Fauna and flora of South America. Fauna of South America South America who lives there

As you might guess, in South America there are many deadly creatures for humans. This is largely due to the fact that the northeastern region of 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

A 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.

In the wild, 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

A 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

A 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

A 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

A photo. Giant otter (lat. Pteronura brasiliensis)

The giant (Brazilian) otter is the largest member of the mustelid family. This family predatory 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

A 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, it 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 unsuccessful side effect The bite of a Brazilian wandering spider is a painful erection that can last for several 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

A 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 compared to other big cats, which in in practical terms means that it 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

A 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). These are large snakes that reach about 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length and 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

A 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 highest 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

A 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 throughout life and cause serious health problems 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 often referred to as a land of contrasts. The fourth largest continent is replete with unique natural areas, within which many endemic representatives of the animal world live. Light forests and savannas coexist with tropical rainforests.

The longest mountain range of the planet, called the Andes, is allocated in a separate zone. The climate of the heat-breathing steppe of Pampa is different from the island of Tierra del Fuego, "caressed" by storm winds brought from the Atlantic. The western part of the continent pleases the eye with fertile valleys, while the Atacama Desert is recognized as the most sultry region of the globe.

The increase in diversity was facilitated by the presence of a large river basin surrounded by impenetrable jungle. The Amazon and Orinoco rivers, carrying muddy waters, are home to the largest freshwater dolphins, reaching a length of 2.7 m. The underdeveloped vision of mammals is compensated by a developed echolocation system that allows them to detect potential prey and avoid obstacles. The rivers also attracted other large mammals assigned to the order of sirens. Slow manatees uniting in herds slowly migrate between river tributaries and the main channel. Animals feed on edible algae. Communication is carried out by touching the muzzles. The need for such close contact is due to poor eyesight.

Piranha was awarded the title of the most famous fish in South America. Not a single animal is destined to escape from lightning attacks of individuals swimming in groups. Gluttonous kids, whose length does not exceed 30 cm, do not disdain even carrion. But almost no one has heard of the giant arapaima. Valuable commercial fish is essentially a living fossil, whose appearance has remained unchanged for 135 million years. Local residents claim that individual specimens reached 4 meters in length. The weight of one individual at the same time fluctuated within 200 kg. Nowadays, smaller representatives are caught, whose length reaches an impressive 2-2.5 m.

South America has become home to 2000 species of fish. This amount is equivalent to 1/3 of the planet's freshwater fauna. Another unique representative of the water world is the lungfish American scalyfish or lepidosiren. The group of predators living in water bodies included caimans, crocodiles and anacondas. There is a high probability of meeting with an electric eel.

Monkeys living in South America are part of the broad-nosed group. They are common in tropical forests. Representatives of the marmoset family are characterized by small sizes. The most miniature in this regard are wistiti (Hapale jacchus), whose length does not exceed 15-16 cm. Many capuchin monkeys are endowed with a strong tail, successfully used as a fifth limb. The subfamily of howler monkeys owes its name to the ability to make loud cries that can be carried for many kilometers. Spider monkeys are easily recognizable due to their long, flexible limbs.

Sloths (Choloepus) prefer not to leave their chosen trees. Hanging position does not prevent animals from absorbing shoots and leaves. They descend to the ground only in exceptional cases. The crowns of trees have become a home for some anteaters. The large anteater (unlike its small counterpart) leads a terrestrial lifestyle. Armadillos are also included in the squad of edentulous. The largest representative was awarded the title of giant. Its length reaches 1 m, and its weight ranges from 50 kg. The body of the animal is covered with strong horny scales resembling knightly chain mail. The basis of the diet is termites.

In the savannas, you can meet a spectacled bear, a puma and a rhea ostrich (the largest flightless bird in South America). The largest rodent also lives on an amazing continent. Gaining up to 50 kg of live weight, capybaras live in the vicinity of water bodies. They do not avoid marshy areas.

In the Andes, you can see the vicuña, which belongs to the camel family. Difficulties with breathing in conditions of rarefied air in the animal are not observed. Thick fur saves from the piercing cold. Vicuñas feed on lichen and grass. Wild llamas (in particular, guanacos) are extremely rare these days. Domestic llamas are used to transport heavy loads, their meat and milk are eaten. People started breeding alpacas solely for the sake of obtaining soft wool. Chinchillas were exterminated due to expensive fur.

