🌎Continental Habitat

South America Wildlife

Discover the 96+ species native to South America. Explore complete biological profiles, range maps, conservation status, and fascinating behavioral facts for every creature from this continent.

South America Species (96 cataloged)

AvesLC

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Diet: Insectivore and aerial predator
Wild lifespan: Often much shorter, but the banding record exceeds 12 years

ActinopterygiiLC

Alfonsino

Beryx decadactylus

Diet: Deepwater carnivore
Wild lifespan: Long-lived; age estimates extend for several decades

MammaliaNE

Alpaca

Vicugna pacos

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Commonly 15–20 years with good care; some live longer

AvesAnimal group

Alpine Birds

Aves of alpine ecosystems

Diet: Species-specific: plants, seeds, insects, other animals, carrion, or mixed foods
Wild lifespan: No group-wide lifespan; it differs by species

MammaliaEN

Amazon River Dolphin

Inia geoffrensis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is uncertain; estimates commonly extend into the third decade

ActinopterygiiAnimal group

Amberjack

Seriola

Diet: Carnivorous
Wild lifespan: Species have separate longevity records; greater amberjack can live to about 17 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Anaconda

Eunectes

Diet: Carnivorous
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; reliable wild lifespan data are limited

AvesLC

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is not well quantified; likely more than a decade for surviving adults

AvesLC

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Diet: Primarily piscivorous wetland predator
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity record exceeds 12 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Basilisk Lizard

Basiliscus

Diet: Omnivore with a strong animal-food component
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; commonly several years, with longer records under managed care

ReptiliaLC

Black Caiman

Melanosuchus niger

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Several decades; precise maximum in the wild is uncertain

ArachnidaAnimal group

Black Widow Spider

Latrodectus

Diet: Carnivore; mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: No single genus-wide lifespan; females outlive males in studied species

AvesLC

Black-faced Antbird

Myrmoborus myotherinus

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Not reliably quantified

ActinopterygiiLC

Blackfin Tuna

Thunnus atlanticus

Diet: Carnivorous pelagic predator
Wild lifespan: Short to moderate for a tuna; precise maximum age is not well established in broad public references

ReptiliaAnimal group

Blind Snake

Scolecophidia

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known for most species

ActinopterygiiVU

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live about 20 years and males around 10 years; estimates vary by ocean and method

MammaliaEN

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Diet: Baleen-filtering carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 70–90 years; some live longer

AmphibiaLC

Bruno's Casque-Headed Frog

Nyctimantis brunoi

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Not reliably documented

MammaliaNT

Bush Dog

Speothos venaticus

Diet: Carnivore specializing in medium-sized vertebrate prey
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly known; captive animals can live more than 10 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Caiman

Caimaninae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

ReptiliaLC

Caiman Lizard

Dracaena guianensis

Diet: Mollusk-specialist carnivore
Wild lifespan: Poorly quantified

AmphibiaLC

Cane Toad

Rhinella marina

Diet: Opportunistic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 5–10 years; can live longer in managed care

MammaliaLC

Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: About 6–10 years in the wild; can exceed 10 years in managed care

AvesLC

Chinstrap Penguin

Pygoscelis antarcticus

Diet: Marine carnivore, strongly dependent on Antarctic krill
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 15–20 years

MammaliaLC

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Commonly 40–60 years; females often outlive males

ReptiliaAnimal group

Coral Snake

Micrurus and Micruroides

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Poorly measured for most species

ReptiliaAnimal group

Crocodile

Crocodylidae

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Varies by species

AvesAnimal group

Eagle

Accipitridae

Diet: Carnivore and scavenger; prey differs by species
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; many large eagles can live for decades

AmphibiaDD

Eiselt's Caecilian

Atretochoana eiselti

Diet: Poorly documented aquatic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown in the wild and in managed care

ActinopterygiiLC

Electric Eel

Electrophorus electricus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown in the wild; historical captive records for electric eels range roughly 10–22 years

ReptiliaNE

Emerald Tree Boa

Corallus caninus

Diet: Arboreal ambush predator of small warm-blooded vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in managed care; wild lifespan is poorly documented

ReptiliaAnimal group

Eyelash Viper

Bothriechis schlegelii species complex

Diet: Small mammals, birds, frogs, lizards, and other suitably sized vertebrates
Wild lifespan: No reliable group-wide figure

ReptiliaLC

False Coral Snake

Anilius scytale

Diet: Specialist predator of elongated fossorial and aquatic vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is unknown; likely more than a decade for surviving adults

ReptiliaNE

Fer-de-Lance Snake

Bothrops asper

Diet: Ambush predator whose diet shifts from ectotherms to mammals with age
Wild lifespan: Likely 15–20 years in managed care; wild lifespan is poorly quantified

MammaliaVU

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly 80–90 years, with some individuals living longer

ReptiliaAnimal group

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis spp.

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Frequently more than 100 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Galapagos Tortoise

Chelonoidis niger species complex

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often more than 100 years; exact longevity varies

ReptiliaAnimal group

Gecko

Gekkota

Diet: Mostly small-animal predators; some species also eat fruit or nectar
Wild lifespan: Species dependent; no reliable group-wide figure

ChondrichthyesEN

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Mobula birostris

Diet: Filter-feeding carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 40–45 years is plausible; exact maximum remains uncertain

CephalopodaLC

Giant Squid

Architeuthis dux

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Probably around 3–5 years, based on growth studies and comparison with related squids

ReptiliaCR

Golden Lancehead

Bothrops insularis

Diet: Ambush predator specializing in migratory birds as an adult
Wild lifespan: Poorly known in the wild; likely more than 10 years for surviving adults

AmphibiaEN

Golden Poison Frog

Phyllobates terribilis

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is not well quantified; managed frogs may live more than 10 years

AvesLC

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Diet: Insectivore and seasonal frugivore
Wild lifespan: Several years; exceptional banded birds can live longer than a decade

ChondrichthyesCR

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Common estimates exceed 30 years, with some individuals aged beyond 40 years

ChondrichthyesVU

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 70 years is possible, with major uncertainty among estimates

ReptiliaLC

Green Anaconda

Eunectes murinus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 10–20 years in the wild

ReptiliaEN

Green Sea Turtle

Chelonia mydas

Diet: Adults mainly herbivorous; juveniles more omnivorous
Wild lifespan: Likely 60–80 years or more

InsectaAnimal group

Ground Beetle

Carabidae

Diet: Mostly predatory or omnivorous; many species also destroy weed seeds
Wild lifespan: Adults of some species live 1–4 years; family-wide variation is large

AvesVU

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 25–35 years in the wild

InsectaNE

Hercules Beetle

Dynastes hercules

Diet: Detritivore as a larva and frugivore as an adult
Wild lifespan: Larval development often one to two years; adults live several months

ActinopterygiiLC

Humpback Anglerfish

Melanocetus johnsonii

Diet: Deep-sea carnivore
Wild lifespan: Unknown

MammaliaLC

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 45–80 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Iguana

Diet: Primarily herbivorous
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; green iguanas may live more than a decade

MalacostracaAnimal group

Isopod

Isopoda

Diet: Detritivores, scavengers, grazers, predators or parasites depending on lineage
Wild lifespan: Depends on the individual species and environment

AvesAnimal group

Jacana

Jacanidae

Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates plus seeds and plant material
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no reliable family-wide figure

MammaliaNT

Jaguar

Panthera onca

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild

Multiple medusozoan classesAnimal group

Jellyfish

Medusozoa

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: From weeks to several years, depending on species and life stage

AvesLC

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Diet: Omnivore, mainly fruit
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years

MammaliaDD

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live 50–80 years or more; males often 30–60 years

InsectaAnimal group

Ladybug

Coccinellidae

Diet: Mostly predatory as a family, with fungal-feeding and plant-feeding exceptions
Wild lifespan: From months to more than a year depending on species and climate

ReptiliaVU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Diet: Carnivore specialized on gelatinous prey
Wild lifespan: Uncertain; likely several decades

MammaliaLC

Leopard Seal

Hydrurga leptonyx

Diet: Carnivore with both filter-feeding and active predation
Wild lifespan: At least 26 years in the wild

MammaliaNT

Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan uncertain; up to roughly 12–15 years in managed care

ReptiliaVU

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Diet: Herbivore specialized on marine algae
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at five to twelve years, with some individuals living longer

ReptiliaLC

Mata Mata

Chelus fimbriata

Diet: Aquatic carnivore and suction-feeding specialist
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is poorly known; managed animals can live for decades, and older 15-year figures are minimum records rather than a firm maximum

