As you might guess, in South America there are many deadly creatures for humans. This is largely due to the fact that northeast region The continent is dominated by the vast and impenetrable Amazon jungle. To be honest, if there were no Amazon, it would be difficult to make a list of deadly animals. The only threat would probably come from being trampled to death by llamas or carried away by condors. The Amazon is really the only real territory stuffed with dangerous animals, indented by a mighty river and tropical forests.
Many of the animals on this list are unique to this part of the world, although some have equivalents elsewhere. Some have already made it to various In Animal Jaws lists, but most of them are specific to this corner of the globe.
10. giant anaconda
Photo. Giant anaconda (lat. Eunectes murinus)
If there was a competition among the most dangerous animals South America, from which the least people died, then the anacondas, or perhaps even the notorious one, would share the championship! In fact, there is little doubt that these animals are incredibly dangerous, but statistically speaking, they may not actually have killed anyone.
There is little doubt that the anaconda can kill a person. Weighing in excess of 250 kg (500 pounds), the giant (green) anaconda, stuffed with hard muscles, is the heaviest snake in the world. It is also one of the longest snakes, with some specimens reaching over 7 meters (20 feet) in length.
Anaconda hunts its prey in the water from an ambush. Like crocodiles, they will wait mostly underwater for their prey to get close enough to unleash their lightning attack. Unlike the powerful crocodile jaws, the anacondas' main weapon is their body, which they use to wrap themselves around their prey and literally squeeze the life out of it. They are not venomous, but have sharp, recurved teeth designed to initially capture prey. With each exhalation of the victim, the anaconda tightens its deadly embrace more strongly.
V wild nature anacondas feed on almost any animal they can catch, including pigs, deer, and even caimans. They have been documented to eat deer as large as a small adult human, further confirming their potential to kill a human.
One of the often given reasons why they don't kill people is that they can't put their shoulders through their mouths. It's actually a myth, they have incredibly flexible mouth ligaments along with the power to compress their shoulders if need be.
To the best of our knowledge, according to one study (the book A Life History of the Green Anaconda (eunectes murinus) with an Emphasis on Reproductive Biology), there are only two reported carnivores, both of which were committed by humans studying them in the field. It is highly likely that these numbers are so low, as there is very little overlap between human and snake habitats, but it is also likely that this may change as ecological pressure on anaconda habitats increases.
9 Common Piranha
Photo. common piranha
Piranhas are among the most famous cannibals. Equipped with razor-sharp teeth and prone to a feeding frenzy at the first drop of blood in the water, these fish have a fearsome reputation, capable of devouring a human to the bone in a matter of seconds.
However, the truth does not quite match the rumors and legends. Yes, indeed, there have been several fatal piranha attacks over the years, but they are hardly so terrible in the Amazon. And they are certainly capable of inflicting some nasty injuries, but how did they become so fearless?
The piranha's legendary status as a killer takes us back in many ways to the 1900s when Theodore Roosevelt (former American President) visited the Amazon. Local fishermen staged a display for Roosevelt of the piranha's ferocious behavior. They cut off the water in the river and starved the piranhas for several days. After they dragged one cow into the water and piranhas, in accordance with their reputation, quickly butchered her to the bone. Unaware that this episode was made specifically for Roosevelt, he later wrote about the killer fish and the rest is history.
8. Black caiman
Photo. Black caiman (lat. Melanosuchus niger)
South America is home to several crocodile species, at least three of which can be considered dangerous to humans. These are the American crocodile, the Orinoco crocodile and the black caiman. All of them can grow up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length, making them dangerous predators of South America, at least they are commensurate with.
Of the three species, the black caiman is the most common and is often found on the continent. The American crocodile is more common in Central America, while the Orinoc crocodile is critically endangered. Thus, if you are lucky enough to see a huge crocodile in South America, it will probably be a black caiman.
There is no doubt that these caimans are capable of killing people. People saw how larger individuals preyed on almost everything that lived in their environment. These were other caimans, deer, tapirs, anacondas, giant otters and various farm animals. There are several reports of caimans attacking jaguars, although the opposite is often the case.
With this in mind, it is not surprising that several fatal attacks on a person occur every year in the Amazon region.
7. Terrible leaf climber
Photo. Terrible leaf climber (lat. Phyllobates terribilis)
The terrifying leaf climber's bright yellow color doesn't do much to disguise the jungles of Colombia. Quite the contrary, in reality this little frog is telling everyone about the fact that it is the most venomous vertebrate on Earth.
The frog is toxic, but not, it does not have any mechanism, like fangs or a sting, to inject its poison into the victim. Instead, the dread leafcreeper's skin contains a powerful alkaloid toxin known as batrachotoxin. This poison in the victim blocks nerve impulses, leading to paralysis and possible heart failure. It is estimated that the poison of one frog is enough to kill 10 to 100 people or 20,000 mice. Only one animal is known to be immune to this toxin - the frog itself!
