Below you can find a complete list of Nicaraguan animals. We currently track 215 animals in Nicaragua and are adding more every day!
Nicaragua is the largest country in all of Central America. Situated between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the country shares a land border with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The western half of the country is comprised of rugged mountains and volcanoes separated by large valleys. Some of these volcanoes are still active. The eastern half of the country is comprised of lowland plains and rainforests. Lake Nicaragua, which sits along the southwestern border, is the largest lake in all of Central America. Its unique fauna even includes sawfish and bull sharks. Nicaragua is also home to the region’s longest river, Rio Coco, which runs between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on the northern border.
The Official National (State) Animal of Nicaragua
While Nicaragua lacks a single national animal, it is represented by a national bird, the turquoise-browed motmot. Sporting a brightly colored turquoise body, this bird is a dazzling sight throughout the country.
Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Nicaragua
Since its independence in 1821, Nicaragua has established around 78 protected areas, encompassing about 17% of the entire landmass, in which you can find some of the best wildlife.
- The Zapatera Archipelago National Park near Lake Nicaragua is a common destination for both cultural and wildlife enthusiasts. Amid some of the preserved ruins and crater lakes, this park has plenty of winding hiking trails and visitor areas, where you can find a rich panoply of birds, mammals, and freshwater fish.
- The Mombacho Cloud Forest Reserve is a 2,500-acre protected area surrounding the extinct volcano Mombacho to the west of Lake Nicaragua. Plenty of colorful birds, butterflies, and reptiles flourish at these high elevations.
- The Indio Maiz Biological Reserve in the southeast straddles the mighty San Juan River. Although remote and somewhat difficult to reach, it is exceptionally rich in poison dart frogs, howler monkeys, and maybe even pumas and jaguars. The rest of the reserve contains hundreds of colorful birds like the royal flycatcher.
- Finally, San Juan del Sur, located in the southwest of the country, is an excellent spot to observe whales and other marine wildlife.
The Most Dangerous Animals in Nicaragua Today
The rainforests of Nicaragua are particularly rife with dangerous animals, including insects that transmit diseases to humans. But these are probably the most dangerous species that pose a direct problem for humans:
- Fer-de-Lance – Identified by the dark triangle patterns and broad, flattened head, this large species is one of the more dangerous snakes in all of Central America. Symptoms of its venom include pain, swelling, bruising, blisters, numbness, a headache, a mild fever, nausea, vomiting, oozing, and bleeding. If left untreated, death may occur in a small minority of incidents.
- Central American Rattlesnake – This species is in many ways similar to the rattlesnake in the United States. Symptoms of its venom include pain, swelling, blistering, and necrosis. In rare cases, it can lead to amputations.
- Coral Snakes – Nicaragua is home to three species of coral snakes, as well as the yellow-bellied sea snake. Their venom is one of the most potent in the world and requires immediate medical attention. In rare cases, it can lead to complete respiratory failure. Fortunately, these exotic snakes live in remote locations, and even when they are encountered by people, their first instinct is to run away and hide.
- American Crocodiles – This species can be found throughout the San Juan River and Lake Nicaragua. While attacks sometimes do occur, fatalities are exceptionally rare.
- Poison Dart Frog – Concentrated in the south of Nicaragua, there are a few unique species of poison dart frogs that advertise their danger with bright eccentric colors. When threatened, they secrete enough poison from the skin to stop someone’s heart. They appear to derive their poison from the foods they consume.
Endangered Animals in Nicaragua
Some of Nicaragua’s rich biodiversity is currently in danger of becoming extinct from rampant deforestation and poaching.
- Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey – Easily identified by the reddish-brown body color and the black arms, legs, and face, this is perhaps the largest of all the unique monkeys in the Americas. Since it requires so much living space to survive, it is particularly vulnerable to deforestation.
- Baird’s Tapir – The tapir is a large exotic pig-like mammal with a short prehensile nose trunk and hooves. This species is in danger of becoming extinct from poaching and habitat loss, but it also isn’t helped by a slow reproduction rate.
- White-lipped Peccary – This large pig-like hoofed mammal is currently endangered from deforestation and hunting.
- Great Green Macaw – This large, bright-green gregarious macaw once teemed across the rainforests of Central America. But hunting, poaching, and habitat loss have placed this species in danger of becoming extinct.
- Sea Turtles – Nicaragua is a prime nesting location for the hawksbill sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, and the Pacific green turtle. All of them are currently classified as vulnerable or endangered due to the loss of nesting sites, vessel strikes, pollution, intended or accidental catches, etc.
Nicaraguan Animals
Amazon Parrot
These parrots can be trained to be "talking birds" that mimic human speech
Anole Lizard
There are just under 400 species, several of which change color.
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Anteater
Found throughout the Southern Hemisphere!
Armadillo
Can curl into a hard, protective ball!
Armyworm
They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
Basilisk Lizard
Can run/walk on water.
Bat
Detects prey using echolocation!
Bear
There are 8 different species!
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.
