Marine Otter

Mammals > Carnivorans

The Marine Otter (Lontra felina), known locally in South America as the chungungo or gato marino (‘sea cat’), is one of the smallest and most specialized marine mammals on Earth. Unlike the North American sea otter, which belongs to a distinct genus, the...

White-winged Coot

Birds > Gruiformes & Rails

The White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera) is a common, widespread aquatic rail native to the open lakes, flooded plains, and marshes of southern South America. Named for the conspicuous white trailing edges on its secondaries visible in flight, it is readily...

Red-gartered Coot

Birds > Gruiformes & Rails

The Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) is a large, charismatic waterbird native to the wetlands, marshes, and lakes of the Southern Cone of South America. The largest and most abundant coot across Patagonia, Argentina, and Chile, it derives its common and scientific...

Green Ameiva

Reptiles > Lizards

The Green Ameiva (Ameiva ameiva), often called the Giant Ameiva or South American Ground Lizard, is a fast-moving, brightly colored whiptail relative native to open woodlands and savannas across Central and South America. Renowned for its energetic, high-speed...

Golden Dorado

Fish > Characiformes

The Golden Dorado (Salminus brasiliensis), revered across South America as ‘El Tigre del Río’ (The River Tiger), is the ferocious, gold-armored apex predator of the continent’s great river systems. Belonging to the family Bryconidae, this magnificent...