Interestingly enough, poison dart frogs that are bred in captivity are not toxic. This indicates that they get their deadly venom from the ants and beetles they eat.
Video. Terrible leaf climber, dart climber
6 Giant Otter
Photo. Giant otter (lat. Pteronura brasiliensis)
The giant (Brazilian) otter is the largest member of the mustelid family. This is a family of carnivorous mammals with a formidable reputation. They are capable of killing animals much larger than their own weight. In this family there are species such as, and ermine, these animals are well known for often attacking prey much larger than themselves.
The giant otter reaches a length of up to 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) and weighs up to 32 kg (70 pounds), it is overgrown with hard muscles, armed with powerful jaws and sharp teeth. Moreover, they hunt in family groups of up to ten, which is why they are often called "river wolves" by the locals. Fast, aggressive and intelligent, the giant otter has several natural predators.
Most of the otter's diet consists of fish, although they may occasionally prey on small caiman and even anaconda. In groups, otters are able to kill almost everything that is found in rivers and jungles, they can challenge everything, including large caimans.
Thus, it can be said with almost no doubt that giant otters can even deal with a person who encroaches on their habitat. But have there been such cases?
Two serious cases are known. The first incident occurred at the Brazilian Zoo on August 27, 1977, when a 13-year-old boy fell into an otter enclosure. A passing army sergeant, Silvio Delmar Hollenbach, jumped off to save the child, but could not get out himself. Although the boy ran away, the sergeant was attacked by 6 otters, resulting in over a hundred bites. Two days later he died in the hospital from sepsis, he got the infection from the bites.
This is not the only time that captive giant otters have caused serious harm to humans. In 2012, a giant otter escaped from a housing at the Hamburg Zoo and attacked a cleaner. The bites on her arms and legs were so severe that she was hospitalized and placed in an induced coma. Had it not been for the intervention of two zoo staff, the outcome would have been much worse.
5 Brazilian Wandering Spider
Photo. Brazilian wandering spider (lat. Phoneutria sp.)
The scientific name of the Brazilian wandering spider is Phoneutria, which refers to the killer. This is a hint that this notorious arachnid is often rated as . In the Guinness Book of Records, he is listed as the most poisonous spider on Earth, the bite of a wandering spider is more like a snake bite. The powerful neurotoxin is about 20 times more powerful than that of the black widow spider and can lead to loss of muscle control, which in turn leads to breathing difficulties, and in some cases, respiratory paralysis is fatal.
In addition to the potentially lethal neurotoxic effects of the bite, it is also considered to be very painful. But that's not all. One unfortunate side effect of a Brazilian wandering spider bite is a painful erection that can last for hours.
Don't discount the risk of being bitten by one of these spiders and many people have died from the bite of this spider over the years. But what makes them particularly dangerous is the fact that they often come into contact with humans and are quite aggressive. As the very name of this spider suggests, they love to roam, climb into all inaccessible places, like under shoes, lying dirty laundry, stacked tree logs, cars and bunches of bananas, which is why they are sometimes called "banana spiders". There were cases when these spiders were found in packages with bananas.
4. Jaguar
Photo. Jaguar (lat. Panthera onca)
The jaguar is the dominant predator of the South American jungles and forests, firmly at the top of the food chain. This is the third largest of all big cats, only tigers and lions are ahead of the jaguar. The jaguar weighs up to 150 kg (300 pounds) and measures over 1.85 meters (6 feet) in length from nose to tail. The jaguar is rather stocky and compact animal compared to others. big cats, which in practical terms means that this is a strong animal for its size.
This strength can be judged by the strength of the bite of the animal, it has the strongest bite of any big cat, which it often uses in its hunting strategy. While other members of the feline family go for a throat grab and subsequent strangulation, the jaguar's method of killing is to use powerful jaws to bite through the skull of its prey and penetrate the brain. The powerful bite also allows it to penetrate armored prey such as armadillos and turtles, and it can quickly cut through the thick skin of caimans.
Apparently, nothing escapes the jaguar menu, not even the black bears that hunted a single person in the United States. This suggests that the jaguar seems to have some reluctance to attack humans. Per last years there have been several jaguar attacks resulting in human deaths, but there is less than one death per year.
Apparently, we have no problems with jaguars, they don't really want to hunt us. Currently, they prefer to stay away from human contact.
3. Spearhead snakes
Photo. spearhead snake
These snakes in South America lead to the highest number of deaths due to snake bites. In addition to their speed and "excitable nature", they are also often found in densely populated areas, making this group of pit vipers especially dangerous.
