Guatemala is a country in Central and South America where the climate is tropical, meaning it is lush with plenty of water and high heat temperatures for interesting animals in Guatemala.
Guatemala’s location on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean makes it a target for hurricanes. Guatemala, it is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, connecting with areas of southern Mexico.
Guatemala also provides habitats for around 250 mammal species, 200 reptile and amphibian species, and 800 types of birds and many interesting animals in Guatemala. The well-known Tarantula spider is also a native species of Guatemala.
Did You Know? The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala. The national bird is colorful with a red breast and bright green feathers.
Guatemala is bordered by Mexico, El Salvador , Honduras, and Belize, and its capital and largest city is Guatemala City (fairly easy to remember), which counts more than 2,934,000 inhabitants (but more than 5,103,000 if you include the metropolitan area).
The Guatemalan rainforest is characterized by high rainfall, with the minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750-2000 mm (68-78 inches).
Guatemala Wildlife is one of the richest in Central America and definitely worth seeing. It boasts an amazing fourteen eco-regions, ranging from mangrove forests, subtropical and tropical rainforests, cloud forests, and wetlands to dry and pine forests. In the water, it is possible to find catfish, shrimp, oysters, lobsters, crabs, and turtles. Crocodiles can be found in freshwater, brackish water, and mangrove swamps.
Learn All About Guatemalan Animals Native Animals from Guatemala Wildlife. The total number of animal species in Guatemala: 3,114 (8,066 in total in Mesoamerica). You can check the full list of endangered species in Guatemala by heading over to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Some of the animals you may encounter on land include jaguars, pumas, howler monkeys, ocelots, wolves of prairie, coyotes, lizards, armadillos, iguanas, and several species of serpents
One of the most exciting zoos to visit is La Aurora Zoo, located in Guatemala City, itself. Around 2,100 animals reside within the zoo of almost 290 different species. The zoo focuses its efforts on participating in conservation efforts and also on educating the public about threatened species of interesting animals in Guatemala. Species that visitors particularly adore are Humboldt penguins, and Chimpanzees Asian.
Guatemalan Howler Monkeys
Guatemalan Howler monkeys typically live in troops that contain from four to eight monkeys. They have their own territory within which they will all live and feed together. Guatemalan Howler monkeys eat fruits, leaves and flowers.
The name comes from the booming howling voice used by males to defend their territory. The Guatemalan Black Howler Monkey also counts as endangered on the IUCN red list.
Where to Find Interesting Animals in Guatemala National Parks
Guatemala has more than thirty national parks and protected areas, many of which encompass both cultural and natural treasures. These parks and protected areas are massive tourist attractions and some of the most popular include Lake Atitlan National Park, Sierra del Lacandón National Park and Tikal Park .
The area surrounding Lake Atitlan became a national park in 1955 in an attempt to attract tourists. The landscapes in the park are breathtaking, with the lake itself often being described as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Sierra del Lacandón National Park
Sierra del Lacandón National Park is a very important area in Guatemala because of its incredible biodiversity. Located in the tropical rainforest in northwestern. Sierra del Lacandón also contains several Mayan ruins.
Tikal National Park
Tikal National Park was the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guatemala is a country of distinct fauna. It has some 1246 known species. Of these, 6.7% are endemic and 8.1% are threatened. Guatemala is home to at least 8,682 species of vascular plants, of which 13.5% are endemic.
In Guatemala, Ocelots can be found in the Tikal National Park , they love living in forests and mangroves. Tikal National Park is the place to savor Guatemala’s extensive catalog of colorful native avians. Humidity within these forests attracts the impressive Ocellated Turkey and Orange-breasted Falcon, an elusive bird. Volcano foothills serve as domain for more common birds like the Azure-rumped Tanager.
The Ocelot
The ocelot is one of the least threatened native animals species of wild cat. It is medium-sized, and native to Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean Islands, where it lives in areas close to bodies of water.