ActinopterygiiAnimal group

Moray Eel

Muraenidae

Diet: Carnivorous family including fish, crustacean and mollusk specialists
Wild lifespan: Species-specific and incompletely documented; some large morays live for decades

AvesLC

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Variable; dependable population-wide maximum is not established

ChondrichthyesVU

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Diet: Carnivorous bottom feeder
Wild lifespan: At least several decades; exact wild maximum remains uncertain

MammaliaLC

Ocelot

Leopardus pardalis

Diet: Carnivore specializing in small and medium prey
Wild lifespan: Often 7–10 years in the wild; can exceed 20 in managed care

ReptiliaVU

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Lepidochelys olivacea

Diet: Omnivorous marine forager with a strong invertebrate component
Wild lifespan: Unknown; commonly estimated at 30–50 years or more

MammaliaDD

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcinus orca

Diet: Carnivore and apex marine predator
Wild lifespan: Females often 50–80 years and can reach about 90; males often 30–60 years

AvesLC

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 8–15 years in the wild

ActinopterygiiLC

Queen Angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Diet: Sponge-specialist omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years; precise wild longevity is difficult to measure

ActinopterygiiLC

Queen Parrotfish

Scarus vetula

Diet: Herbivorous reef scraper
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is not represented by one well-established universal estimate

ReptiliaAnimal group

Rattlesnake

Crotalus and Sistrurus

Diet: Carnivorous ambush predator
Wild lifespan: Often 10–25 years in the wild depending on species; some can exceed 20 years

ActinopterygiiLC

Red-bellied Piranha

Pygocentrus nattereri

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10 years or more; well-maintained captive individuals can live longer

AmphibiaLC

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Agalychnis callidryas

Diet: Nocturnal insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly measured; managed individuals may live several years

InsectaAnimal group

Rhinoceros Beetle

Dynastinae

Diet: Species-dependent herbivore, sap feeder or decomposer
Wild lifespan: From months to several years including the larval period, depending on species

AvesLC

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Diet: Primarily herbivore with opportunistic animal food
Wild lifespan: Often 40–50 years in the wild

ReptiliaAnimal group

Sea Turtle

Chelonioidea

Diet: Species-specific diets range from seagrass and algae to jellyfish, sponges and shellfish
Wild lifespan: Often several decades; reliable maximums differ by species and are difficult to measure

ReptiliaAnimal group

Skink

Scincidae

Diet: Mostly insectivorous or omnivorous; some species are herbivorous
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no valid family-wide lifespan

ReptiliaAnimal group

Snake

Serpentes

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 5–30 years; some large species exceed 30 years

MammaliaVU

Spectacled Bear

Tremarctos ornatus

Diet: Omnivore with a strongly plant-based diet
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity uncertain; often 20–30 years under managed care

MammaliaVU

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 60 years and possibly longer

ReptiliaAnimal group

Turtle

Testudines

Diet: Herbivore, omnivore or carnivore depending on species
Wild lifespan: Commonly decades; some large tortoises can exceed 100 years

AvesLC

Upland Goose

Chloephaga picta

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Can live for many years; precise typical wild lifespan varies among populations

AvesLC

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Diet: Primarily insectivore
Wild lifespan: Many migrants die young, but banded individuals can survive for years

ReptiliaLC

Urutu

Bothrops alternatus

Diet: Carnivore specializing on mammals
Wild lifespan: Reliable typical wild lifespan is not available

CephalopodaNE

Vampire Squid

Vampyroteuthis infernalis

Diet: Detritivore and opportunistic suspension feeder
Wild lifespan: Exact wild lifespan is unknown but appears much longer than the one-to-two-year lives of many shallow-water cephalopods

ChondrichthyesEN

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

Diet: Filter-feeding carnivore
Wild lifespan: Estimated at many decades, possibly 80 years or more; exact longevity remains uncertain

AvesLC

Wood Stork

Mycteria americana

Diet: Primarily fish-eating wetland predator
Wild lifespan: Wild record at least 22 years 6 months

Photo unavailable

MammaliaNE

Xingu Bristly Mouse

Neacomys xingu

Diet: Presumed omnivore; species-specific diet has not been studied
Wild lifespan: Unknown in the wild and captivity

ReptiliaLC

Yellow Anaconda

Eunectes notaeus

Diet: Carnivore and opportunistic ambush predator
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 15–20 years in the wild and more than 20 years under expert care