattlesnake
- Basilisk Lizard
- Black Caiman
- Blind Snake
- Bolivian Anaconda
- Bushmaster Snake
- Caiman Lizard
- Cascabel
- Cat-eyed Snake
- Chicken Snake
- Coachwhip Snake
- Dwarf Boa
- Emerald Tree Boa
- Eyelash Viper
- False Coral Snake
- False Water Cobra
- Galapagos Giant Tortoise
- Golden Lancehead
- Green Anaconda
- Hognose Snake
- Marine Iguana
- Mussurana Sanke
- Orinoco Crocodile
- Parrot Snake
- Pipe Snake
- Rainbow Boa
- South American Rattlesnake
- Terciopelo
Amphibians
- Cane Toad
- Horned Frog
- Leopard Frog
- Lemur Leaf Frog
- Red-eyed Tree Frog
- Scrotum Frog
Fish
- Arapaima
- Armored Catfish
- Banjo Catfish
- Blue-eyed Pleco
- Cory Catfish
- Dusky Shark
- Electric Eel
- Freshwater Eel
- Galapagos Shark
- Platinum Arowana
- Polka-dot Stingray
- Red-bellied Piranha
- Sheepshead Fish
Insects
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Witch Moth
- Blue Morpho Butterfly
- Bullet Ant
- Clothes Moth
- Codling Moth
- Kissing Bug
Invertebrates
- Amazonian Giant Centipede
- Black Widow Spider
- Brazilian Wandering Spider
- Dinosaur Shrimp
- Fiddler Crab
Threats faced by Animals native in South America
As per the IUCN, almost 30% of the species in South America are classified as “Endangered” or “EN” or higher. For instance, the Galapagos giant tortoise is classified as “Critically Endangered” or “CR”, while the Lemur leaf frog is similarly categorized. The threats these animals face include deforestation and a loss of habitat, with further encroachment by locals into their territory.
FAQs
Q. What is the largest animal native to South America? A. The South American tapir; it weighs over 660 lbs.
Q. What are the most dangerous animals living in South America? A. Amazonian giant centipede, green anaconda, black caiman, bullet ant, Brazilian wandering spider, etc.