Perhaps the most famous of the spear-headed snakes are: kaisaka (lat. Bothrops atrox), pit snake(lat. Bothrops Asper) and common jarraka (lat. Bothrops jararaca). This big snakes, which are about 2 meters (6.5 feet) long, are equipped with the same hemotoxic venom.
Many have a neurotoxic venom that blocks nerve signals and causes paralysis. On the other hand, hemotoxic poison destroys organ tissues and blood cells. As you can imagine, this is much more painful and can cause serious damage to the body. In fact, many victims require limb amputation even after effective treatment.
The chance of dying from a bite from a spearhead snake is about 1%, if treatment is not provided in a timely manner, then the chances can increase to 10%. Considering that about a thousand bites are made by these snakes every year, we can imagine the approximate number of deaths. The bite itself causes local swelling, vomiting, and pain, often accompanied by swelling at the site of the bite and bruising. Systemic symptoms are usually: internal hemorrhage, bleeding from the gums, eyes, etc. In turn, this can lead to shock and subsequent death, death can also occur due to kidney failure.
2 Sharks
Photo. Blunt shark (lat. Carcharhinus leucas)
When asked where the most infamous shark-infested waters on the planet are, people often think of Australia, South Africa or even Florida. You can also remember the great white shark as the main culprit in attacks on people. But this is wrong. Brazil has one of the highest rates of shark attacks worldwide and the most a large number of fatal attacks.
In general, the frequency of shark attacks on Brazilian beaches is not unusual. However, if you are traveling in the northeastern part of the city of Recife, then things can turn out for the worse. Here, the coast has been riddled with deadly shark attacks for the past 20 years. More than 60 attacks were committed here and 22 of them were fatal. If you calculate, it turns out that the probability of a fatal outcome as a result of an attack is about 37%, on average throughout the world this figure tends to 16% (two times lower). On such days, surfing on the beaches of Recife is prohibited and no one swims outside the city beaches.
There is no hard evidence to blame one shark species or another for every attack, but two species are more commonly blamed. Firstly, which live close to the coast and in estuaries, as well as tiger sharks, which can be seen in deeper waters.
Until 1992, there were no shark attacks in this region of Brazil, as well as throughout the country. So what has changed?
Many people blame this on the development of the port in the south of Recife, which has led to large-scale changes in the local marine life. Local estuaries have disappeared and in recent years the level of cargo shipment has increased. Damage caused by local environment, is seen as one of the main causes of bull shark attacks, while debris thrown overboard has attracted tiger sharks to follow the ships.
The bad news is that there are plans to build a port in the north of Recife, so this could get a lot worse than before.
1. Kissing bug
Photo. Kissing bug (lat. Rhodnius prolixus)
So we got to the most dangerous animal in South America, which does not terrorize the Amazon basin. This is an insect with a rather attractive name, the kissing bug, which was given due to the fact that he likes to stick around the lips, eyelids. In fact, this insect has several other names that make it a little less attractive: the predator bug and the vampire bug, two of which should give some idea of what they do.
The cause of Chagas disease is the protozoan responsible for African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), Trypanosoma cruzi. The infection has two stages: an acute stage, which begins immediately, and a chronic stage, which can persist for life and cause serious problems health for decades.
Most infected people show no symptoms and may be completely unaffected. However, about 30% will have medical problems later in life, with a large percentage subsequently developing into potentially fatal heart and neurological diseases.
There is no cure for Chagas disease though early treatment can stop its development.
South America is the fourth largest continent and lies in the southern hemisphere. Five climatic zones determine the characteristics of flora and fauna: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate, most of the mainland has a warm climate.
The flora and fauna are very rich, many species are found exclusively here. South America is a champion in many ways, the longest and most full-flowing river in the world, the Amazon, flows here, the longest mountain range of the Andes is located, the largest mountain lake Titicaca is located, it is the rainiest continent on earth. All this significantly influenced the development of wildlife.
Nature different countries South America:
Flora of South America
Vegetable world South America is rightfully considered the main wealth of the mainland. Such well-known plants as tomatoes, potatoes, corn, chocolate tree, rubber tree were discovered here.
Wet rainforests The northern part of the mainland is still striking in its richness of species, and today scientists continue to discover new plant species here. These forests are found different types palm trees, melon tree. There are 750 species of trees and 1,500 species of flowers per 10 square kilometers of this forest.
The forest is so dense that it is extremely difficult to move through it, vines also make it difficult to move. characteristic plant for the rainforest is ceiba. The forest in this part of the mainland can reach a height of over 100 meters and spread over 12 levels!
