Vincent'sFUNWILDFACTS

68 species

Mammals in South America

Here are 68 species of mammals that live in South America. Every species has its own page with measurements, habitat, behaviour, IUCN conservation status and sources.

Bats2

Common Vampire Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Bats

Common Vampire Bat

Desmodus rotundus

25–50 g
9–12 yrs
ForestRainforestFarmland+2
Greater Bulldog Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Bats

Greater Bulldog Bat

Noctilio leporinus

54–90 g
5–11 yrs
RainforestMangroveRiver+2

Carnivores4

Giant Otter
Endangered
🦬 Carnivores

Giant Otter

Pteronura brasiliensis

22–32 kg
10–17 yrs
RainforestRiverWetland
Jaguar
Near Threatened
🦬 Carnivores

Jaguar

Panthera onca

56–96 kg
12–20 yrs
RainforestWetlandGrassland+2
Maned Wolf
Near Threatened
🦬 Carnivores

Maned Wolf

Chrysocyon brachyurus

20–30 kg
12–15 yrs
GrasslandSavannapampas+2
Spectacled Bear
Vulnerable
🦬 Carnivores

Spectacled Bear

Tremarctos ornatus

60–200 kg
20–36 yrs
Rainforestcloud_forestMountain+2

Lagomorphs1

European Rabbit
Endangered
🦬 Lagomorphs

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

1.2–2.5 kg
1–9 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandscrubland+1

Primates1

Cotton-top Tamarin
Critically Endangered
🦬 Primates

Cotton-top Tamarin

Saguinus oedipus

0.3–0.5 kg
10–15 yrs
ForestRainforest

Rodents1

Capybara
Least Concern
🦬 Rodents

Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

35–66 kg
6–12 yrs
WetlandGrasslandRainforest+1

Ungulates3

Llama
Least Concern
🦬 Ungulates

Llama

Lama glama

130–200 kg
15–25 yrs
MountainGrasslandparamo
South American Tapir
Vulnerable
🦬 Ungulates

South American Tapir

Tapirus terrestris

150–300 kg
25–35 yrs
RainforestWetlandRiver+1
Vicuña
Least Concern
🦬 Ungulates

Vicuña

Vicugna vicugna

35–65 kg
15–25 yrs
GrasslandMountainparamo

Other56

Alpaca
Not Evaluated
🦬 Mammals

Alpaca

Vicugna pacos

55–90 kg
15–20 yrs
GrasslandMountain
Atlantic spotted dolphin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Atlantic spotted dolphin

Stenella frontalis

100–143 kg
25–30 yrs
OceanCoast
Black Rat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Black Rat

Rattus rattus

75–230 g
1–3 yrs
UrbanGardenFarmland+3
Black Spider Monkey
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Black Spider Monkey

Ateles paniscus

7.5–9 kg
20–27 yrs
RainforestForest
Blainville's Beaked Whale
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Blainville's Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

800–1200 kg
27–45 yrs
Ocean
Bolivian Squirrel Monkey
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Bolivian Squirrel Monkey

Saimiri boliviensis

0.55–1.1 kg
15–20 yrs
RainforestForestWetland+1
Brazilian Guinea Pig
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Brazilian Guinea Pig

Cavia aperea

0.4–0.8 kg
3–8 yrs
GrasslandSavannaWetland+2
Brown Capuchin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Brown Capuchin

Sapajus apella

1.9–4.8 kg
15–45 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland
Brown Rat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

0.14–0.5 kg
1–3 yrs
UrbanFarmlandGarden+5
Brown-Throated Sloth
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Brown-Throated Sloth

Bradypus variegatus

2.25–6 kg
20–40 yrs
RainforestForestcloud_forest
Bryde's Whale
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Bryde's Whale

Balaenoptera edeni

12000–25000 kg
40–70 yrs
OceanCoast
Bush Dog
Near Threatened
🦬 Mammals

Bush Dog

Speothos venaticus

5–8 kg
10–13 yrs
RainforestForestWetland+1
Cat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Cat

Felis catus

3.6–4.5 kg
12–18 yrs
UrbanGardenFarmland+3
Central American Agouti
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Central American Agouti

Dasyprocta punctata

1.3–4 kg
10–20 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+1
Chilean Chinchilla
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Chilean Chinchilla

Chinchilla lanigera

0.4–0.6 kg
10–20 yrs
MountainRocky CliffsDesert
Colombian Red Howler
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Colombian Red Howler

Alouatta seniculus

4.5–9 kg
15–20 yrs
RainforestForestRiver
Commerson's dolphin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Commerson's dolphin

Cephalorhynchus commersonii

35–86 kg
15–18 yrs
OceanCoast
Common Dolphin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