Bee
Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years
Beetle
There are more than 350,000 different species
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Biscuit Beetle
The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast
Black Widow Spider
They typically prey on insects!
Blind Snake
The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.
Blue grosbeak
Blue grosbeak parents take off the head, legs and wings of an insect before feeding it to their baby.
Bobcat
About double the size of a domestic cat!
Booby
Seabirds found across the South Pacific!
Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors
Burrowing Owl
The burrowing owl lives in underground burrows
Butterfly
There are thought to be up 17,500 species!
Caecilian
Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin
Caiman
Can grow to up 6 meters long!
Camel Cricket
The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cat
First domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians!
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Checkered Garter Snake
It has the ability to expel a stinky liquid from its body as a way to make predators (and humans) retreat!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Cichlid
There are more than 2 000 known species!
Coati
Found in dense forests and wet jungles!
Cockroach
Dated to be around 300 million years old!
Codling Moth
Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.
Collared Peccary
Form bands of up to 12 individuals!
Common Furniture Beetle
The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood
Common House Spider
House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.
Coral Snake
There are over 80 species of coral snake worldwide.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 million worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab Spider
Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings
Cricket
Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together
Crocodile
Have changed little in 200 million years!
Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Dog
First domesticated in South-East Asia!
Dog Tick
Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals
Donkey
First domesticated 5,000 years ago!
Dragonfly
It's larvae are carnivorous!
Dubia Cockroach
The most popular species of feeder roach
Duck
Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!
Dung Beetle
The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight
Dwarf Boa
Some species can change color from dark to light, and back again.
Eagle
Has exceptional eyesight!
Earthworm
They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs
Earwig
There are nearly 2,000 different species!
Eel
Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!
Elegant Tern
Have a lifespan of 20 years or more
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
Fiddler Crab
The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.
Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Flea
Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Flying Squirrel
Can glide up to 90 meters!
Frog
There are around 7,000 different species!
Fruit Fly
Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world
Gar
Can grow to more than 3m long!
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach
Giant Leopard Moth
When giant leopard moths mate, their mating sessions last over 24 hours.
Glow Worm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Gray Fox
The gray fox has retractable claws and a rotating wrist that allow it to climb trees with some proficiency
Great Blue Heron
Their wingspan is larger than an eagle’s; both males and females help hatch the eggs; rich in symbolism
Great Crested Flycatcher
This species makes use of some truly unusual nesting material, including snakeskin and garbage
Guppy
Also known as the Millionfish!
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 40 mph!
Harpy Eagle
Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!
Harris Hawk
Their vision is eight times better than a human's
Hawk Moth Caterpillar
Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.
Hercules Beetle
This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Honduran White Bat
The bat only eats figs.
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Horse
Has evolved over 50 million years!
Horsefly
Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.
House wren
The wren’s epithet, aedon, comes from a Greek queen who accidentally killed her only son. She was actually aiming for her nephew, and Zeus took pity on her and turned her into a nightingale.
Housefly
The fly has no teeth
Howler Monkey
Spends 80% of it's time resting!
Human
Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!
Hummingbird
Beat their wings up to 80 times per second!
Huntsman Spider
Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Iguana
Uses visual signals to communicate!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jacana
The jacana has the ability to swim underwater
Jaguar
The largest feline on the American continent!
Jumping Spider
Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies
Keel-Billed Toucan
It's beak can reach nearly 20 cm long!
Kingfisher
Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!
Kinkajou
The kinkajou is a nimble forest-dwelling mammal of Central and South America.
Ladybug
There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!
Leech
Has 10 pairs of eyes!
Leopard Frog
They can jump up to three feet
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Locust
Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.
Lone Star Tick
Only females have the ‘lone star’ marking
Macaw
The largest species of parrot in the world!
Maggot
Will only live in wet areas
Marine Toad
Produces a toxin used in arrow darts!
Mayfly
There are 2,500 known species worldwide!
Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Some colonies have millions of bats
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Mole Cricket
Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.
Molly
Known for their calm and peaceful nature!
Monarch Butterfly
During migration, Monarch Butterflies may travel 250 or more miles each day.
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mountain Lion
Has no real natural predators!
Mourning Dove
It is almost always the male who makes the famous sad sound, which is a wooing call
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Ocelot
Also known as the Painted Leopard!
Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males
Otter
There are 13 different species worldwide
Owl
The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees
Panther
Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Parrot Snake
The parrot snake shows off with bright green and bronze colors that cover its entire body.
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Pheasant
Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!
Pigeon
They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.
Poison Dart Frog
Inhabits the jungles of Central and South America!
Porcupine
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Praying Mantis
The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.
Puma
Has longer back legs than front legs!
Quail
Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!
Quetzal
The tail feathers of the male can be 1m long!
Raccoon
Known to wash their food before eating it!
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Rattlesnake
It's venom digests it's prey before it even swallows it!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
Robin
There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!
Rodents
The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.
Rooster
Will mate with the entire flock!
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rose-breasted grosbeaks are closely related to cardinals
Roseate Spoonbill
The only Spoonbill in the western hemisphere!
Saber-Toothed Tiger
Canines up to 7 inches long!