To the south of the selva there are variable-moist forests and savannahs, where the quebracho tree grows, which is famous for its very hard and very heavy wood, a valuable and expensive raw material. In the savannas, small forests give way to thickets of cereals, shrubs and tough grasses.
Further south are the pampas - the South American steppes. Here you can find many types of herbs, common for Eurasia: feather grass, bearded vulture, fescue. The soil here is quite fertile, as there is less rainfall and it is not washed out. Shrubs and small trees grow among the grasses.
The south of the mainland is desert, the climate there is more severe, and therefore the vegetation is much poorer. Shrubs, some types of grasses and cereals grow on the stony soil of the Patagonian desert. All plants are resistant to drought and constant weathering of the soil, among them are resinous chanyar, chukuraga, Patagonian fabiana.
Fauna of South America
The animal world, like vegetation, is very rich, many species have not yet been described and qualified. The richest region is the Amazonian selva. It is here that such amazing animals as sloths, the smallest hummingbirds in the world, a huge number of amphibians, including poisonous frogs, reptiles, including huge anacondas, the world's largest rodent capybara, tapirs, jaguars, river dolphins. At night, a wild cat ocelot hunts in the forest, resembling a leopard, but found only in America.
According to scientists, 125 species of mammals, 400 species of birds and an unknown number of species of insects and invertebrates live in the selva. The water world of the Amazon is also rich, its most famous representative is the predatory piranha fish. Other famous predators are crocodiles and caimans.
The savannahs of South America are also different rich fauna. Armadillos are found here, amazing animals covered with plates - “armor”. Other animals that can only be found here are anteaters, rhea ostriches, spectacled bear, puma, kinkajou.
In the pampas of this continent there are deer and llamas who live in open spaces and who can find here the grasses that they feed on. The Andes have their own special inhabitants - llamas and alpacas, thick coat which saves them from the high mountain cold.
In the deserts of Patagonia, where only hard grasses and small shrubs grow on stony soil, mainly small animals, insects, and various types of rodents live.
South America includes the Pacific Galapogos Islands, which are home to amazing turtles, the largest representatives of the family on earth.
From the southern to the northern point, the continent stretches for 7,500 kilometers. Here is the largest Amazon River in the world with one and a half thousand tributaries, and the high Andes mountains, and the barren Atacama Desert, and tropical forests. The diversity of nature implies an equally multifaceted animal world.
The most dangerous animals in South America
Most of the deadly poisonous creatures of the planet gave precisely wildlife of south america. Here, for example, lives a frog that can kill 20 adults. Let's start the list with it.
leaf climber
Lives in the rainy tropics. This is where the amphibian is dangerous. Individuals kept in captivity are not poisonous, as they feed on grasshoppers and fruit flies. In the natural environment, the leaf climber eats native ants. It is from them that the frog produces poison.
Only leopis epinichelus can harm the leaf climber. This is a snake resistant to amphibian venom. However, if the eaten frog managed to accumulate maximum amount toxins, getting worse and leopis. Sometimes, after eating a bright yellow amphibian, snakes die.
Leaf climber is poisonous in the wild, as it eats poisonous ants.
Brazilian wandering spider
It is the most poisonous on Earth, which is confirmed by the entry in the Guinness Book of Records. The neurotoxin of the animal is 20 times stronger than the secret of black.
The wandering spider's venom makes breathing difficult. Men additionally have a long-term, painful erection. The bite itself is painful. You can be wounded by a spider by taking dirty laundry from a basket, buying a package of bananas, taking firewood from a woodpile. The name of the animal reflects its passion to constantly move, climb everywhere.
For its strong poison, the wandering spider is listed in the book of records
Spearhead Gadget
Like a wandering spider, it enters South American animals striving for human settlements. The spear-shaped viper is fast and excitable, so it often darts through the streets of cities.
With timely treatment, 1% of bitten people die. Delayed visits to doctors die in 10% of cases. Viper neurotoxins block the respiratory system and destroy cells, in particular red blood cells. The process is so painful that those bitten in the legs and arms require amputation even after the successful administration of the antidote.
Shark
Instead of poison, she has the power of fangs. Cases of attacks on people are recorded around the world, but in the waters of South America most often. The coasts of Brazil are infamous. Dozens of people have died here from shark bites.
In the waters of South America, bull and tiger sharks are operating. Interestingly, until 1992 there were no attacks on people. The situation, according to scientists, changed after the construction of the port in the south of Recife. Water pollution has reduced the number of food resources for sharks. They began to eat the garbage thrown off the ships, sailing for the ships to the coast.
The tiger shark has tiger-like stripes on its sides.
Pictured is a bull shark
Triatomine bug
Otherwise, it is called a vampire or kissing, because it sticks in the area of the lips and face. The insect feeds on blood, while simultaneously defecating on the host. With feces, the wound penetrates into the wound, causing Chagas disease.
