Animals in Venezuela

Below you can find a complete list of Venezuelan animals. We currently track 150 animals in Venezuela and are adding more every day!

Venezuela is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet because it spreads across so many geographically diverse habitats. Among Venezuelan animals, you’ll find the crocodiles of the Orinoco Delta, the Spectacled Bear of the Andean highlands, the capybaras of the Llanos plains, the monkeys and sloths of the Amazon basin, and the Scarlet Ibis of the Caribbean coast. More than 4,000 species of animals live in Venezuela, including more than 350 discrete mammal and reptile species, more than 1,400 avian species, and nearly 2,000 marine species. Animals native to Venezuela include jaguars, the crab-eating fox, the giant anteater, and the giant otter.

The Official National Animal of Venezuela

The national animal of Venezuela is the troupial (Icterus icterus), a member of the oriole family. These black-headed, orange-bodied birds are found throughout Venezuela’s drier forests and grasslands. Properly speaking, troupials are animals native to this country since they’re also found in Colombia and some Caribbean islands.

Where To Find The Top Wildlife in Venezuela

More than 20 percent of the country is comprised of national parkland where animals can flourish. National parks are mostly found in the country’s mountainous and coastal regions. Canaima National Park, home to Venezuelan animals such as the giant armadillo, the cougar, the jaguar, and two-toed sloth, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Venezuela Today

The jaguars that roam the Amazonian jungles and the piranhas that swim in Amazonian streams are among the most dangerous animals in this country. Venezuela has its share of poisonous snakes, too, such as the Venezuela Coral Snake and the Horned Palm Viper.

Endangered Animals In Venezuela

More than 50 percent of Venezuela’s unique avian and mammalian species can be found in the Amazonian forests south of the Orinoco Delta. Many of these species are at risk of becoming extinct in Venezuela because of habitat destruction related to the oil industry. Other animals facing extinction are the giant armadillo and the giant otter. Though more than 20 animals here are in danger of becoming extinct, there is no definitive list of extinct animals in Venezuela.