Strangest Animals In South America

An odd extinct mammal that lived in South America during the last ice age had a long neck like a llamas three-toed feet like a rhinos and what may have been a tapir-like trunk.

Strangest animals in south america. Anacondas can stay underwater for up to ten minutes. South america also has its fair share of mysteries especially the unsolved variety. South Americas 20 genera of nonhuman primates compares with 6 in Central America 15 in Madagascar 23 in Africa and 19 in Asia.

From giant killer dolphins to the largest cat in the Americas this vast continent is a lethal predator battleground. To quote the 1997 Encyclopedia of Mammals the sloths top speed is a dismal 12 mph Aside from a lack of speed these animals also have faces that seem to be permanently contorted into a silly grin. They are known to sting humans.

They can grow up to 40cm long and although they look quite disconcerting they are actually completely harmless. But survival is not assured because the abundant prey is closely followed by powerful predators. Andean condors are the largest raptor in the world and the largest bird of flight in South America.

Tarantula hawks can be found throughout South America and the United States where they make the desert their home. The jaguarondi is a unique feline that is native to Central America and has a remnant population living Southern Texas. South America is a rich and diverse land.

All South American monkeys are believed to be descended from ancestors that rafted over from Africa about 25 million years ago in a single dispersal event. A cousin of the famous piranha the pacu also sports a serious set of teeth. Rare animals south america strange animals unusual animals.

Unusual Animals in South America. Found near freshwater stream and rivers in Mexico and Central and South America this unique animal is locally known as the yapok. Stunning landscapes harbor elusive critters that have evolved to thrive here.