In 70% of those bitten, it does not manifest itself, but in 30% of those who remain, it “results” with age into deadly neurological pathologies and ailments of the cardiovascular system.
The length of the kissing bug is 2.5 centimeters. The insect lives only in South America. Accordingly, Chagas disease is endemic. About 7,000 people die from it every year on the continent.
The kissing mite is very dangerous, most often it sticks to the body in the area of the lips.
Maricopa Ants
Found in Argentina. An adult person dies after 300 bites. One puncture is enough for 4 hours of acute pain.
Multiple maricopa bites are rare, because the ants' dwellings can be seen from afar. In height, the buildings reach 9 meters, and with a diameter of up to 2.
Maricopa anthills are very high, they can be easily seen even from afar
blue ringed octopus
There is no antidote for his bites. The toxins of one individual are enough for the lightning death of an adult. First, the body paralyzes.
In the waters of the seas washing South America, the animal reaches only 20 centimeters in length. The brightly colored animal seems cute, and the bite is painless. Impressions are deceptive.
piranhas
Instead of poison, they have sharp teeth. Fish wield them deftly, attack in flocks. At the beginning of the last century, in front of Theodore Roosevelt, who visited the continent, a cow was dragged into the Amazon. In the eyes of the American president, the fish left only bones from the animal in minutes.
Spreading rumors about killer fish in his homeland, Roosevelt did not take into account that the river was blocked for a couple of days, the seas of piranhas were starving. Under normal conditions, the inhabitants of the Amazon rarely attack. This usually happens if the person bleeds. Its taste and smell attract piranhas.
Anaconda
what animals are in south america dangerous, but they are involved in human deaths only in unconfirmed stories and films. Anaconda attacks under water, from an ambush. Perhaps some are missing and rest in the throats of giant snakes. However, there is no confirmation.
In length, the anaconda stretches for 7 meters. The mass of the animal can reach up to 260 kilograms.
Seven meters is the standard length of a snake. However, sometimes there are 9-meter anacondas. By the way, they belong to the subfamily of boas.
Anacondas are sexually dimorphic. Females are not only bigger and heavier, but also stronger than males. It is the females who usually hunt large prey. Male individuals are content with other snakes, birds, lizards and fish.
black caiman
Among the 6 crocodiles inhabiting South America, the most dangerous to humans. The predator reaches 600 centimeters in length, that is, it is commensurate with the American alligator.
In the Amazon area, about 5 fatal black attacks on people are recorded annually.
The largest and smallest animals of the continent
Animals in tropical areas are usually characterized by gigantism. The warm climate provides a rich forage base. There is something to eat.
Orinoco crocodile
It is slightly larger than the black caiman. In theory, it is the Orinoco crocodile that should be on the list of dangerous ones. However, the species is on the verge of extinction. The small number excludes mass attacks on people.
Male Orinoco crocodile gaining 380 kg mass. The length of some individuals reaches almost 7 meters.
Orinoksky, one of the most large species crocodiles
Guanaco
The largest of the mammals of the continent. You can bet, since the jaguar is bigger. However, the wild cat is also found outside of South America. Guanaco is found only here.
Guanaco is the ancestor of the llama. The animal gains weight up to 75 kilograms, lives in the mountains.
Noblela
This is already an animal from the list of miniatures. Noblela is an alpine frog that lives in the Andes. Adult individuals are equal to a centimeter in length.
Noble females lay only 2 eggs, each one-third the size of an adult animal. The tadpole stage is absent. The frogs hatch immediately.
midget beetle
The smallest of the continent's beetles. The length of the animal does not exceed 2.3 millimeters. Usually the indicator is 1.5.
The midget beetle is a recently discovered species. Outwardly, the insect is brown with hairy legs and three-lobed horns.
hummingbird
Represents miniature birds. The length of the body, together with the tail and beak, does not exceed 6 centimeters. The weight of the bird is 2-5 grams. Half of the volume is occupied by the heart. It is more developed in a bird than in anyone on Earth.
The heart of a hummingbird beats 500 times per minute. If the animal is actively moving, the pulse rises to a thousand beats.
South American animals listed in the Red Book
Most of the Red Book inhabitants of the continent are forest dwellers. The jungle stretches along the Amazon, is actively cut down for agricultural needs, timber. 269 species of birds, 161 mammals, 32 reptiles, 14 amphibians and 17 fish are under the threat of extinction.
playful possum
Inhabits the northeast coast of the continent. In particular, the animal lives in Suriname. The species is secretive and small, belongs to small mammals.
The playful possum walks little on the ground and climbs trees a lot. There the animal seeks out insects and fruits with which it feeds.
