Colombia is a South American republic made up of 32 departments, in addition to the capital district. It covers an area of 1,141,748 km2 and borders the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Although the climate is warm and temperate in most of the territory, it also has moorland areas in the Andes mountain range, in addition to woody and jungle areas In this geographic diversity, multiple species live, some endemic to the area. Do you want to know these 10 typical animals of Colombia? Then read on!
Representative Animals of Colombia
Some animals are strongly linked to the place where they live, not only because they are endemic to the place, but also because they have penetrated the imagination of people. An example of this are the species that are considered symbols of the country. In the case of Colombia, it is the Andean condor.
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a species of bird that inhabits the Andes mountain range. It is characterized by measuring up to 150 cm. height and between 270 to 280 cm. in length, as far as wingspan is concerned. The head is red and bald, accompanied by a body covered with black feathers, except on the neck, where a white collar is observed. This species is the national bird of Colombia, although it can be found in all the countries that are part of the Andean mountain range.
Examples of Colombian animals
In addition to the condor, there are other representative animals of Colombia, whether they are endemic or typical of that territory. Here are some of them:
1. Orinoco Crocodile
The Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) is among the typical animals of Colombia, although it can also be found in Venezuela. The species is endemic to the Orinoco River, where it lives both in the waters and in the surrounding jungle and savannah. It reaches 250 meters in length and feeds on all kinds of prey: mammals, fish and birds, among others. It is currently in critically endangered due to the overexploitation of water resources and the destruction of its habitat.
two. San Andres Corner
The San Andrés skink (Alinea berengerae) is one of the endemic animals of Colombia , specifically from the island of San Andrés, located in the Caribbean Sea. It is a lizard of the Scincidae family that only occupies a range of 20 km2 on the island. The species lives in the forest and near human settlements, especially in bromeliad, yucca and palm plantations.
3. Morrocoy tortoise
Another of Colombia's native animals is the morrocoy tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata), which can also be found in countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador. It is a terrestrial animal that measures between 30 and 50 cm. It is an omnivorous animal, since it eats leaves, fruits, insects and carrionThis species is popular as a pet, which is why it is endangered, although its current distribution status is unknown.
4. Colombian Toad
If it is about rare animals of Colombia, it is possible to mention the Colombian toad(Atelopus minutulus). The species is endemic to Colombia and its rarity lies in the fact that is possibly extinct , since there are no records of sightings since 1985. If it existed, the species would inhabit the east of the Andes, where it would live in the rivers and cloud forest areas.
5. Rana ventrimaculata
The ventrimaculata frog (Ranitomeya ventrimaculata) is one of the exotic animals of Colombia, because the color of this species makes it a very striking species. On a black body, this rat exhibits jagged lines in a shade of bright yellow that fades to blueIt lives in the Amazon area that crosses Peru, Brazil and French Guiana. However, most of the population is concentrated in the Colombian territory. It is a diurnal species that lives on the moist forest floor and hides among the trees.
6. Olinguito
The olinguito (Bassaricyon neblina) is really another of Colombia's rare animals, since it was identified as a species and described only in 2013 It lives at 2,800 meters above sea level, in the northern part of the Andes. The species has solitary and nocturnal habits. It prefers to live in cloud forests, where it feeds on all kinds of fruits.
7. Orphan Salamander
The orphaned salamander (Bolitoglossa capitana) is another of Colombia's endemic animals, where it lives specifically in a locality in the department of Cundinamarca, at 1780 meters high. It is a species rarely seen other than the cloud forests, where it prefers to live among the leaves. Most of their life habits are unknown.
8. Black Inca
The Black Inca (Coeligena prunellei) is an Endemic Hummingbirdof the Colombian territory, where it lives to the west of the mountain range, at 2800 meters high. It prefers to live in cloud forests, especially those with an abundance of oaks. The species does not migrate, lives an average of 4 years and mates between June and October. It is characterized by black plumage with white spots and a greenish patch on the neck.
9. Blue-billed Curassow
The Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti) is a bird typical of northern Colombia, where in the past it could be found in large areas. It is currently in critically endangered, so it is only possible to locate it in five different locations. The species prefers to live in humid forest areas at 1,200 meters above sea level. It breeds during the dry season and feeds on fruit, carrion and insects.
10. Dotted Lizard
The last of Colombia's typical animals is the spotted lizard (Diploglossus millepunctatus), a endemic species of Malpelo Island Lives in the rocky soil near the coast or in areas only 300 meters high. This lizard feeds on invertebrates during the juvenile period, but adults are carnivorous animals and consume chicks, fish and eggs, among others.
Other typical animals of Colombia
There are many other animals native to Colombia, these are some of them:
- Colombian Weasel (Mustela felipei)
- Colombian Scops Owl (Megascops columbianus)
- Tree Toad (Dendropsophus columbianus)
- Colombian fire salamander (Oedipina parvipes)
- Long-tailed snake (Enuliophis sclateri)
- Rice rat (Handleyomys intectus)
- Colombian Guacharaca (Ortalis columbiana)
- Ground snake (Geophis brachycephalus)
- Andean frog (Niceforonia columbiana)
- Lipon Toad (Pleurodema brachyops)
- Torpedo (Diplobatis colombiensis)
- Colombian Gecko (Phyllodactylus transversalis)
- Mamboré Toad (Rhaebo blombergi)
Animals in danger of extinction in Colombia
The action of man and climate change have endangered many of the species in the Colombian territory. Unless the necessary measures are taken, most could disappear in a short time.
These are some of the animals in danger of extinction in Colombia:
- Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti)
- Orinoco Crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)
- Colombian Toad (Atelopus minutulus)
- Lynch's Tree Frog (Hyloscirtus lynchi)
- Colombian Litter Lizard (Riama columbiana)
- Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
- Colombian Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lugens)
- Mountain thrush (Macroagelaius subalaris)
- Night monkey (Aotus lemurinus)
- Colombian Toad (Rhinella nicefori)
- White-headed marmoset (Saguinus oedipus)
- Colombian Electric Ray (Diplobatis colombiensis)
Extinct animals in Colombia
The Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature only lists the Colombian grebe (Podiceps andinus) among extinct animals from Colombia. However, it is presumed that the Colombian toad, listed as critically endangered, could also be extinct.