For a country which saw all of its seacoast become extinct in a 19th Century war, the South American nation of Bolivia is still recognized as one of the most environmentally diverse places on the planet. The major topographical feature of Bolivia are twin strands of the great Andes Mountains running north to south down the western side of the country. In between these two chains is the 12,000 foot high valley known as the Altiplano and Bolivia’s twin capital cities, Sucre and La Paz. On the eastern side of the mountain ranges, the terrain descends down into the drainage basin of the Amazon River where features typical of a tropical jungle prevail.
The Official National Animal of Bolivia
Not surprisingly, the Llama is the national animal of Bolivia. This distinctive South American draft animal has been used by humanity going clear back to the lost civilizations of the Inca and beyond. Incidentally, the double “L” at the front of the llama’s name is actually a letter of the Spanish alphabet and pronounced as “Y”. Thus we have “yama” and not “lama”.
In addition to the faithful llama, Bolivia also has a national bird species, which is the gigantic Andean Condor, the largest bird species on the planet. So other birds have a slightly larger wingspan than the 11 foot span of the condor, but the condor is a bigger, heavier bird overall.
Where To Find The Top Wild Animals in Bolivia
There is a lot to choose from when it comes to wildlife viewing in the country. Many people interested in tropical species find the combination reserve/rescue operation of the privately-owned Chuchini Ecological Reserve in the rainforest to be worth their time.
The massive 1.7 million acre Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is located in the far southwest corner of the country. Filled with erupting volcanoes, vast geothermal attractions and enormous numbers of elegant pink flamingoes, it is one of the country’s most visited wildlife attractions.
For something specific, one might look to the San Miguelito Jaguar Reserve.
The Most Dangerous Animals In Bolivia
Perhaps the most dangerous of all Bolivian wildlife is the Piranha. While people think of this voracious and carnivorous fish as being Brazilian, it is actually Amazonian and the headwaters of the Amazon are up in the high peaks of the Andes.
The infamous Anaconda is also found in the Amazonian basin, along with a small species of crocodile known as the Caiman. Also resident in the lowland rainforest areas of the country is the mysterious Jaguar.
Up in the highlands, there are fewer real risks to humans. The big condor is not really a menace, the sole member of the bear family in South America, the Spectacled Bear is small and rather shy. As for the Maned Wolf, it is not really a wolf per se, but a related species that looks like a wolf but hunts in solitary and is much smaller.
Endangered Animals in Bolivia
Among the endangered animals of Bolivia, the most well-known is probably the Chinchilla, which has some of the softest fur in the world and is thus a target for poachers.
The Jaguar is always threatened with becoming extinct everywhere it still exists. The same goes for the Giant Brazilian Otter. Like virtually all other otters, it seems to be an endangered species throughout the world due to its riverbank habitat which puts it in close proximity to humans.
The Chacoan Guanaco is another animal at risk of becoming extinct due to destruction of its grassland habitat.
Bolivian Animals
Acadian Flycatcher
Their nests are sloppily held together and have an abandoned appearance
Agouti
The agouti is one of the only animals that can crack open Brazil nut pods!
Alpaca
They can spit up to 10 feet.
Amazon Parrot
These parrots can be trained to be "talking birds" that mimic human speech
Amazon Tree Boa
Amazon tree boas come in a rainbow of colors.
Amazonian Royal Flycatcher
They use their bright royal-looking crests during mating season
Anaconda
They are the heaviest snake in the world
Anhinga
Their name means snake bird
Ant
First evolved 100 million years ago!
Anteater
Has the longest tongue of any animal in relation to its body size!
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
Avocet
Has a curved, upturned beak!
Banjo Catfish
The banjo catfish is extremely shy and known for hiding from onlookers.
Barb
There are over 1768 known species!
Barn Owl
Found everywhere around the world!
Barn Swallow
Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.
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!
Blackburnian Warbler
They are the only songbird in North America with an orange throat!
