Wildlife
Landscape
Venezuela has a very diverse variety of wildlife since the country has landscapes that include tropical coastline to the high Andes Mountains as well as hardwood forests and rain forests in between. These differences in geography and weather attract a large number of animals and allow many different plants to grow.
Many of the more common mammals are woodland animals such as squirrels, mice, rats, bats, opossums, deer, rabbits, tapirs, sloths, and others. However, the mountains and rain forests attract these animals as well as others, including llamas, alpacas, vicunas (a camel species), cougars (puma), beers, armadillos, porcupines, monkeys, jaguars, and wolves. There are also some rodents unique to South America in Venezuela, such as the chinchilla and capybara.
Capybara
Off of Venezuela's north coast, in the Caribbean Sea there are additional mammals, including whales, dolphins, and manatees. In these waters there are also plenty of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life, such as coral reefs. The corals bring in a lot of different animals, including surgeonfish and butterfly fish. Other animals roaming these waters include sharks, marlins, barracuda, snapper, mackerel, grouper, shrimp, crabs, seahorses, starfish, eels, rays, jellyfish, and sea urchins.
The bird life is nearly as diverse as the sea life since woodland, mountain, and sea birds are all common. Among these are egrets, eagles, condors, pelicans, partridges, coots, geese, sandpipers, ibis, herons, finches, hummingbirds, toucans, wrens, owls, sparrows, cardinals, jays, orioles, frigate birds, pigeons, parrots, parakeets, flamingos, and woodpeckers.
The reptilian, amphibian, and insect life in Venezuela are also diverse, but the variety of species is somewhat limited. Many of these animals are spiders, including the tarantula and black widow, and snakes, including the rattlesnake, boa, and anaconda. In or near some of the rivers the amphibian population spikes a bit as a number of frogs, iguanas, and lizards are present. The number of insects is quite substantial, including flies, mosquitos, butterflies, ants, beetles, moths, and more.
Vicuna
When it comes to native plant life, South America is home to many famous edible plants and these plants quickly spread throughout Venezuela, 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 Venezuela 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.
Other plants, although not as edible ones, are also present in Venezuela. Orchids, lilies, rosewood trees, mahogany trees, and thousands of other trees, flowers, and plants can be found in Venezuela.