Titicaca whistler
An endemic species of Titicaca. This is a lake in the Andes. Outside it, the frog is not found. The second name of the animal is the scrotum. So the frog is nicknamed because of the flabby skin hanging down in folds.
The skin folds of the whistler increase the surface of the body, allowing more oxygen to be absorbed through the integuments. The lungs of the Red Book animal are small. Additional "recharge" is required.
vicuñas
Like a guanaco, it belongs to wild llamas, but less often, it lives only in the highlands of the Andes. Here, a representative of the camelid family is protected from cold weather by thick wool. Thin air is not a problem either. Vicuñas have adapted to oxygen deficiency.
Vicuñas have a long neck, equally elongated, thin legs. You can meet llamas at altitudes of more than 3.5 thousand meters.
hyacinth macaw
pig peccary
Inhabits Mexico, Arizona and Texas. In the photo animals of South America may differ in nuances. Bakers have 11 subspecies. All medium-sized, do not exceed 100 in length, and 50 centimeters in height. Bakers weigh up to 25 kilos.
On the neck of the peccary there is a necklace of elongated hair. For this, the second name is given to the species - collared. Representatives of the population are cautious, but hunters are often more cunning. South American pigs have tasty meat. Actually, by extracting it, the hunters reduced the number of bakers.
Animal symbols of South America
Each country and locality has a symbol from the animal world. There are 12 states on the continent. Overseas possessions of Great Britain and France are added to them.
andean condor
From the name it is clear that the bird lives in the Andes, at an altitude of 5 thousand meters. The animal is large, reaches a length of 130 centimeters, and weighs 15 kilograms.
The condor's head is devoid of feathers. This betrays a carrion bird. However, sometimes, the condor preys on small birds and steals other people's eggs.
Jaguar
Recognized as the national symbol of Argentina, where it has alternative titles. Animals of South America are referred to here as cougars. Sometimes a predator is called a cougar, or a mountain cat.
Most jaguars weigh 100-120 kilograms. The record is 158 kilos. Such a beast is capable of killing with one blow. By the way, this is how the name of the cat is translated from the Guarani language.
Alpaca
Associated with Peru. Living in the mountains, the ungulate has a heart that is 50% larger than the "motor" of other animals of a similar size. Otherwise, alpacas cannot survive in thin air.
Alpaca incisors are constantly growing, like those of rats. The process is driven by tough and scarce grasses that animals feed on in the mountains. Teeth wear down, and without them food cannot be obtained.
Alpaca teeth grow throughout life
pampas fox
Recognized as the national symbol of Paraguay. Their names are clear that the beast lives in the pampas, that is, the steppes of South America.
Pampas foxes are monogamous, but lead a solitary lifestyle. Scientists are perplexed how animals find a chosen partner every year during the breeding season. After mating, the animals part again to meet a year later.
pampas foxes lead ascetic image life
South Andean deer
This is the symbol of Chile. The species, along with the pudu deer, is listed as endangered. The animal has a thick body and short legs. In summer, the South Andean deer grazes in the mountains, and in winter it descends to their foothills.
The length of the deer reaches 1.5 meters. The height of the animal does not exceed 90 centimeters. The animal is endemic to the Andes, not found outside them.
red-bellied thrush
Symbolizes Brazil. From the name of the feathered one it is clear that his belly is orange. The back of the bird is grey. The length of the animal is 25 centimeters.
Red-bellied thrushes South American forest animals. Among the trees and their roots, birds look for insects, worms and fruits such as guava, oranges. The thrush cannot digest fruit pits. As a result, slightly softened grains come out with feces. The latter serve as fertilizer. The seeds germinate faster. This contributes to the increase of green areas.
Hoatzin
This national bird Guyana. The animal looks impressive, flaunting a crest on its head and bright plumage. But hoatzin smells disgusting from the point of view of the majority. The reason for the putrid "aroma" lies in the feathered goiter. There, the hoatzin digests food. Therefore, a particularly pungent odor comes from the animal's mouth.
Most ornithologists classify the hoatzin as a chicken. A minority of scholars distinguish the Guyanese symbol into a separate family.
Bare-throated bell ringer
It is considered a symbol of Paraguay. The area around the eyes and the throat of the bird are bare. Hence the name of the species. The skin of the throat is blue. The plumage of birds is light, in males it is snow-white.
The bell ringer was called the bird for the sounds it makes. They are generated by the males of the species. The voices of females are less sonorous.
Red stove-maker
Associated with Uruguay and Argentina. The bird is large, with rusty plumage and a square tail. The animal is nicknamed the stove-maker due to the manner of building nests. Their complex structure looks like a chimney.
The beak of the stove maker resembles tweezers. They have enough feathered insects. The stove-maker looks for them on the ground, where he spends most time.