With a beautiful clouded coat, the ocelot is mostly active during twilight and at night, and it is a territorial and solitary animal. Fantastic climber and swimmer, it is a dreadful predator, at least for terrestrial mammals such as opossums
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Guatemala is home to many species of iguana and sea turtle. Sea turtles are on their way to be extinct, even the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles are known for having the largest population around the globe. They love open ocean inhabitants so you will never see them near reefs. In Guatemala, they can be seen nesting in Monterrico.
Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
The Costa Rican zebra tarantula is, as its name suggests, a species of tarantula native to Costa Rica but also to other parts of Central America, such as Guatemala.
Clymene Dolphin
Scientific name : Stenella clymene
Conservation status : Least concern
The Clymene dolphin, also known as the short-snouted spinner dolphin, is a species of dolphin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean, which is quite rare for such a widespread animal. Interestingly enough, it is the only confirmed animal to be a successful hybrid of other marine mammals, namely the spinner dolphin and the striped dolphin. These dolphins usually live at about 100m / 330 ft in depth.
Northern Naked-Tailed Armadillo
The northern naked-tailed armadillo is a species of armadillo, which are, as a group, some of the most endangered animals in South America.
Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey
Endangered Geoffroy’s spider monkey, also known as the Central American spider monkey or the black-handed spider monkey, is a species of spider monkey native to Central America, Mexico, and Colombia. It can weigh as much as 9 kg / 20 lb, making it one of the largest New World monkeys, and it has characteristic features such as a very long prehensile tail and arms much longer than legs. This monkey lives in groups of about 20 to 42 members and mostly feeds on ripe fruit.
Did You Know? The Rarest Animal in Guatemala Jackson’s climbing salamander is also is the nation’s rarest critter.
Brown Rats
Rat Brown Rats are one of the best-known and most common animals in the world. They are the second most successful mammal in the world. In Guatemala, just as the rest of the Countries of the world, these amazing animals live are mostly found in populated areas.
Common Black Hawk
Scientific name : Buteogallus anthracinus
Conservation status : Least concern
The common black hawk is a species of bird of prey native to Central America and northwestern South America. It builds a platform nest made of sticks and lays 1 to 3 eggs.
This hawk lives in mangrove swamps, estuaries, and other coastal areas, although some inland populations exist. In terms of feeding, it mostly eats crabs but can also hunt for small vertebrates and eggs. It is protected in the United States and is generally of “Least Concern” on the IUCN red list.
Tapeti
The tapeti, or the Brazilian cottontail, is a small to medium-sized species of a cottontail rabbit. It has short hind feet and ears and can be found from Mexico to Argentina, though it is becoming rarer and rarer.
The tapeti is indeed classified as endangered because of habitat loss and hunting. It builds nests of dry grasses above the ground to take care of its young, and breeds all around the year.
American Crocodile
Name:American crocodile
Scientific name : Crocodylus acutus
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Caimans are not the only crocodiles found in Guatemala, as the American crocodile is also present. It is one of four species of crocodiles in the Americas and the most widespread of them. It can be found in Florida and Mexico.
FAQS About Interesting Animals in Guatemala
What is a unique animal from Guatemala?
A unique animal from Guatemala is the Resplendent Quetzal, the national bird known for its multicolored plumage and cultural significance.
What is Guatemala’s main animal?
Guatemala’s main animal is the jaguar, an elusive and iconic big cat that roams the country’s forests.
What is the biggest predator in Guatemala?
The biggest predator in Guatemala is the jaguar, known for its powerful presence and role as a top predator in the ecosystem.
What plants and animals are unique to Guatemala?
Guatemala is home to a unique array of plants and animals, including the Resplendent Quetzal, Ocellated Turkey, Horned Guan, and various species of colorful birds, contributing to its rich biodiversity.
Hi, I’m Olivia Kepner and I am a zookeeper here in San Diego. Since I was a young girl I have always been fascinated by animals and species across the globe.
I used to beg my parents to take me to our local zoo every single weekend. Well, I say local – it was more like a two hour drive away. But they took me as much as they could, allowing me to fall in love with the animals again and again.
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