Wildlife of
Colombia

The country of Colombia in South America is bordered by two bodies of water and has mountains, grasslands, and rainforests. So, it should be no surprise that it’s home to 10 percent of the world’s animal species. Well-known members of the wildlife community include jaguars, caimans, giant anteaters, and the spectacled bear just to name a few. In terms of numbers, there are 467 species of mammal, 518 species of reptiles, and 3200 species of fish in Colombia.

The Official National Animal of Colombia

The national animal of Colombia is the Andean condor. Take one look at the Andean condor and it’s not hard to believe that it’s one of the biggest birds of prey on the earth. It can weigh up to 25 pounds with a wingspan of 10 feet!

The Andean condor was chosen as the national bird of Colombia in 1834. The choice was partly due to the folklore attached to this unique bird. The Andean condor symbolizes health, power, and freedom. It has a long history and is even pictured in Andean art going back to 2500 BC.

Unfortunately, Andean condors have a conservation status of Vulnerable. Many die after eating animals with pesticides in their system. Furthermore, local farmers sometimes shoot these birds thinking they are killing their livestock. Andean condors do eat cows, sheep, and deer, but they eat animals after they have been killed by another predator.

Conservation actions are being taken by the Colombian government to keep this bird from going extinct. Their actions include the introduction of laws decreasing the use of pesticides. Also, there are captive breeding programs to increase the population.

The Andean condor is the national symbol of Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru as well.

Where to Find the Top Wild Animals in Colombia

Colombia has unique animals living in each of its diverse habitats. Discover more facts about a few of the most notable wild animals that make Colombia their home.

• Jaguar – Some jaguars live in tropical rainforests around the Amazon basin. Others live in the savannas and grasslands of Colombia.
• Giant Anteater – This unique animal lives mostly in the northwestern part of Colombia. Its habitats include dry and tropical forests, savannas, and open plains.
• Spectacled Bear – The spectacled bear is sometimes called the Andean bear. That stands to reason because this bear lives in the Andean jungle.
• Capybara – This member of Colombian wildlife lives on the open plains in the eastern region of the country.
• Pink River Dolphin – This unique dolphin lives in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in Colombia.
• Cotton-top Tamarin – Unless you visit a zoo, you can only find these unique monkeys in Colombia. They live in forests located in the northwestern region of this South American country.

The Most Dangerous Animals in Colombia Today

Like most countries, Colombia has its share of dangerous wildlife. Check out the most dangerous animals in Colombia:

• Poison Dart Frog – Their small size and colorful skin can seem harmless at first glance. But don’t be fooled! This frog’s skin is coated with a layer of poison. In fact, this frog has enough poison on its skin to kill 20 humans. The poison causes nerve damage and involuntary muscle contraction which can stop the heart. This is certainly an effective weapon against its predators.
• Chocoan Forest Pit Viper – These venomous snakes live in the Chocoan rainforests as well as in the Andes mountains. Out of all the reported snake bites in Colombia, viper bites account for 90-95% of them. These snakes stay well-hidden by lying on branches without moving for hours. Plus, they hide in bushes and plants until nightfall. One bite from a Chocoan Forest pit viper can cripple a human or even cause death. There’s antivenin medication available, but it has to be the appropriate type in order to be effective.
• Black Caiman Crocodile – These crocodiles can grow to be 20 feet long and are the most common crocodile in the country. Their combined power and speed make them an easy choice for the list of the most dangerous animals in Colombia. Their jaws are strong enough to crush the shell of a turtle! So, a human wouldn’t have a chance against this reptile. Their black scales help them to blend in with their watery habitat making them difficult to spot.
• Bullet Ant – These ants live in bushes, tall grass, and on the forest floor. People who have been stung by this ant say it feels similar to being shot with a gun. That’s one powerful sting! The ant’s sting contains a poison that causes temporary paralysis as well as pain in the spot where the person was stung. The poison is not deadly, but the pain can last anywhere from 5 to 24 hours.

