Region
Endangered animals of South America
Threatened species of the Andes, Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and beyond. Each record shows the species' global IUCN Red List category and links to authoritative sources. National legal status is separate — see the note below.
40 records · last reviewed
Data limitations
- These are educational summaries, not the official assessment. Conservation status can change as new science and threats emerge.
- We show the global IUCN Red List category. A species' national or local legal status can differ from its global category — national Red Books and protected-species laws vary by country.
- Each record shows a last-verified date and a data-confidence flag so you can see how current and how checked it is.
- Always verify the current status on the official IUCN Red List and the relevant national wildlife authority. FaunaHub does not replace conservation authorities.
Dataset last reviewed: Full data methodology →
Threatened species of South America
Aruba Island Rattlesnake
Crotalus unicolor
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, reptile-database.reptarium.cz
Index record onlySource review pendingBlue-throated Macaw
Ara glaucogularis
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingBrown Spider Monkey
Ateles hybridus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingCotton-top Tamarin
Saguinus oedipus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGreat Green Macaw
Ara ambiguus
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingHooded Grebe
Podiceps gallardoi
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingJunín Grebe
Podiceps taczanowskii
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingLehmann's Poison Frog
Oophaga lehmanni
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Index record onlySource review pendingLemur Leaf Frog
Agalychnis lemur
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Index record onlySource review pendingNorthern Muriqui
Brachyteles hypoxanthus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingOrinoco Crocodile
Crocodylus intermedius
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, reptile-database.reptarium.cz
Index record onlySource review pendingRed-fronted Macaw
Ara rubrogenys
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingSpix's Macaw
Cyanopsitta spixii
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Considered Critically Endangered (long regarded as extinct in the wild); subject of an ongoing reintroduction effort in Brazil.
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingWaved Albatross
Phoebastria irrorata
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingAmazon River Dolphin
Inia geoffrensis
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingDarwin's Fox
Lycalopex fulvipes
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingDarwin's Frog
Rhinoderma darwinii
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Index record onlySource review pendingGalápagos Penguin
Spheniscus mendiculus
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGeoffroy's Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyi
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGiant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
- Group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewGolden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
A long-running reintroduction programme in Brazil's Atlantic Forest is often cited as a conservation success story.
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web, Smithsonian's National Zoo
Index record onlySource review pendingGolden Poison Frog
Phyllobates terribilis
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, AmphibiaWeb (UC Berkeley)
Index record onlySource review pendingLake Titicaca Water Frog
Telmatobius culeus
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingLear's Macaw
Anodorhynchus leari
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingMountain Tapir
Tapirus pinchaque
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingAmazonian Manatee
Trichechus inunguis
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingAmerican Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingAndean Bear
Tremarctos ornatus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
South America's only bear species; also called the spectacled bear.
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingAndean Condor
Vultur gryphus
- Group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Detailed FaunaHub profile →Partial reviewFranciscana
Pontoporia blainvillei
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGalápagos Land Iguana
Conolophus subcristatus
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGalápagos Marine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
- Group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGiant Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGiant Armadillo
Priodontes maximus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingGolden Parakeet
Guaruba guarouba
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingHarpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingHumboldt Penguin
Spheniscus humboldti
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pendingHyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingManed Three-toed Sloth
Bradypus torquatus
- Group
- Mammals
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, Animal Diversity Web
Index record onlySource review pendingMilitary Macaw
Ara militaris
- Group
- Birds
- Last verified
- Verified
Sources: IUCN Red List, BirdLife International
Index record onlySource review pending
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this list show legally protected species in South America?
How were these species chosen for South America?
Is this a complete list of threatened species in the region?
Last updated:

