WILDLIFE
The wildlife found in Central and
South America is immensely diverse. The Amazon jungle alone is
home to millions of different species of the most beautiful, exotic,
and dangerous animals to walk the earth. The Galápagos
Islands off the coast of Ecuador is home to entire species found
nowhere else on earth, and was the birthplace for Darwin's Origin Of
The Species. Listing all the animals of South America would be
impossible, and new species are still discovered regularly, instead we
will list the animals that pose a danger, or are otherwise interesting.
Reptiles And Amphibians
Alligators,
crocodiles, and caymans can be found all over Central and South
America, including the islands of the Caribbean. Anacondas, the worlds
largest snake, is found from Colombia to the northern areas of
Argentina, various species of Boa and Python are native across the
entire region, as well as the islands. While small children have
been reported to be attacked as well as pets and even livestock, only
the very largest anacondas pose a threat to a full grown man. Of
much greater danger to humans is the Lancehead and the
Bushmaster. Varieties of both snake can be found throughout the
entire region including the c
arribean
islands. The Lancehead, also known as the Fer De Lance, is
responsible for more snake related dea
ths in the Americas
than any other group of venomous snakes. The Bushmaster is every
bit as prevalent, and much more aggressive, having the distinction of
not only being the longest venomous snake in the Americas, but the
longest viper in the world. The Coral snake, found from Mexico to
Brazil is a non-aggressive though highly venomous. Tropical
Rattlesnakes are found in every country in the region save for Ecuador
and Chile, while Mexico and Central America are home to several species
of Rattler. Also worth mentioning as venomous species are the
Jumping Viper and Eyelash Pit Viper.
The Poison Arrow
Frog is not venomous, however it does excete an extremely potent poison
from its skin. The poison is so virulent that natives rub arrows
and blowgun darts on their back to bring down their targets. Some
frogs can have up to 200 micrograms of poison, enough to kill 100 (or
even more) adult humans. In modern times, Cartel special forces
will coat the blades of their knives with this poison.
Canines and Felines
Wolves
are still found in remote areas of Mexico and Coyotes are abundant in
Central America while most of South America is home to the Bush
Dog. A variety of Large Cats make their home in the region.
Cougars, Jaguars, and the smaller Ocelots and Margays roam Central and
South America from Mexico to Argentina, and have are even found on the
island of Trinidad. Other species have more confined territories
and are typically much smaller, like the Kodkod and Mountain Cats of
the Andes mountains, and the Geoffroys Cats of the Andes, Pampas
and Gran Chaco landscapes. Of all these animals, only Cougars and
Jaguars pose any danger to man.
Fish and Aquatic Life
The most dangerous
freshwater fish in the world, the Piranha, is found exlusively in
amazonian waters. Of lesser danger is the venomous
Toadfish. Unconfirmed reports of giant catfish up to 6 feet long
attacking humans, especially children, persist. More feared even
than the Piranha, a school of which can pick a full grown cow clean to
the bone in minutes, is the Candiru. The candiru is a spiny
little parasitic fish that has been known to enter the orifices of
humans, particularly the
urine tract.
They follow the flow of warm water
from a urinating
human bather or swimmer, and lodge themselves in the penis.
Skinny dipping in the amazonian rivers, and especially urinating while
swimming in them is strongly warned against. One it enters the
urine tract its extended spines act as barbs, preventing it from being
extracted. The most common remedy is a mixture of plants known to
natives. There are reports of SAA interrogators forcing captives
to sit submerged to the neck in barrels with Candiru fish, the
suggestion of the threat is enough to make most talk. In the
oceans and gulf, the dangers increase, as sharks, including great
whites, bulls, tigers, and hammerheads are prevalent. Stingrays,
Coneshells, Seabass, Barracudas, and jellies, including Man-O-Wars, can
make swimming a dangerous venture indeed.
Insects and Arachnids
Mosquitos transmitting Malaria and other diseases are by
far the most dangerous insect in the world, leeches, ticks, also spread
disease, and the Kissing Bug is known to spread the potentially fatal
Chagas Disease. Of more immediate threat to humans are the
numerous species of venomous Spiders, Scorpions, Wasps, and bees.
The most dangerous of which is the Banana, or Wandering Spider, found
throughout Central And South America, it is a highly aggressive spider
with venom potent enough to be fatal in humans, the bite is also
reported as the most painful spider bite in the world due to the high
levels of serotonin. While not dangerously venomous, the
Tarantula is a symbol of fear throughout the world, and its bite does
transmit potentially dangerous bacteria. Also of interest is the
Goliath Birdeating Spider, the largest spider in the world.
Finally,
the tiny ant is an extremely destructive and potentially fatal
force. Huge Bullet ants have an excruciating sting, possibly the
most painful on the planet, ahead of even wasps and bees. Of much
more concern however are Army and Driver ants, who have been known to
swarm over and kill humans. Army ants occasionally go on the
move, devouring everything in their path for miles. In rare
instances entire colonies of hundreds of millions set out on extended
raids stripping the lands bare in their path. Any animal luckless
enough to be caught in a foraging swarm will be killed and devoured, in
the space of hours they will reduced to nothing but polished bone.
Sleeping or disabled humans have been killed in such a manner, and even
if escape is managed, the bites will themselves be hideous, often
leaving permanent scars. Allergic reactions are also possible,
and may prove as fatal as that of bee sting allergies.
Other Animals
Interesting not because of any danger
or threat to life, other animals are of note due to their rarity or
beauty. Several species of Primate thrive in Central and
South America, including Tammarin, Owl, Howler, Capuchin, Titi,
Squirrel and Spider monkeys. Some are prized by natives for their
meats, other are prized by foreign interests for their intelligence and
ease of training, Capuchins and Spider monkeys for instance are often
used as Helper monkeys or just kept as pets.
The many species of Parrot and Macaw,
as well as other tropical fowl, are highly sought after and trappers
and smugglers will earn a very comfortable living off the birds, which
will be sold overseas for between 1 and 20 thousand dollars.
Written
by Deric Bernier