The Andean condor is recognized as the largest bird of prey. The wingspan of these unique birds exceeds 3 m. The bird colonies inhabiting the Andes include 1,700 species. Numerous parrots delight the eye with colorful colors. Gorgeous attire went to a rare hyacinth macaw, boasting a long tail, yellow spots on the cheeks and dark blue plumage. Tiny hummingbirds scurry between the plants and large butterflies flutter. The wingspan of some insects reaches 20 cm.

Harpies belonging to the hawk family prefer to circle above the crowns of tropical forests located in remote regions. The wingspan of powerful raptors often exceeds 2 m. The list of forest inhabitants includes shuttle-billed herons, sun herons and hoatzins. The chicks of the latter can boast of having claws on their wings, with the help of which restless youth travel through the trees. A similar adaptation was found in the Archeopteryx living millions of years ago. In the woodlands, you can meet opossums, arboreal tenacious porcupines, koendu, bats and agoutis, resembling both a guinea pig and a short-eared hare. Nosuhi also hunt on trees growing in tropical forests.

The list of little-studied animals included the forest (bush) dog. The exceptional representatives of the fauna of South America include the Titicaca whistler, which lives within Lake Titicaca. A similar habitat was chosen for itself by the wingless Great Crested Grebe. The Pudu deer feeding on seaweed, whose height does not exceed 40 cm, got into the Red Book.

Every year the population of maned wolves living in the pampas decreases. The number of red ibis inhabiting the coastal lowlands is also declining.

The Amazonian selva does not lack reptiles and brightly colored poisonous frogs. The ability to accumulate poison is also possessed by many lizards and snakes. Of the land reptiles, the boa constrictor stands out. At night, the wild cat ocelot comes out to hunt. Easily find victims and such excellent swimmers as jaguars. Small rodents, deer, capybaras, monkeys and tapirs (relatives of rhinos) can serve as their meal. A small group of ungulates on the continent is represented by undersized South American pointed deer and a small black peccary pig.

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South America is the fourth largest continent and lies in southern hemisphere. Five climatic zones determine the features of the 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

The flora of 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. In these forests there are different types of 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

Animal world, as well as vegetation, is of great richness, 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, among which 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 rich in 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 that live in open spaces, and who can find here grasses that they feed on. The Andes have their own special inhabitants - llamas and alpacas, whose thick wool 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.

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The nature of this continent was formed in conditions of isolation from other lands. This is due to its unusualness and richness. The flora and fauna of the mainland began its development in the Cretaceous period. The nature of the region, having ancient history and formation in conditions of isolation, has preserved many unique species, but there is also evidence that on other continents there are ancient representatives of the fauna close to specimens living in South America. This is a confirmation that, nevertheless, the isolation of the mainland was incomplete and there was a connection with other continents.

Interestingly, among the species of monkeys in South America, there are no monkeys similar to humans.

Monkey living on the mainland are broad-nosed, and their habitat is limited to tropical forests.

It is noteworthy that South America has three, unique to it, families of edentulous. Unique species of animals are found among ungulates, rodents and predators. The animal world in different parts of the mainland has differences. This is primarily due to unequal natural and climatic conditions.

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Rainforest animals are adapted to life on trees. First of all, these are monkeys of two families: marmosets and capuchins. marmoset monkeys smaller and have developed limbs with long claws. Capuchin larger and they have a long strong tail, almost like a hand.

Sloths, belonging to the family of edentulous, lead a sedentary life, preferring to hang on trees and rarely go down.

Lives in savannas and forests large anteater.

Among predators, the cat family stands out. Its prominent representatives are large jaguars, ocelots and jaguarundis.

Ungulates are very few in number.

Almost throughout the mainland, you can find numerous rodents, among them marsupial rats and opossums.

Amphibians and reptiles are also widespread. In the rivers you can find crocodiles.

Parrots with bright colors, numerous birds also live in the forests of this part of the Earth.

Typical representatives of the birds of the mainland are hummingbird.

Tropical forests are simply teeming with various insects, among them you can find many unique ones.

The fauna of the open and dry spaces called savanna is different from the fauna of forests.

Here is found another representative of the edentulous - armadillo. This is the place where they live jaguars, pumas, pampas, ocelots, some types foxes. Of the ungulates can be distinguished pampas deer. live here ostriches nandu. A large number of snakes and lizards.

The mountain fauna is represented by such animals as lama. Also common are some marsupials and spectacled bear.

Of the mountain representatives of birds, of course, it stands out condor.

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 high mountains Andes, 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 the maximum amount of toxins, the leopis also gets worse. 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 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. Species secretive and small, refers 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 an ascetic lifestyle

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

it 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 design resembles 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 of his 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.

Vampire

it 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 rainforest destruction 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 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. 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.