Below you can find a complete list of South American animals. We currently track 186 animals in South America and are adding more every day!
South America is home to some of the most unique, and exotic animals in the world. From the dangerous to the nearly extinct, we’ve created a list of the most interesting animals on the continent and some of the most exciting facts about them.
The Official National Animal of South America
South America is a continent, and as such, it has no national animal. However, many of the countries within its borders have very prominent national animals that are worth mentioning. From exciting mammals to small omnivorous species, every country is incredibly proud of its individual mascot. For example, the national animal of Guatemala is the quetzal bird, while the national animal of Peru is the Vicuna, which is a type of llama.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in South America
Most of the animals in South America can be found either in the Amazon Rainforest or along the Andes mountains. If you’re looking for wildlife, you can generally check nearby wooded areas and expansive grasslands. Most animals like to have shelter and tree cover, but many of the local herbivores prefer to live in open plains where they can see predators approaching. Here is a list of some of the most interesting types of wildlife on the content and a few facts about them:
- Jaguar – The jaguar is the only panther that still exists in the Americas. You can find them in dense forests of all kinds across the continent; there have even been a few sightings within the borders of the United States.
- Capybara – Capybaras are extremely friendly creatures that socialize with all of the other animals in South America. You can usually find them exploring the rainforest, grazing in grasslands, or enjoying a nice soak in a local watering hole.
- Tamarin – From the red-handed tamarin to the golden lion tamarin, South America’s tamarin population is famous, noteable, and adorable. You can find this small omnivorous species in jungles and tropical forests, especially if there is fruit, sunshine, and relative safety.
- Tapir – With their distinctive noses and friendly attitudes, tapirs are one of South America’s most iconic inhabitants. You can find tapirs roaming the continent’s many beautiful grasslands.
- Llama – Llamas have soft, fluffy fur and gregarious personalities. You can usually find llamas in mountainous areas, but they are also known to descend to slightly lower elevations to explore the grassy plains.
- Guinea Pig – The guinea pig is typically seen as a house pet, but you can also find herds of guinea pigs living happily in the Andes mountains and the surrounding areas.
- Sloth – Sloths can be found in the tallest and largest trees across the continent. Many sloths will never leave the tree in which they were born; tree-switching is rare and takes significant effort.
The Most Dangerous Animals in South America Today
South America’s jungles are known for being full of incredibly dangerous animals. Even small omnivorous creatures can turn on you with poisonous teeth and claws. Whether you’re traveling down an undeveloped road or simply out for nature observation, keep an eye out for the following list of rare and exotic wildlife.
- Green Anaconda – Although they are non-venomous, green anacondas are incredibly large and powerful constrictors that are capable of killing humans even when they are quite young. Give these snakes a wide berth, and they should have no reason to attack you.
- Poison Dart Frog – Poison dart frogs are so toxic that they aren’t safe to touch with bare hands. Resist the temptation to reach out and pet one of these adorable and brightly-colored amphibians.
- Bullet Ant – Getting bitten by a bullet ant won’t kill you, but the pain is excruciating and can last up to 24 hours.
- Black Caiman – Caiman lizards are large and effective predators that dwell deep in the Amazon Jungle. In particular, Black Caimans are responsible for most direct attacks on humans.
- Kissing Bug – Also known as vampire bugs, kissing bugs are an incredibly poisonous species that like to land on human’s faces and bite them near the lip. Kissing bugs might not kill you immediately, but their unique venom causes around 30% of their victims develop chronic health problems that can result in sudden heart failure later down the line.
Endangered Animals in South America
South America is full of rare, unique, and exotic species that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, due to a combination of climate change and human interference, more than 30% of species on the content are endangered nearly extinct. Here are just a few fun facts about some of South America’s struggling animals:
- Orinoco Crocodile – Orinoco crocodiles are some of the largest predators on the continent. However, because they were so heavily hunted for their leather in the 1900s, the population of this species is below 500.
- Lemur Leaf Frog – Lemur leaf frogs are adorable and friendly rainforest inhabitants. Unfortunately, a disease outbreak in the 2010’s reduced their numbers by over 80%, putting this species at serious risk.
- Giant Otter – Giant otters live in rivers of the Amazon Jungle, but their population numbers have dropped steadily over the last few decades. Today, the species is preserved in Peru’s many national parks.
- Black Squirrel Monkey – Due to habitat loss, many squirrel monkeys have been forced to dine on local crops and end up falling victim to pesticides. This problem has made the species endangered far more quickly than local residents expected.
- Pink Amazon Dolphin – Also known as the Amazon river dolphin, these distinctly pink-colored porpoises are rare but important to the local ecosystem. Population numbers are hard to estimate but have been noted to be dwindling.
- Jaguar – Jaguars are endangered for a variety of reasons, including loss of habitat and deliberate poaching. These animals were naturally low in numbers and are nearly extinct in the modern day.
South American Countries Animals Lists
Click any of the countries below to see a detailed list of animals located in that country!
South American Animals

Albatross
The largest wingspan of any bird in the world!

