Venezuela is a land rich in natural resources, as well as varied landscapes, including hot beaches, deserts, mountains and snow among others. This variety of ecosystems is home to multiple species of living beings, both fauna and flora.
Despite this, many animal species are threatened, mainly due to human action. If the necessary measures are not taken, it is possible that several of them will disappear. Do you want to know which are the 10 animals in danger of extinction in Venezuela? Then you cannot miss this article on our site, where we will show you the most vulnerable.
1. Giant armadillo
The giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) is distributed between the coastal mountain range and the Andes, in addition to the state of Apure, Barinas, Portuguese, Lara, Yaracuy and Zulia. It is an animal with a broad head and a conical face. The body is covered by a shell and has large claws to defend itself against predators.
Is in danger due to hunting for meat consumption and manufacturing of ornaments, such as necklaces and bracelets.
two. Earwig Hummingbird
The Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (Hylonympha macrocerca) is one of the most striking and curious animals in the country, both for its beautiful colors and for its its small size. It measures barely twenty centimeters long, covered mainly by its tail. The distribution of the Swallowtail Hummingbird is limited to the Paria Peninsula, in the state of Sucre. This species is threatened by the loss of its habitat due to logging and burning of the wooded areas of the peninsula.
3. Stone-crested Curassow
The Stone-crested Curassow (Pauxi pauxi) is a large, quite conspicuous bird. It has a large protuberance that protrudes from the front of the head, in addition, its plumage is intense black on the upper part and white on the belly and the tip of the tail. It is in danger of extinction for two reasons: destruction of its natural habitat and indiscriminate hunting
4. Barbary tortoise
La Arraú turtle, also called charapa (Podocnemis expansa) is the largest turtle that lives on Venezuelan soil, mainly along and width of the Orinoco River and the Amazonas It feeds on fruits and flowers. As for its appearance, it is dark on the upper part and with yellowish tones on the belly area.
It is in danger of extinction due to the destruction of its natural habitat, the trafficking of its eggs and the overexploitation of its population for culinary consumption.
5. Cayman of the Orinoco
The Orinoco alligator (Crocodylus intermedius) reaches up to seven meters in length and 430 kilos in weight. Their diet varies according to age: the young feed on small insects and invertebrates, while the adult specimens eat fish, birds, snakes and frogs, as well as large mammals. They inhabit the Orinoco river basin.
It is on the list of endangered animals because it is hunted for its fur, which is used in fur industry. In addition, habitat destruction has also reduced the population of these large reptiles.
6. Margay
The tigrillo (Leopardus wiedii) is also known as the solitary nocturnal cat and measures about sixty centimeters, in addition to reaching a weight of between three and four kilos. It is a carnivorous animal that feeds on squirrels, opossums, lizards and porcupines among other animals. It inhabits the area of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range. It is in danger of extinction due to hunting for consumption, coupled with the transformation of its habitat into farming areas and the construction of infrastructure.
7. Harpy eagle
The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a bird that measures about 100 cm long and 200 cm wide, which makes it one of the largest in the country. Its plumage shows a composition of various shades around the body, in addition, it has a characteristic double crest on the head. We can find it in the states of Carabobo, Aragua and in the Orinoco basin. It is in danger of extinction mainly due to habitat destruction
8. Spider monkey
The spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) is a gregarious species that lives in communities of between twenty and forty individuals. It lives in the eastern mountain range, south of Venezuela. Despite being very sociable animals, they fiercely defend their territory from possible invaders. They feed on fruits, seeds, honey, insects and wood, among many other elements. Its main threat is the deforestation of the habitat due to the construction of infrastructure in the area.
9. Andean bear
The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the only species of bear in South America. In Venezuela it can be seen in the Sierra de Perijá, Zulia state, and in mountainous Andean areas in the west of the country, such as Mérida and Lara. It is an omnivorous animal, since it usually feeds on fruits, leaves and pieces of wood. It is at risk due to poaching and deforestation of its habitat.
10. Giant otter
The Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) measures almost two meters and weighs about fifty kilos. They are peaceful animals, although they fiercely defend their young from possible threats. In Venezuela they are located in the Andes mountain range, the plains, the Amazon jungle and the eastern mountain range of the country.
It is seriously threatened due to hunting, since its skin is used to make skins and clothing. In addition, its meat is also eaten and the otter is considered a show animal.