Endangered Animals in Colombia

Unfortunately, there are several endangered animals in Colombia. Loss of habitat, poaching, and poisoning of food sources are all reasons why these Colombian animals are at risk of going extinct. Some notable examples:

• Cotton-top Tamarin – It’s shocking white hair isn’t its only unique characteristic. This animal has an agile climbing ability and an intelligent and complex use of vocalizations. However, it is in perilous danger of extinction in the wild.
• Brown Spider Monkey – Like other similar species, this animal leaps and bounds from one branch to another in a graceful display of aerial control. It is intelligent, caring, and agile, but also loud and aggressive.
• Giant Otter – This is the longest member of the weasel family. Unlike those of its similar species, giant otters are socialable and the noisiest otter species, with distinct vocalizations that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance.
• Colombian Weasel – This is a very rare species, with both its scientific and alternative common name honoring the mammalogist Philip “Don Felipe” Hershkovitz. With less than 10 known alive, it is probably the rarest and least studied carnivore in South America.
• Black-Legged Poison Dart Frog – This is the world’s second-most toxic poison dart frog. It has yellow or orange body and black or dark blue forelimbs and hindlegs. Many indigenous groups of the Colombian rainforest have extracted the toxins to create poison tipped darts used for hunting.
• Mountain Tapir – Out of all the tapir species, this is the only one to live outside of tropical rainforests in the wild. It is most easily distinguished from other tapirs by its thick woolly coat and white lips. Mountain tapirs have been hunted for their meat and hides. Its toes and intestines are used in local folk medicines.

4 Largest Animals in Columbia

This tropical country is home to many animals. Though not too many large animals can easily navigate in the dense jungle, there are a few worth noting.

• Puma – This animal is known by several other names, including mountain lion, catamount, and cougar. However, this nocturnal kitty most resembles our pet cats. The puma doesn’t roar but makes a series of other sounds including hisses, growls, and purrs. The puma can weigh close to 200 pounds and reach up to 78 inches (the size of a tall man!)
• Tapir – The largest terrestrial mammal in South America, the tapir is the size of a small horse. They can weigh anywhere from 330 pounds to 700 pounds while having a strict herbivore diet. Tapirs are considered living fossils because they haven’t changed much since their evolution.
• Anaconda – This fearsome snake is the largest in weight (550 pounds) and second largest in length (about 20 feet). Believe it or not, they are thicker than boas. They also are lovers of both water and land. They may be non-venomous, but they are powerful constrictors and eat rodents, lizards, and fish. Full-size anacondas are known to consume caimans, capybaras, and even jaguars.
• Humpback whale – Though Columbia is known for its jungles, a hidden secret is its amazing location to watch humpback whales! Here is where these marine mammals love to play and show off, jumping out of the water and splashing back down. These whales weigh between 40 tons and 100 tons and can be up to 62 feet in length.

5 Rarest Animals in Columbia

Some of the amazing creatures in Columbia have already been mentioned, but we had to add them to the rarest list. This South American country has many unique species among its jungle brush, some of which have yet to be discovered! Here are a few we already know about:

• Glass Frog – This unique amphibian lives in rainforests and mountains near streams. The skin on its stomach is translucent, so you can see all its organs, even its beating heart! It also has suction cups on its toes to climb the wet tree limbs in the jungle. It also can jump more than ten feet in only one jump.
• Olinguito – This is the smallest mammal in the raccoon family, not a teddy bear. This recently discovered species lives high in the cloud forests, at approximately 5,000 and 9,000 feet. Not much is yet known about this species, other than it is similar to its sister, the Olingo. They feast mostly on plants and fruits and are nocturnal and solitary.
• Basilisk – This lizard in Columbia is also known as the “Jesus Lizard” because it can run on water at up to 1.5m per second, thanks to long toes on their back feet. These lizards blend in with the lush Central and South American environment.
• Pink River Dolphin – This fresh water species lives in the Amazon, Orinoco and Araguaian rivers, and is the largest river dolphin with a body type that is different than ocean dolphins. The Amazon river dolphin doesn’t have a dorsal fin. Instead, it sports a modified hump. There are a few hypotheses why these dolphins are pink, including scars and camouflage.
• Cotton-top Tamarin – Known as titís in Columbia, these primates have a massive shock of white hair that makes the monkey look almost human. It is barely larger than a squirrel, weighing about 1 pound and up to 10 inches in length, though its tail adds another 10 inches. It has claws instead of nails and no prehensile tail, but is an expert climber and leaps 10 feet in the air.

The Flag of Colombia

The Colombian flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, blue, and yellow. The yellow stripe occupies half of the flag, with the remaining area evenly divided between the blue and red stripes.

Gran Colombia was a republic in South America that broke apart in the 19th century, forming the countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The Colombian National Flag was created by Venezuelan General Francisco de Miranda and was formally accepted on November 26, 1861.