Alpaca
They can spit up to 10 feet.

Angora Goat
Each adult Angora goat produces about 12 inches of mohair annually while kids have about 8 inches.

Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!

Anteater
Found throughout the Southern Hemisphere!

Arapaima
One of the largest freshwater fish

Armadillo
Can curl into a hard, protective ball!

Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!

Banjo Catfish
The banjo catfish is extremely shy and known for hiding from onlookers.

Barb
There are over 2,000 known species!

Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!

Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!

Bear
There are 8 different species!

Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species

Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!

Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!

Booby
Seabirds found across the South Pacific!

Brazilian Terrier
Small body and tri-coloured coat!

Butterfly
There are thought to be up 20,000 species!

Caiman
Can grow to up 6 meters long!

Caiman Lizard
Caiman lizards are among the largest lizards.

Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Capybara
Excellent at both diving and swimming

Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!

Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!

Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Chinchilla
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!

Cichlid
There are more than 2 000 known species!

Coati
Found in dense forests and wet jungles!

Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Collared Peccary
Form bands of up to 12 individuals!

Cotton-top Tamarin
Found in tropical forest edges!

Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!

Crab
There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!

Darwin’s Frog
Camouflages itself as a dead leaf!

Discus
One of the only schooling Cichlids!

Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dogo Argentino
Loyal and affectionate to their family!

Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!

Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!

Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Electric Eel
Can generate a 500 volt electric shock!

Emperor Tamarin
Has an elegant white moustache!

Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!

Fallow deer
The fallow deer has more variation in its coat colors than most other deer.

Flamingo
Sleeps on just one leg!

Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!

Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Bat
Among the largest bats in the world

Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

Geoffroys Tamarin
Has distinctive V shape on head!

Giant Armadillo
Armadillos have a smell that’s described as strong, sweet and acrid.

Glow Worm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Golden Lion Tamarin
Native to the eastern rainforests of Brazil!

Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!

Gray Fox
The gray fox has retractable claws and a rotating wrist that allow it to climb trees with some proficiency

Guinea Pig
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!

Guppy
Also known as the Millionfish!

Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!

Harpy Eagle
Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!

Hercules Beetle
This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.

Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!

Horned Frog
Natively found in South America!

Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

Howler Monkey
Spends 80% of it's time resting!

Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Humboldt Penguin
Found on the South American coast!

Hummingbird
Beat their wings up to 80 times per second!

Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibex
Can jump over 6 feet straight up from a standstill

Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Iguana
Uses visual signals to communicate!

Imperial Moth
Since the imperial moth doesn’t eat, it does die shortly after it lays its eggs. Its lifespan is only about one week.

Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jaguar
The largest feline on the American continent!

Keel-Billed Toucan
It's beak can reach nearly 20 cm long!

Kinder Goat
Best jumper of all goats

Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Kinkajou
The kinkajou is a nimble forest-dwelling mammal of Central and South America.

Kodkod
The kodkod is among the smallest species of cats in the entire world

Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leopard Frog
They can jump up to three feet

Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!

Llama
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!

Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Lungfish
The lungfish first evolved almost 400 million years ago.

Macaw
The largest species of parrot in the world!

Magellanic Penguin
Threatened by oil spills!

Mallard
With an appropriate tail wind, the mallard can travel hundreds of miles a day

Maned Wolf
Despite its name, the Maned Wolf is not actually a wolf.

Marine Iguana
Adult marine iguanas vary in size depending on the size of the island where they live.

Marine Toad
Produces a toxin used in arrow darts!

Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Some colonies have millions of bats

Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Molly
Known for their calm and peaceful nature!

Monarch Butterfly
During migration, Monarch Butterflies may travel 250 or more miles each day.

Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monkey
There are around 260 known species!

Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Moth
There are 250,000 different species!

Mountain Lion
Has no real natural predators!

Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.

Ocelot
Also known as the Painted Leopard!

Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide

Panther
Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!

Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!

Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pied Tamarin
Only found in one area of Brazil!

Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Amazon River Dolphin (Pink Dolphin)
Also known as the 'Pink Dolphin'

Pink Fairy Armadillo
The smallest known species of Armadillo

Piranha
Generally found in fast-flowing streams!

Poison Dart Frog
Inhabits the jungles of Central and South America!

Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!

Puma
Has longer back legs than front legs!

Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Quetzal
The tail feathers of the male can be 1m long!

Raccoon
Known to wash their food before eating it!

Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!

Rattlesnake
It's venom digests it's prey before it even swallows it!

Red-handed Tamarin
Red hair on hands on feet!