The bird was nicknamed the stove-maker for its ability to build nests resembling a stove chimney.
Unusual animals of South America
Many animals of the mainland are not only endemic, but also exotic, striking in their appearance.
A vampire
This bat. She has a snub-nosed muzzle. Sharp fangs protrude from under the upturned lip. With them, the vampire pierces the skin of the victims, drinking their blood. However, the mouse attacks only cattle. The bloodsucker does not touch people.
Vampires seem to care about the victims. The saliva of mice serves as a natural pain reliever and contains substances that accelerate blood clotting. Due to this, animals do not feel bites, and wounds on the bodies of livestock heal quickly.
Tapir
Mentioned in conversations on the topic, what animals live in south america and are the most timid. Tapirs are indecisive, shy, outwardly resemble a cross between an elephant and a boar.
Tapirs emit a peculiar whistle. What it means, scientists do not know. Animals are poorly studied, because they are shy and active at night, and not during the day. Of all mammals, tapirs are the most "dark horses" for the scientific community.
Howler
This is a loud-voiced primate, belongs to the capuchin family. The animal is black. On the sides hangs a reddish "mantle" of long hair. The same grow on the muzzle. But the tip of the howler's tail is bald. This makes it easier to grab the fruits that the monkey eats.
In length, howler monkeys reach 60 centimeters, and weigh about 10 kilograms. The name of the animals is due to the loudness. Loud callsigns of howlers are heard for several kilometers.
Battleship
It is a descendant of the Glyptodon. They looked almost the same, but weighed 2 tons, and reached a length of 3 meters. Glyptodons lived during the time of the dinosaurs. Therefore, the armadillo is often called their peer.
The modern giant armadillo reaches a length of 1.5 meters. Other animal species are smaller, all but one, living in South America. The rest is found in the North.
Common Animals of South America
If the scrotum frog is found only in one of the lakes of the continent, and vicuñas only in the highlands of the Andes, then these animals are found in almost every corner of South America. Despite the destruction rainforest and pollution ocean waters, some species in them continue to live.
Coati
Otherwise referred to as nose. The animal belongs to the raccoon family. Coati is found everywhere, even climbing into the mountains up to heights of 2.5-3 thousand meters. Nosoha can live in bushes, in the steppes, in rain forests. In addition to the mountains, lowlands arrange animals, which determines the large population.
The nosy animal is nicknamed because of the narrow head with the upturned lobe. The animal also has powerful, long fingers with claws and an elongated tail. These are tree climbers.
Coati or coati
capybara
Otherwise referred to as capybara. Of the rodents, it is the largest on the planet. The mass of the animal reaches 60 kilos. In length, some individuals are equal to a meter. Appearance is similar to that of a guinea pig.
They are called aquatic capybaras because rodents live near the water. There is a lot of juicy vegetation, which the pigs eat. Also, capybaras love to swim, cooling in the rivers, swamps, lakes of South America.
coata
Otherwise known as the spider monkey. The black animal is slender, with elongated limbs and a tail. The paws of the coat are hooked, and the head is tiny. In motion, the monkey resembles a tenacious spider.
The length of the coat does not exceed 60 centimeters. The average is 40. The length of the tail is added to them. It is about 10% more than the length of the body.
Igrunok
This is the smallest monkey on the planet. The dwarf subspecies is 16 centimeters long. Another 20 centimeters is occupied by the tail of the animal. It weighs 150 grams.
Despite the dwarfism, marmosets deftly jump between trees. In the tropics of South America, mini-monkeys feed on honey, insects, and fruits.
Marmosets are the smallest and very cute monkeys.
manta ray
Reaches 8 meters in length and 2 tons in weight. Despite the impressive dimensions, the stingray is safe, non-toxic and non-aggressive.
Given the size of the manta ray's brain in relation to its body weight, scientists have proclaimed the animal the smartest fish on earth. The nature of South America is recognized as the richest on the planet. There are 1.5 thousand species of birds alone on the continent. There are 2.5 thousand types of fish in the rivers of the mainland. More than 160 species of mammals is also a record for one continent.
Humanity still has a truly unique corner of the earth, located on the continent called South America. Although the enclave itself raises concerns about the future exclusivity of the enclave a natural phenomenon, which formed a special flora and fauna, and human activity, which makes its own adjustments to the environment.
Animals and plants in South America are constantly in a struggle for survival, adapting to the ambiguous climate. The continent is under the constant influence of tropical rainstorms, highlands, savannahs, subequatorial forests, dramatic elevation changes and human progress. It is quite possible that all this variety of climatic zones of the southern part of the New World predetermined the uniqueness of the natural world, which must be preserved and increased.
