Below you can find a complete list of Venezuelan animals. We currently track 300 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 and are also known as bugle birds. Properly speaking, troupials are animals native to this country but they’re also found in Colombia and some Caribbean islands.
The troupial is not a social bird and will defend their territory very fiercely. They do not build nests but prefer to use the nests of other birds as their own.
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 the two-toed sloth, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Canaima National Park, or Parque Nacional Canaima, is located in Bolivar, in southeastern Venezuela, and is bordered by Brazil and Guyana where it spreads over 7 million acres. Of the 43 national parks, this is the main one. It is home to the highest continuous waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, at 3,211 feet high. At Canaima, in addition to the numerous activities, you will find the two-toed sloth.
The two-toed sloth is typically found in Central and South America and can be found in the tropical rainforests of Venezuela. They reside in the trees, where they spend most of their time eating twigs, buds, and leaves. They spend an average of 15 to 20 hours a day sleeping.
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.
While the total number of species of piranha is unknown, Venezuela is home to 13 species of piranhas that are found in five out of the seven freshwater basins in the country. Also known as caribe, they have incredibly sharp teeth and despite their reputation, can be omnivorous as well as carnivorous. The average size of this fish is 6 to 10 inches in length and their single row of sharp teeth is used for quick puncturing.
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.
The brown spider monkey is found in the forests of northwestern Venezuela and is listed as critically endangered. As one of the 25 most endangered primates, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal hunting and loss of habitat. They have an average lifespan of 27 years in the wild. Like humans, this monkey likes to greet members of its species with hugs.
Rarest Animal In Venezuela
Poison dart frogs are threatened by climate change.
The poison dart frog, like many frogs and toads of its species, is currently threatened by climate change and is becoming increasingly rarer to see. Because Venezuela has such a diverse rainforest and coastal habitats, it is a great location for these amphibians to call home but rising temperatures are increasing the difficulty of reproduction, which may cause their numbers to fall off.
The capybara is not only the largest rodent in Venezuela but in the world. Also known as the water hog and the carpincho, this rodent grows up to 4.3 feet in length and can weigh up to 174 pounds. It lives in forests and wetlands and has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years.
Jaguars have lost more than 40% of their natural territory.
The jaguar falls into two categories – the rarest and largest animal in Venezuela – and is currently listed as a near-threatened species. They have lost more than 40 percent of their natural territory and have disappeared from many areas. It is believed that there are around 4,000 of these big cats remaining in the country. The average size for a male is 209 pounds, females are 124 pounds.
Flag Of Venezuela
The 8-star Flag of Venezuela was introduced in 2006.
The flag of Venezuela is a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red, with eight stars at the center of the blue stripe. This design dates to the original flag that was introduced in 1811 during the Venezuelan War of Independence. The colors represent the nation’s independence, courage, and wealth of the country. The eight five-pointed stars that are featured on the center of the flag represent the eight provinces – Barcelona, Barinas, Caracas, Cumana, Guayana, Margarita, Merida, and Trujillo.
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.
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.
Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are some animals unique to Venezuela?
Animals native to Venezuela include the capybara, the giant otter, the giant anteater, the crab-eating fox and the white-bellied spider monkey.