Sable Ferret
Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.
Salamander
There are more than 700 different species!
Sand Crab
The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail
Scarlet Macaw
Like many parrots, the scarlet macaw is capable of vocal mimicry.
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Sea Eagle
The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Shrew
The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Sloth
It's body temperature is between 30 - 34 degrees!
Slug
They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce
Smokybrown Cockroach
Has up to 45 eggs per egg case
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snake
There are around 3,000 known species worldwide
Snapping Turtle
Only found in North America!
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spider Wasp
They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.
Squirrel
Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!
Stick Insect
There are more than 3,000 different species!
Stork
They can’t sing like other birds.
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Thrush
The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.
Tick
They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite
Tiger Beetle
The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world
Tortoise
Can live until they are more than 150 years old!
Toucan
There are more than 40 different species!
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
Tree swallow
The tree swallow can make more than a dozen distinct vocalizations
Turtles
Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.
Umbrellabird
Migrates up and down the mountains!
Vampire Bat
Have a heat sensor on the end of their nose!
Vine Snake
A slender body and elongated snout give the vine snake a regal look.
Vinegaroon
Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted
Vulture
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Wasp
There are around 75,000 recognised species!
Whiptail Lizard
Many whiptail species reproduce asexually.
White-Faced Capuchin
One of the world's most intelligent monkeys!
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!
White-tail deer
White-tail deer are good swimmers
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Wood Turtle
Temperature determines the sex of turtle eggs
Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.
Yellow Spotted Lizard
Gives birth to live young.
Nicaraguan Animals List
- Amazon Parrot
- Anole Lizard
- Ant
- Anteater
- Armadillo
- Armyworm
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Basilisk Lizard
- Bat
- Bear
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Blind Snake
- Blue grosbeak
- Bobcat
- Booby
- Brown Dog Tick
- Burrowing Owl
- Bushmaster Snake
- Butterfly
- Caecilian
- Caiman
- Camel Cricket
- Carpenter Ant
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Checkered Garter Snake
- Chicken
- Cichlid
- Coati
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Collared Peccary
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Coral Snake
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab Spider
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dragonfly
- Dubia Cockroach
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Dwarf Boa
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Elegant Tern
- Eyelash Viper
- Falcon
- False Widow Spider
- Fiddler Crab
- Firefly
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- Gar
- Gecko
- German Cockroach
- Giant Leopard Moth
- Glow Worm
- Gnat
- Grasshopper
- Gray Fox
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Guppy
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harpy Eagle
- Harris Hawk
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hercules Beetle
- Heron
- Honduran White Bat
- Honey Bee
- Horse
- Horsefly
- House wren
- Housefly
- Howler Monkey
- Human
- Hummingbird
- Huntsman Spider
- Ibis
- Iguana
- Insects
- Jacana
- Jaguar
- Jumping Spider
- Keel-Billed Toucan
- Kingfisher
- Kinkajou
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Leopard Frog
- Lizard
- Locust
- Lone Star Tick
- Macaw
- Maggot
- Marine Toad
- Mayfly
- Mealybug
- Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
- Millipede
- Mole
- Mole Cricket
- Molly
- Monarch Butterfly
- Mongrel
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mountain Lion
- Mourning Dove
- Mouse
- Mule
- No See Ums
- Ocelot
- Orb Weaver
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Panther
- Parrot
- Parrot Snake
- Peregrine Falcon
- Pheasant
- Pigeon
- Poison Dart Frog
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Puma
- Quail
- Quetzal
- Raccoon
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- Rattlesnake
- River Turtle
- Robin
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Roseate Spoonbill
- Saber-Toothed Tiger
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Sand Crab
- Scarlet Macaw
- Scorpion
- Sea Eagle
- Seahorse
- Sheep
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Skink Lizard
- Sloth
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Snapping Turtle
- Sparrow
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stork
- Swan
- Tarantula Hawk
- Termite
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Toucan
- Tree Frog
- Tree swallow
- Turkey
- Turtles
- Umbrellabird
- Vampire Bat
- Vine Snake
- Vinegaroon
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Whiptail Lizard
- White-Faced Capuchin
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- White-tail deer
- Wolf Spider
- Wood Turtle
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Worm
- Yellow Spotted Lizard
Animals in Nicaragua FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What animals live in Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is home to more than a hundred species of mammals, including opossums, rodents, sloths, anteaters, deer, large cats (like ocelots and margays), and perhaps most common of all, bats. There are only a few species of monkeys, but they’re very conspicuous and easy to identify. The country also teems with 700 species of birds, including eagles, macaws, pelicans, and egrets. And it’s particularly rich in turtles, snakes, lizards, insects, and freshwater fish.
What dangerous animals live in Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is home to about 15 exotic species of venomous snakes, as well as scorpions, spiders, poison dart frogs, and large crocodiles, and carnivorous mammals.
Are there any jaguars in Nicaragua?
Yes, jaguars are found in the country’s eastern rainforests. Although they look intimidating, jaguars are the least likely of all big cats to attack humans.
