Animals of South America
South America is home to some of the most remarkable animals on Earth. From the dark canopy of the Amazon rainforest to the bare rock faces of the Andes and the wetlands of the Pantanal — each habitat has its own residents, from the jaguar to the pink river dolphin.
The Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest. It covers more than 5.5 million km² and spans nine countries, with Brazil holding the largest share. The forest is estimated to contain one in ten of all known animal species on Earth: more than 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish species, 430 mammals and thousands of reptiles and amphibians.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the apex predator of this ecosystem. As the largest cat in the Western Hemisphere, it preys on capybaras, tapirs and caimans. Due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation, the jaguar is listed on the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened (NT). More on the conservation status of threatened animals is available on the animals by continent page.
The Andes
The Andes form the world's longest mountain range, running more than 7,000 km along the continent's western coast. The altitude — from sea level to above 6,000 metres — creates extreme climate gradients and an unusual richness of habitats. On the higher puna grasslands live the llama, alpaca and vicuña; in the rocky terrain above the tree line, almost exclusively the Andean condor.
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), with a wingspan of up to 3.2 metres, is one of the world's largest flying birds. It soars on thermal currents and can cover hundreds of kilometres in a single day. The species is classified as Vulnerable (VU). The Andes are also home to the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), South America's only bear species, also Vulnerable.
The Pantanal
The Pantanal is the world's largest tropical wetland, spread across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. During the rainy season, up to 80% of the area floods; afterwards, animals from across the continent converge on the remaining waterholes. The jaguar reaches its highest density on the continent here. Alongside jaguars, the Pantanal shelters caimans, giant river otters, tapirs and vast numbers of wading birds such as the jabiru stork.
The Pantanal, like the Amazon, is under pressure from deforestation, fire and agricultural expansion. The jaguar, which depends on both ecosystems for its survival, has become the symbol for protecting both areas. Compare this habitat with the savannahs of Africa on the animals of Asia page, or see all continents on the animals by continent page.
The Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos, an Ecuadorian archipelago more than 900 km off the west coast, are celebrated as the laboratory of evolution. Charles Darwin observed the differences between finches and iguanas here in 1835, setting him on the path to his theory of natural selection. Today, 97% of the island area is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The islands are home to species found nowhere else: the marine iguana (the world's only seagoing iguana), the Galápagos giant tortoise (the world's largest living land tortoise), the blue-footed booby and the Galápagos penguin — the only penguin that breeds in the Northern Hemisphere. Most island species are accustomed to humans and are uniquely approachable. Back to South America for the broader context.
Animals of South America — overview
The table below gives a selection of characteristic species with their habitat and IUCN conservation status (2024). Abbreviations: LC = Least Concern, NT = Near Threatened, VU = Vulnerable, EN = Endangered, CR = Critically Endangered. Source: IUCN Red List.
| Animal | Habitat | IUCN status |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar (Panthera onca) | Amazon, Pantanal, dry forests | NT — Near Threatened |
| Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) | Savannahs, Pantanal, Cerrado | VU — Vulnerable |
| Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) | Andes, coastal cliffs | VU — Vulnerable |
| Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) | Atlantic Forest, Brazil | EN — Endangered |
| Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) | Wetlands, riverbanks | LC — Least Concern |
| Pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) | Amazon and Orinoco river systems | EN — Endangered |
| Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) | Andes, cloud forest | VU — Vulnerable |
| Llama (Lama glama) | High Andes | Domesticated |
| Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) | High Andes | Domesticated |
| Giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) | Amazon, Pantanal | EN — Endangered |
Source: IUCN Red List 2024.
The pink river dolphin
The boto or pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is one of the world's largest freshwater dolphins. Adult males turn pink through scarring from social battles. The dolphin lives exclusively in the freshwater rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Due to pollution, dams, overfishing of its prey and drowning in fishing nets, the species is classified as Endangered (EN).
The boto plays a central role in Amazon mythology: in folk tales it transforms at night into a handsome young man. That cultural status paradoxically contributed to its protection for a long time — fishermen did not kill botos. Today they are legally protected in Brazil, but the population continues to decline.
Threats and conservation
The greatest threat to South American wildlife is habitat loss. In the Brazilian Amazon, around 17% of the rainforest was cleared between 1970 and 2020; in the Atlantic Forest — the coastal rainforest — less than 12% remains intact. The golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) was nearly extinct in the 1970s: fewer than 200 individuals survived in the wild. Thanks to breeding programmes and reforestation, the population now exceeds 3,700 animals, though the species remains Endangered.
Comparable recovery projects are active for the Andean condor in Colombia and Venezuela, and for the giant anteater in Argentina. The continent has 23 biodiversity hotspots (Conservation International). Read more about the continent on North America for a comparison, or see how fauna differs by region on the animals of Asia page.
Sources
- IUCN Red List 2024 — conservation status by species
- WWF — Living Planet Report 2024
- Conservation International — Biodiversity Hotspots
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA)
- UNESCO — Galápagos World Heritage dossier