River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Rockhopper Penguin
There are 3 different species!

Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rose-breasted grosbeaks are closely related to cardinals

Roseate Spoonbill
The only Spoonbill in the western hemisphere!

Saber-Toothed Tiger
Canines up to 7 inches long!

Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!

Salmon
Returns upstream every year to spawn

Scarlet Macaw
Like many parrots, the scarlet macaw is capable of vocal mimicry.

Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!

Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Silver Dollar
Closely related to the Piranha

Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Skunk
Also known as the Polecat!

Sloth
It's body temperature is between 30 - 34 degrees!

Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake
There are around 3,000 known species worldwide

Snapping Turtle
Only found in North America!

Sparrow
There are 140 different species!

Spectacled Bear
Native to the Andes mountains of South America!

Spider Monkey
Found in the tropical jungles of South America!

Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Squirrel Monkey
Lives in groups of up to 500 individuals!

Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!

Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tapir
Most closely related to horses and rhinos!

Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Tetra
Native to the freshwater streams of South America!

Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Toucan
There are more than 40 different species!

Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Uakari
Have a very short tail for their size!

Umbrellabird
Migrates up and down the mountains!

Vampire Bat
Have a heat sensor on the end of their nose!

Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!

White-Faced Capuchin
One of the world's most intelligent monkeys!

White-tail deer
White-tail deer are good swimmers

Wolf
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Wood Turtle
Temperature determines the sex of turtle eggs

Woodlouse
Actually a crustacean, not an insect!

Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!

Woolly Monkey
Has a long, strong prehensile tail!

X-Ray Tetra
Yellow, black and white striped fins!
South American Animals List
- Albatross
- Alpaca
- Angora Goat
- Ant
- Anteater
- Arapaima
- Armadillo
- Avocet
- Banjo Catfish
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Bat
- Bear
- Beetle
- Bird
- Black Widow Spider
- Booby
- Brazilian Terrier
- Butterfly
- Caiman
- Caiman Lizard
- Camel Cricket
- Capybara
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chicken
- Chinchilla
- Cichlid
- Coati
- Cockroach
- Collared Peccary
- Cotton-top Tamarin
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Crocodile
- Darwin’s Frog
- Discus
- Dog
- Dogo Argentino
- Donkey
- Dragonfly
- Duck
- Eagle
- Earwig
- Eel
- Electric Eel
- Emperor Tamarin
- Falcon
- Fallow deer
- Flamingo
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Frog
- Fruit Bat
- Gecko
- Geoffroys Tamarin
- Giant Armadillo
- Glow Worm
- Golden Lion Tamarin
- Grasshopper
- Gray Fox
- Guinea Pig
- Guppy
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harpy Eagle
- Hercules Beetle
- Heron
- Honey Bee
- Horned Frog
- Horse
- Horsefly
- Howler Monkey
- Human
- Humboldt Penguin
- Hummingbird
- Huntsman Spider
- Ibex
- Ibis
- Iguana
- Imperial Moth
- Insects
- Jaguar
- Keel-Billed Toucan
- Kinder Goat
- Kingfisher
- Kinkajou
- Kodkod
- Ladybug
- Leopard Frog
- Lizard
- Llama
- Locust
- Lungfish
- Macaw
- Magellanic Penguin
- Mallard
- Maned Wolf
- Marine Iguana
- Marine Toad
- Mayfly
- Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
- Millipede
- Mole
- Molly
- Monarch Butterfly
- Mongrel
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Moth
- Mountain Lion
- Mouse
- Mule
- No See Ums
- Ocelot
- Otter
- Panther
- Parrot
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pied Tamarin
- Pigeon
- Amazon River Dolphin (Pink Dolphin)
- Pink Fairy Armadillo
- Piranha
- Poison Dart Frog
- Porcupine
- Puma
- Pygmy Marmoset
- Quail
- Quetzal
- Raccoon
- Rat
- Rattlesnake
- Red-handed Tamarin
- River Turtle
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Rodents
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Roseate Spoonbill
- Saber-Toothed Tiger
- Salamander
- Salmon
- Scarlet Macaw
- Scorpion
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Shrimp
- Silver Dollar
- Skink Lizard
- Skunk
- Sloth
- Snail
- Snake
- Snapping Turtle
- Sparrow
- Spectacled Bear
- Spider Monkey
- Squirrel
- Squirrel Monkey
- Stick Insect
- Swan
- Tapir
- Termite
- Tetra
- Thrush
- Tortoise
- Toucan
- Tree Frog
- Uakari
- Umbrellabird
- Vampire Bat
- Vulture
- Wasp
- White-Faced Capuchin
- White-tail deer
- Wolf
- Wolf Spider
- Wood Turtle
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Woolly Monkey
- X-Ray Tetra