Blind Snake
The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.
Blue Tanager (Blue-Grey Tanager)
They travel and forage in pairs or groups
Bolivian Anaconda
This is a newly described species! In 2002, scientists realized they had a different species in Bolivia.
Booby
Seabirds found across the South Pacific!
Brazilian Treehopper
“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”
Brown Dog Tick
Can live its entire life indoors
Bush Dog
Bush dogs have webbed toes to help them swim.
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!
Caiman Lizard
Caiman lizards are among the largest lizards.
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.
Capybara
Excellent at both diving and swimming
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!
Cascabel
Cascabels rely on their camouflage first, and rattle if that doesn't work.
Cat
May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.
Caterpillar
The larvae of a moth or butterfly!
Catfish
There are nearly 3,000 different species!
Centipede
There are about 3,000 documented species!
Chicken
First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!
Chilean Rose Tarantula
They can cling to the side of an aquarium.
Chinchilla
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!
Cichlid
There are more than 2 000 known species!
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.
Cormorant
They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.
Cow
There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Crab-Eating Fox
The crab-eating fox is extremely adaptable, living in all sorts of habitats and eating almost any available food.
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!
Crocodylomorph
Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.
Crow
A group of these birds is called a Murder.
Discus
One of the only schooling Cichlids!
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
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!
Electric Eel
Despite its powerful shock, electric eels have terrible vision.
Emerald Tree Boa
Their teeth are as long as a fully-grown reticulated python
Emperor Tamarin
Has an elegant white moustache!
Falcon
The fastest creatures on the planet!
False Water Cobra
There are several color morphs, including lavender!
False Widow Spider
False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders
Fer-de-lance Snake
The Most Dangerous Snake in the Americas
Firefly
The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world
Flamingo
Sleeps on just one leg!
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
Fulvous Whistling Duck
They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source
Gecko
There are thought to be over 2,000 species!
German Cockroach
The most common type of urban roach
Glowworm
Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!
Gnat
Males form large mating swarms at dusk
Grasshopper
There are 11,000 known species!
Great Potoo Bird
At night, they make a terrifying low call that sounds like a distressed moan or growl.
Green Anaconda
Females are often five times longer than males.
Guinea Pig
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!
Guppy
Also known as the Millionfish!
Gypsy Moth
One of the most invasive species in the world
Hamster
Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!
Hare
Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!
Harpy Eagle
Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!
Harris’s 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.
Hepatic Tanager (Red Tanager)
Parents and their young sing sweetly to each other
Hercules Beetle
This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.
Heron
Inhabits wetlands around the world!
Honey Bee
There are only 8 recognized species!
Argentine Horned Frog
Natively found in South America!
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
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.
Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest flying parrot in the world!
Ibis
Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!
Iguana
Uses visual signals to communicate!
IMG Boa Constrictor
The first IMG boa was born in a litter of anerythristic boas.
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jabiru
They form lifelong pair bonds and live in groups near water sources.
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
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!
Lipstick Albino Boa
Lipstick albino boas are a designer morph that you'll only find from breeders.
Lizard
There are around 5,000 different species!
Llama
Natively found in the Andes Mountain range!
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
Maned Wolf
Despite its name, the Maned Wolf is not actually a wolf.
Margay
Margays are one of the world’s most highly adapted cat species for climbing trees!
Mealybug
They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
Megatherium
Megatherium probably used its lips more than its tongue when feeling for choice leaves in the treetops.
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Some colonies have millions of bats
Millipede
Some species have a poisonous bite!
Mockingbird
Mockingbirds are incredible mimics that can learn hundreds of songs!
Mole
Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!
Molly
Known for their calm and peaceful nature!
Mongrel
Has characteristics of two or more breeds!
Monkey
There are around 260 known species!
Moorhen
Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!
Morpho Butterfly
Collectors prize them for their bright wings
Mosquito
Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood
Moth
There are 250,000 different species!
Mountain Lion
Has no real natural predators!