Interference with human nature
However, a recent example of human intervention in the world of nature, which did not bypass even an inhospitable place remote from civilization in the Atacama Desert (northern Chile), where the largest ground-based observatory arose, is indicative. Any traveler who finds himself within sight of this oasis of human progress can confuse reality with fiction, since such a fantastic landscape no longer exists on earth.
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South America - the territory of contradictions
The territory of the controversial continent, which occupies the fourth place in terms of area on the globe, literally crammed with contrasting natural areas. Indeed, through the countries of Uruguay and Argentina, where the livestock-breeding way of life, the hot steppe of the Pampas stretches. But on the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is under the partial jurisdiction of Chile and Argentina, mostly cold weather prevails with constant storm winds from the Atlantic. Quite a different matter is the west, where there are fertile valleys with a cool climate that arose in mountain system Andes. The presence on the continent of the most sultry place on Earth (Atacama Desert) and at the same time the functioning of one of the deepest river basins in the world (Amazon) with impenetrable jungle adds to the picture of contrast.
Fauna of South America
A reasonable question arises: "What animals in South America could have appeared and survived, given such a natural habitat?". First of all, animals of the humid forest tropics and sparse forests, savannahs and, of course, the inhabitants of the real mountain kingdom of the Andes are as inimitable and diverse as the very nature of the southern part of America.
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It makes no sense to consider the animal world of the southern half of the American mainland separately from the longest - about 9000 km - mountains of the Earth. The Andes spread their presence widely in various climatic zones in South America, covering six belts. The vertical division of the mountain range has identified three zones (terra elada, terra fria and terra calente), which are strictly demarcated, and regardless of climate. Unique nature The Andes allowed mankind to acquire new crops and plant species. Potato tubers, tomatoes, tobacco leaves, cinchona have become valuable and indispensable representatives of the flora of the whole Earth.
Animals living in South America, for the most part, came from the Andes themselves or the surroundings of the mountain range. Here you can find a large number (up to 600) species of mammals and even more (900) varieties of amphibians. The nature of the Andes painted many insects with bright colors, especially highlighting the population of butterflies, and among the ants tried to create unique specimens of large individuals. Andean bird colonies number 1,700 species and deserve special attention. In the dense thickets of plants, a constant numerous bird hubbub is heard. The colorful parrots and tiny hummingbirds have a special presence in the Andes.
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Condor is an animal symbol of South America
But the main animal of South America, belonging to the bird kingdom, is the condor, which has not taken an honorable place in the International Red Book. Mainly thanks to man, the condor became an endangered species, as it was considered a dangerous predator, and its habitats were reduced to two relatively small areas of the Andes. Nevertheless, he was awarded the honorary attention of a person, becoming the national symbol of several states of South America at once - Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and the Colombian authorities depicted a condor on the national emblem of the country. V Lately began to appear programs to protect the present cultural heritage many Andean peoples.
The condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world. and has a rare graceful coloring, and males are often much smaller than females. Among the feathered inhabitants of the planet, the condor rightfully belongs to the centenarians, able to overcome the age threshold of fifty years.
My mother is a biology teacher at school. As a child, instead of fairy tales, she told me about the amazing animals that inhabit our planet. Most of all I remember the stories about the fauna of South America.
What is South America famous for?
This continent is located as many as five climatic zones. Because of this, the animal and plant life here is diverse. South America can be called a champion, because here:
- the most long river in the world - the Amazon;
- the largest mountain lake;
- the most precipitation falls;
- the longest mountains.
Many cannot imagine their life without potatoes, and in fact it was found in South America. Even on the continent, tomatoes, a chocolate tree, and corn were discovered.
What animals can be found in South America
The fauna in South America is very rich. On the continent you can find species that do not live anywhere else. There are freshwater dolphins in the Amazon. They live only three years in captivity and do not breed, so they are not found in zoos.
In America, you can meet the world's largest rodent. Its weight can reach up to sixty kilograms. They are called capybaras and at first they were mistaken for pigs.
The continent is also home to the largest species of turtles and crocodiles. The Orinoco crocodile can reach up to five meters in length. An elephant tortoise can weigh up to two hundred kilograms and live up to a hundred years. There were cases when in captivity the turtle lived up to 170 years of age.
What animals should be afraid
In addition to completely harmless animals in South America live dangerous predators. The most famous is the anaconda. There are many legends about this species. First, they say that anacondas can reach 20 meters in length. Second, among local residents there are rumors of man-eating anacondas.
There are piranhas in the Amazon. This fish is considered very dangerous for humans. Because of her subtle sense of smell, she can smell blood from a great distance.
Dangerous cats are also found on the continent. Cougars and cheetahs often instill fear in the locals.
The largest tarantulas live in South America.
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