Among the most beautiful and intriguing animals I saw in those documentaries were the species endemic to South America. See, the southern part of this gigantic continent features an immense variety of unique flora and fauna, and the lifestyles of these organisms provides unparalleled insights into the workings of nature. So you can get an idea of the beauty and charm found throughout this region, here are 10 animal species you didn’t know are native to South America.
Pigmy Marmoset
Meet the smallest monkey in the world. This adorable tiny species lives in the western Amazon Basin and weighs barely 100 grams (3.5 oz) on average, measuring a mere 117 mm in length. That’s truly small. The pigmy marmoset is often found in forested areas near rivers, and, as a gummivore, feeds almost exclusively on tree sap.
Andean Condor
Talking about record sizes, here’s the largest flying bird in the world, the Andean condor. If you combine both wingspan and weight, this condor beats even the famous wandering albatross for sheer size, though it has slightly smaller wings. The Andean condor is basically a giant black vulture who scavenges on the large carcasses of deer or cattle. It’s also one of the birds that live the longest, with a lifespan that can exceed 70 years. Its magnificence makes it a national symbol of several nations along the Andes, including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Spectacled Bear
Also known as the Andean bear, this beautiful short-faced species is the last of its kind. It is the only bear native to South America, found mostly in the Northwest of that region. It is technically a carnivore, although less than 10% of its diet actually consists of meat, so, it’s pretty harmless in that regard. That doesn’t mean it can’t pose a threat when it’s threatened, though, so don’t get any ideas. Also, did you know Paddington Bear, the famous children’s character, is a spectacled bear?
Golden Lion Tamarin
South American monkey species are particularly small. The golden lion tamarin, or golden marmoset, is just another example of that. It is native to the coastal forests of Brazil, but due to illegal logging, poaching, mining, industrialization, urbanization, and habitat loss, it is now considered endangered.
Piranha
This freshwater fish is a thing of legend, to say the least. Its sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and propensity to eat flesh and meat have made it an object of fascination in many monster-related myths around the world ever since their discovery. The red-bellied piranha is particularly idealized as a monster that can consume an entire human being in a matter of seconds—a gross exaggeration, of course: it takes at least a couple of minutes for that to happen… (just kidding).
Caiman
Caimans are closely related to alligators, but differ in minor details, like the snout and tooth shape. They live in the marshes, rivers, and lakes of South and Central America, and are relatively small when compared to other crocodilians. They eat mostly fish and small mammals, birds, or other reptiles. And they are preyed on extensively by humans, who hunt them mostly for their skin. Yeah, humans can sure suck sometimes.
Amazon River Dolphin
This cute water mammal is known by several other names, including pink river dolphin, bufeo, or even boto. Like all other dolphins and porpoises, the Amazon river dolphin is a species of toothed whale, all three subspecies of which are found along the rivers and waterways of South America. It is also the largest species of river dolphin, and the only one kept in captivity. Unfortunately, due to the extensive fishing industry and human intervention in their environment, botos are considered endangered as of 2018.
Anaconda
These large snakes literally became nightmares out of a horror film after Anaconda was released in 1997, starring Jennifer Lopez and John Voight, which basically did for anacondas what Jaws did for sharks. Though far less dangerous than the film would have you believe, anacondas, specifically the green anaconda, are the largest snake in the world by weight, and the second largest by length.
Harpy Eagle
The grandiose American harpy eagle is nothing short of a regal bird, with beautiful upper-side black feathers in perfect contrast with a clean-white underside, crowned by a beautiful double crest in its head. They are the largest and single most powerful raptors of the rainforest, and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Although it’s Panama’s national symbol, it has all but disappeared from Central America due to destruction of its natural habitat, although we can still find it across South America, fortunately.
Giant Anteater
This funny-looking insectivore, also known as the ant bear, is an evolutionary marvel. Adapted perfectly for its highly specialized role as ant-eater, it features a long muzzle with an even longer tongue to reach the farthest corners of ant or termite mounts. It also uses long and strong claws to force its victims out of their hiding holes. It is a large mammal capable of killing even humans when cornered, as its huge claws can afford plenty of defense against an attacker, but they are really shy and peaceful if left alone. Sadly, habitat loss and active extrication mean this charming species is now listed as endangered, like so many others on this list.
The list can go on forever, but that’s enough to give you a taste of what you can expect. Which are your favorite species?
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