Mouse
Found on every continent on Earth!
Mule
The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!
Muscovy Duck
Unlike most duck species, the Muscovy is silent and only makes noise when excited or threatened.
Nematode
Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long
No See Ums
There are more than 5,000 species.
Northern Harrier
They can reach speeds of 25 Mph but prefer to soar low and slow.
Nutria
An invasive species, one female nutria can birth up to 200 babies in just a few years of living!
Ocelot
Also known as the Painted Leopard!
Orange Tanager (Orange-Headed Tanager)
They inhabit the lowlands of the Amazon rainforest
Orb Weaver
Females are about four times the size of males
Orchard Oriole
They use rapid wingbeats to hover over foliage as they search for food.
Osprey
They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!
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!
Parakeet
Monk parakeets are the only parakeets that actually build nests. They’re also the only parakeets to nest in great colonies.
Parrot
Can live for up to 100 years!
Parrotlet
Parrotlets aren't the world's tiniest parrot — that would be the pygmy parrot of Australasia.
Peacock Bass
Peacock bass is known for their aggressive behavior and predatory instincts, making them a challenging target for sport fishermen.
Peregrine Falcon
Fastest animal on Earth
Peruvian Guinea Pig
The Peruvian guinea pig is well known for its long, soft tresses and edgy bangs.
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.
Piranha
Generally found in fast-flowing streams!
Pit Viper
Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.
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!
Rainbow Boa
The rainbow boa is named for its iridescent skin that refracts light and creates a rainbow-colored effect.
Rat
Omnivores that eat anything!
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes may have evolved their rattle to warn bison away from them.
Red-Footed Tortoise
Male and female Red-Footed Tortoises move their heads to communicate.
Red Tail Boa (common boa)
Red tailed boas don’t suffocate their prey, they squeeze until the heart stops circulating blood to the brain.
Rhea
Male rheas mate with up to a dozen females and single-handedly raise up to 80 chicks at once!
River Turtle
Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!
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!
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!
Scale-Crested Pygmy Tyrant
They raise their crests to ward off predators
Scorpion
There are around 2,000 known species!
Scrotum Frog
The frog's ears are underdeveloped, and if it hears it probably does so through its lungs.
Seahorse
Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!
Sehuencas Water Frog
Thought extinct in the wild from 2009 to 2019
Sharp-Shinned Hawk
In captivity, sharp-shinned hawks can live up to 13 years. However, in the wild, this number is significantly reduced to 3 years!
Sheep
Around 35 million in the English countryside!
Short-Eared Owl
The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.
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!
Silver Dollar
Closely related to the Piranha
Skink Lizard
Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.
Skunk
Also known as the Polecat!
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 4,000 known species worldwide
Sparrow
There are 140 different species!
Spectacled Bear
Native to the Andes mountains of South America!
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.
Summer Tanager
They remove bee stingers by rubbing them against a tree
Swainson’s Hawk
Their wings form a “V” shape when flying.
Swan
Populations have been affected by pollution!
Tapir
Most closely related to horses and rhinos!
Tarantula Hawk
Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.
Teddy Guinea Pig
Teddy guinea pigs resemble teddy bears, hence their name.
Termite
Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!
Tetra
Native to the freshwater streams of South America!
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 Cricket
They make music with their wings
Tree Frog
Found in warmer jungles and forests!
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!
Unau (Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth)
Its top speed is 0.17mph
Upland Sandpiper
They make jerky movements as they walk through the grass, searching for food.
Vampire Bat
Have a heat sensor on the end of their nose!
Vermilion Flycatcher
They have a fast song that lasts up to 10 syllables at max.
Vicuña
Vicuñas have some of the softest wool in the entire animal kingdom
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!
Wattled Jacana
They are typically noisy birds but take on a soft tone with their young.
Whiptail Lizard
Many whiptail species reproduce asexually.
White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
There are two different types of white ferrets!
