Wildlife

Jaguar
Suriname is a very heavily forested country, much of which
is rain forest; due to this the wildlife is very impressive. Most of the animals
and plants in the country are woodland in nature as this tropical country is home
to dense rain forests and all the animals that live in these forests.
There are hundreds of mammals in the forests of Suriname,
with some of the most common being deer, wolves, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, mice,
rats, bats, tapirs, and sloths. There are also a large number of monkeys and cat
species, although they tend to be much less common. Ocelots, tamarins, howler monkeys,
spider monkeys, marmosets, jaguars, and cougars (puma) can all be found in the dense
forests. Numerous other mammals can also be found in smaller numbers, such as the
porcupine, armadillo, and anteater.

Armadillo
The sea life in Suriname itself is fairly limited as the
country boasts many rivers and a few large lakes, but the small country size still
limits the freshwater fish life to catfish, pike, and a few others. Off the coast
the animal life is much more impressive. While the waters have some mammals like
whales, dolphins, and manatees, these waters are also home to thousands of fish
and shellfish. Sharks, marlins, barracudas, grouper, snapper, mackerel, eels, rays,
jellyfish, shrimp, crab, seahorses, starfish, and sea urchins all call these waters
home.
The forests and coastline also attract hundreds of bird species every year. These
range from woodland birds and rain forest birds to water fowls and others. Among
these birds are sparrows, cardinals, parakeets, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, parrots,
toucans, macaws, eagles, egrets, condors, frigate birds, pelicans, and pigeons among
many more.

Anteater
The reptilian, amphibian, and insect life in Suriname are
also diverse. Many of these animals are spiders, including the tarantula and black
widow, snakes, including the rattlesnake, and frogs. In or near some of the rivers
the amphibian population spikes a bit as the number of frogs and lizards increase.
The number of insects is quite substantial, including flies, mosquitos, butterflies,
beetles, moths, ants, and more.
When it comes to native plant life, South America
is home to many famous edible plants and these plants quickly spread throughout
Suriname, South America, and beyond. The pineapple is from
the region where Brazil and Uruguay
meet while potatoes and tobacco originated in the Andes Mountains. A few others,
including cacao trees (used to make chocolate), peanuts, and tomatoes are also from
South America, although their actual origin is unknown. Peppers, both sweet and
hot peppers are from Central America or northern South America while vanilla, avocado,
papaya, and corn (maize) are likely from Central America itself. No matter each
food's origin, what is known is that these foods spread throughout the continent
and to the country of Suriname with the help of pre-historic people, animals, and
winds. These people have had these foods for nearly as long as people have inhabited
the region and each makes an important part of the people's diet and culture
now and for thousands of years into the past.
More than just the edible plants, Suriname hosts numerous
other trees and plants. Lilies, orchids, hibiscus, oleander, pine trees, eucalyptus
trees, cedar trees, mahogany trees, and cypress trees are all common.