70–110 kg
20–25 yrs
OceanCoast
Common Marmoset
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Common Marmoset

Callithrix jacchus

0.23–0.36 kg
10–16 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland
Common Opossum
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Common Opossum

Didelphis marsupialis

0.8–2.5 kg
2–4 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+4
Common Short-tailed Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Common Short-tailed Bat

Carollia perspicillata

15–23 g
8–10 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+2
Cow
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Cow

Bos taurus

400–1000 kg
15–22 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandWoodland
Coypu
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

5–9 kg
6–10 yrs
WetlandRiverLake+2
Culpeo
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Culpeo

Lycalopex culpaeus

5–13.5 kg
7–11 yrs
MountainGrasslandForest+3
Donkey
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Donkey

Equus asinus

180–480 kg
25–50 yrs
DesertSavannaGrassland+3
Eastern Cottontail
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

0.8–1.8 kg
1–3 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandWoodland+3
Eastern Red Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Eastern Red Bat

Lasiurus borealis

7–13 g
2–12 yrs
ForestWoodlandGrassland+3
False Killer Whale
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

False Killer Whale

Pseudorca crassidens

1100–2200 kg
50–63 yrs
OceanCoast
Giant Anteater
Vulnerable
🦬 Mammals

Giant Anteater

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

22–39 kg
14–26 yrs
RainforestGrasslandSavanna+1
Giant Armadillo
Vulnerable
🦬 Mammals

Giant Armadillo

Priodontes maximus

28–60 kg
12–25 yrs
RainforestGrasslandSavanna+1
Goat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Goat

Capra hircus

20–140 kg
10–18 yrs
MountainGrasslandFarmland+6
Golden Lion Tamarin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Golden Lion Tamarin

Leontopithecus rosalia

0.482–0.794 kg
8–15 yrs
RainforestForest
Gorgona White-faced Capuchin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Gorgona White-faced Capuchin

Cebus capucinus

2.5–4 kg
15–40 yrs
RainforestForestMangrove
Great Fruit-eating Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Great Fruit-eating Bat

Artibeus lituratus

45–85 g
5–10 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+2
Guinan Weeper Capuchin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Guinan Weeper Capuchin

Cebus olivaceus

2–3.5 kg
15–25 yrs
RainforestForest
Guinea pig
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Guinea pig

Cavia porcellus

0.7–1.2 kg
4–8 yrs
GrasslandGardenUrban+1
Hispid Cotton Rat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

50–225 g
0.5–1.5 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandWetland+3
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus hoffmanni

2.1–8.5 kg
20–40 yrs
RainforestForest
Horse
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Horse

Equus caballus

380–1000 kg
25–30 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandForest+6
House Mouse
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

House Mouse

Mus musculus

12–30 g
0.5–3 yrs
UrbanFarmlandGarden+5
human
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

human

Homo sapiens

45–90 kg
60–120 yrs
ForestWetlandMountain+18
Humboldt's White-fronted Capuchin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Humboldt's White-fronted Capuchin

Cebus albifrons

2–3.9 kg
15–40 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+1
Jamaican Fruit Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Jamaican Fruit Bat

Artibeus jamaicensis

40–60 g
7–10 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+3
Javelina
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Javelina

Pecari tajacu

14–30 kg
10–24 yrs
DesertWoodlandGrassland+2
Kinkajou
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

1.4–4.6 kg
20–25 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland
Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus didactylus

4–8 kg
20–40 yrs
RainforestForest
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

7–14 g
8–18 yrs
caveUrbanDesert+4
Nine-banded Armadillo
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

3.6–7.7 kg
7–15 yrs
ForestGrasslandWoodland+2
Paca
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Paca

Cuniculus paca

6–14 kg
10–16 yrs
RainforestForestWetland+1
Pony
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Pony

Equus ferus

90–450 kg
20–35 yrs
GrasslandFarmlandHeathland+2
Pygmy Marmoset
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Pygmy Marmoset

Cebuella pygmaea

0.1–0.14 kg
11–18 yrs
RainforestForestRiver
Ring-tailed Coati
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Ring-tailed Coati

Nasua nasua

3–6 kg
7–14 yrs
RainforestForestWoodland+2
Southern Pudú
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Southern Pudú

Pudu puda

6.4–13.4 kg
8–12 yrs
ForestRainforestMountain+1
Striped Dolphin
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

90–156 kg
45–58 yrs
Ocean
Water Buffalo
Least Concern
🦬 Mammals

Water Buffalo

Bubalus bubalis

300–1200 kg
15–25 yrs
WetlandGrasslandRiver+3
West Indian Manatee
Vulnerable
🦬 Mammals

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

400–600 kg
40–60 yrs
CoastMangroveRiver+1