Whitetail Deer
Although deer are herbivores, they will sometimes eat mice and birds when they can catch them.
Wolf Spider
Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.
Woodlouse
This animal can roll up into a ball
Woodpecker
There are 200 different species!
Woolly Monkey
Has a long, strong prehensile tail!
Worm
Doesn’t have eyes.
X-Ray Tetra
Yellow, black and white striped fins!
Bolivian Animals List
- Acadian Flycatcher
- Agouti
- Alpaca
- Amazon Parrot
- Amazon Tree Boa
- Amazonian Royal Flycatcher
- Anaconda
- Anhinga
- Ant
- Anteater
- Armadillo
- Armyworm
- Avocet
- Banjo Catfish
- Barb
- Barn Owl
- Barn Swallow
- Bear
- Bed Bugs
- Bee
- Beetle
- Bird
- Biscuit Beetle
- Black Widow Spider
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Blind Snake
- Blue Tanager (Blue-Grey Tanager)
- Bolivian Anaconda
- Booby
- Brazilian Treehopper
- Brown Dog Tick
- Bush Dog
- Butterfly
- Caecilian
- Caiman
- Caiman Lizard
- Camel Cricket
- Capybara
- Carpenter Ant
- Cascabel
- Cat
- Caterpillar
- Catfish
- Centipede
- Chicken
- Chilean Recluse Spider
- Chilean Rose Tarantula
- Chinchilla
- Cichlid
- Cockroach
- Codling Moth
- Collared Peccary
- Common Furniture Beetle
- Common House Spider
- Coral Snake
- Cormorant
- Cow
- Crab
- Crab-Eating Fox
- Crab Spider
- Cricket
- Crocodile
- Crocodylomorph
- Crow
- Cuckoo
- Discus
- Dog
- Dog Tick
- Donkey
- Dragonfly
- Dubia Cockroach
- Duck
- Dung Beetle
- Eagle
- Earthworm
- Earwig
- Eel
- Electric Eel
- Emerald Tree Boa
- Emperor Tamarin
- Falcon
- False Water Cobra
- False Widow Spider
- Fer-de-lance Snake
- Firefly
- Flamingo
- Flea
- Fly
- Flying Squirrel
- Frog
- Fruit Fly
- Fulvous Whistling Duck
- Gecko
- German Cockroach
- Glowworm
- Gnat
- Grasshopper
- Great Potoo Bird
- Green Anaconda
- Guinea Pig
- Guppy
- Gypsy Moth
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harpy Eagle
- Harris’s Hawk
- Hawk Moth Caterpillar
- Hepatic Tanager (Red Tanager)
- Hercules Beetle
- Heron
- Honey Bee
- Argentine Horned Frog
- Horse
- Horsefly
- House wren
- Housefly
- Human
- Hummingbird
- Huntsman Spider
- Hyacinth Macaw
- Ibis
- Iguana
- IMG Boa Constrictor
- Insects
- Jabiru
- Jacana
- Jaguar
- Jumping Spider
- Kingfisher
- Kinkajou
- Ladybug
- Leech
- Lipstick Albino Boa
- Lizard
- Llama
- Locust
- Lone Star Tick
- Macaw
- Maggot
- Maned Wolf
- Margay
- Marmoset
- Mealybug
- Megatherium
- Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
- Millipede
- Mockingbird
- Mole
- Molly
- Mongrel
- Monkey
- Moorhen
- Morpho Butterfly
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Mountain Lion
- Mouse
- Mule
- Muscovy Duck
- Nematode
- No See Ums
- Northern Harrier
- Nutria
- Ocelot
- Orange Tanager (Orange-Headed Tanager)
- Orb Weaver
- Orchard Oriole
- Osprey
- Otter
- Owl
- Ox
- Panther
- Parakeet
- Parrot
- Parrotlet
- Peacock Bass
- Peregrine Falcon
- Peruvian Guinea Pig
- Pheasant
- Pigeon
- Piranha
- Pit Viper
- Poison Dart Frog
- Porcupine
- Praying Mantis
- Puma
- Quail
- Quetzal
- Raccoon
- Rainbow Boa
- Rat
- Rat Snakes
- Rattlesnake
- Red-Footed Tortoise
- Red Tail Boa (common boa)
- Rhea
- River Turtle
- Rodents
- Rooster
- Roseate Spoonbill
- Saber-Toothed Tiger
- Sable Ferret
- Salamander
- Scale-Crested Pygmy Tyrant
- Scorpion
- Scrotum Frog
- Seahorse
- Sehuencas Water Frog
- Sharp-Shinned Hawk
- Sheep
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrew
- Shrimp
- Silver Dollar
- Skink Lizard
- Skunk
- Sloth
- Slug
- Smokybrown Cockroach
- Snail
- Snake
- Sparrow
- Spectacled Bear
- Spider Wasp
- Squirrel
- Stick Insect
- Stork
- Summer Tanager
- Swainson’s Hawk
- Swallowtail Butterfly
- Swan
- Tapir
- Tarantula Hawk
- Teddy Guinea Pig
- Termite
- Tetra
- Thrush
- Tick
- Tiger Beetle
- Tortoise
- Toucan
- Toxodon
- Tree Cricket
- Tree Frog
- Turtles
- Umbrellabird
- Unau (Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth)
- Upland Sandpiper
- Vampire Bat
- Vermilion Flycatcher
- Vicuña
- Vinegaroon
- Vulture
- Wasp
- Wattled Jacana
- Whiptail Lizard
- White Ferret / Albino Ferrets
- Whitetail Deer
- Wolf Spider
- Woodlouse
- Woodpecker
- Woolly Monkey
- Worm
- X-Ray Tetra
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are there black panthers in Bolivia?
This is an interesting question. Zoologically speaking, there is no such thing as a black panther. There are, however, cat species which sometime produce all-black offspring. These include the Leopard and the Jaguar, both of which are known to produce the occasional black member of a litter. So, yes, there are “black panthers” found occasionally in Bolivia but they are actually jaguars.
Are there Pumas in Bolivia?
Bolivia is home to Pumas. Like all apex predators, they are only present in small numbers. A number of rescue organizations in Bolivia specialize in puma rescue for big cats that were taken as kittens and kept as pets until they became too large and dangerous to keep safely.
What plants and animals live in Bolivia?
Due to its biodiversity and terrain differentiation, that is a large question for a medium-sized country. In addition, South America is home to many unique creatures not found elsewhere in the world. Thus the fearsome piranha is found in the Amazon reaches of Bolivia. So too is the unique Amazon, or Pink, river dolphin.
The jungle and rainforest areas of the country abound with big cats and primates. The usual selection of tropical birds inhabit the lowland jungles while migratory species such as the Andean Flamingo are found in the lake regions of the highlands.
Large rodents are characteristic of South America. The endangered Chinchilla is one, as is the huge Capybara, the world’s largest rodent and capable of growing to as much as 140 lbs in weight. The rabbit-like Viscacha is a well-known denizen of Bolivia’s highlands.
The mighty Andean Condor prowls the skies while the ubiquitous cousins Alpaca, Llama, and Vicuna are found throughout Bolivia.
As for plant life, the most unique and well-known entry in the plant kingdom is the coca plant, of which Bolivia is considered to be the third-largest producer of this leaf used to manufacture cocaine with. Beyond that, Bolivia is home to a wide but not especially remarkable assortment of plant species, most of which can be found elsewhere in the world in one variant or another.
Do alligators live in Bolivia?
Differentiation is scientifically made between alligators and crocodiles. There is one species of small alligator, the Caiman, present in Bolivia. This would qualify as a member of the Alligatoridae family, but all alligators are members of the order Crocodylia. They can thus very broadly be considered to be crocodiles as well, but this appellation is not commonly applied to any of the alligators, including the caiman.
