Antelopes, cheetahs, zebras, eastern grey kangaroos, Pallas’s cats, Przewalski’s horses, plains-wanderers, Steppe eagles and prairie falcons are among the grassland species. Reptiles such as prairie rattlesnakes and leopard tortoises are also found in this habitat.
You can learn more about these and many other grassland creatures on this page.
Grasslands
The dominant plants are grasses in a grassland area. The family Poaceae includes grasses, which are flowering plants. Grasslands also include other grass-like plants, such as sedges and rushes (both members of the Cyperaceae family).
Grasslands occupy a significant portion of the globe (from 30% to 70%), according to estimates. Grasslands cover every continent except Antarctica, and they are home to a wide range of creatures.
Among the world’s largest and most well-known grasslands are the Great Plains of North America, South America’s Pampas, and Asia’s Great Steppe. Veld (also spelled veldt) and prairie are two other names for grassland regions.
Grassland Animal Adaptations
Open grasslands with few trees are most common. Grassland herbivores are frequently quick runners with acute senses, looking out for danger in the absence of a cover to hide behind. Being quiet, well-camouflaged, and capable of running at fast speed or for long distances has also allowed grassland predators to adapt to a lack of cover.
Animal species that live in grasslands often have adaptations for dealing with a lack of readily available water, since many of the world’s grasslands are dry (dry) places.
Grassland Animals of Africa
Aardvark
- Scientific name: Orycteropus afer
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Orycteropodidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The aardvark is a nocturnal, subterranean creature that may be found across Sub-Saharan Africa’s grasslands, savannas, and woods.
The aardvark primarily eats ants and termites, but it is also known to eat the “aardvark cucumber,” a fruit whose seeds it assists to disseminate.
The aardvark is a master of digging and possesses strong legs and claws.
In Afrikaans, a language widely spoken in southern Africa, the name “aardvark” means “earth pig.” The aardvark has no relation to pigs, despite its name. In reality, a group of creatures called Afrotheria arose in Africa and is the species’ closest relatives. Elephants, manatees, and tenrecs are among the animals in this group.
Antelope
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Bovidae
- Genera: Gazella, Nanger, Eudorcas, Antilope
- Conservation status: Various
Antelopes are swift, maneuverable hoofed animals with long, thin limbs and a slender frame.
There are 91 different antelope species. The majority live in Africa’s grasslands and savannas; the rest live in Asia. Springbok, gazelles, duikers, elands, oryxes, and kudus are some of the most well-known antelope species.
Antelopes come in a variety of sizes. The enormous eland, the biggest of the species, is substantially bigger than a moose and has a sturdier build. The royal antelope, the tiniest of the antelopes, is like a domestic cat in size.
Both males and females have horns in most antelope species, but the male’s horns are typically bigger. An antelope’s horns grow continuously, unlike the antlers of a deer, which are shed every year.
Antelopes are mainly herbivores who live in herds.
Antelope species that live in open plains have nowhere to hide, so they are quicker runners than those that live in tight plains.
The springbok, for example, is the world’s fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of up to 55 mph / 90 km/h. Thompson’s gazelle and both wildebeest species are likewise capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 mph / 80 km/h.
Bilbo’s Rain Frog
- Scientific name: Breviceps bagginsi
- Type of animal: Amphibian
- Animal family: Brevicipitidae
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
The grasslands of South Africa are home to Bilbo’s rain frog, a tiny amphibian. The name of the species comes from Bilbo Baggins, a character in J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit (the zoologist who discovered the frog). R is the last letter in the name of the band. (Tolkien was a Minter fan.)
Bilbo’s rain frog is golden brown in color and has bumpy skin, with lengths of up to 2.87 cm / 1.12992126 in. It spends the majority of its time underground, using its tiny but formidable hind legs to dig backwards.
Bilbo’s rain frog hatches from its egg as a tiny adult, unlike most frogs, which go through a tadpole stage.
Insectivores (insect-eaters) are the kind of creatures that this species eats.
Cheetah
- Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Felidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal, with speeds of up to 75 mph/120.7 km/h, and is one of the most well-known grassland animals.
The cheetah may be found in savannas, grasslands, and a host of other environments across much of Africa, with tropical forests and the interior desert being the primary environments where it is not. It’s more of a landowner than a tree climber, though it does climb occasionally.
The cheetah has a distinctive black stripe that starts at the inner corner of each eye and stretches alongside the muzzle, with a characteristic yellow-golden coat. The cheetah is covered with circular dark spots. While stalking its prey, the cat’s distinctive markings offer camouflage.
Except for brief (all) male coalitions and a mother with her cubs, the cheetah is mostly alone. There is no paternal investment from the male, and males and females will only socialize during mating.
The cheetah, like all felines, is a pure carnivore. Gazelles, impalas, hares, birds, and the offspring of big ungulates are among the animals that make up its diet.
The cheetah is a true carnivore, like all other cat species. Gazelles, impalas, hares, birds, and the offspring of huge ungulates make up its diet.
Leopard Tortoise
- Scientific name: Stigmochelys pardalis
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Animal family: Testudinidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In comparison to any other African tortoise, the leopard tortoise may be found. It can be found across much of Sub-Saharan Africa and prefers warmer conditions.
With a carapace length of up to 70 cm / 28 in, this reptile is considered the fourth-largest tortoise species in the world. and a weight of 54 kg / 119 pounds.
Although carrion and other animal products are scarce, the leopard tortoise is primarily herbivorous (about 98%). The leopard tortoise feeds on fruits and flowers, unlike other herbivorous tortoise species that eat mostly grass.
Lion
- Scientific name: Panthera leo
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Felidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The male lion has a distinguishing mane and is significantly bigger than the female, making it the world’s second-largest cat species (only the tiger is larger). The lion has a significant degree of sexual dimorphism.
The lion is the only big cat that lives and hunts in prides, which are social groupings. A pride usually has around a dozen females, one domineering male, a few low-ranking males, and cubs in it. It may have anywhere from two to forty members.
Buffalos, wildebeests, and even giraffes are among the prey hunted by the lion, which is an apex predator. The lion eats infrequently, but when it does, it devours around 20% of its body weight.
Persecution by humans is the major threat to lions. The perceived danger posed by lions to humans and livestock is the cause of their deaths. They are also captured and sold to the pet trade for their body parts. They are hunted for sport as well.
Rhinoceros
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Rhinocerotidae
- Conservation status: Various
The rhino’s distinctive horns are referred to by the name “rhinoceros,” which means “nose-horned.” There are five rhino species in total. White and black rhinos, both native to Africa, are two of them. The Indian, Javan, and Sumatran rhinoceroses are the other three species found in Asia.
The white rhino and the Indian rhino are the two most common species in grasslands. In southern Africa, the white rhino may be found grazing on grasslands and savannas, whereas in Asia, the Indian rhino grazes south of the Himalayas.
While they are endangered, the white and Indian rhinos are the only rhino species that are not critically endangered; their conservation statuses are “Near Threatened” and “Vulnerable,” respectively.
Zebras
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Genus: Equus
- Family: Equidae
- Conservation status: Various
Zebras are domesticated horses with a group of hoofed herbivores. Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) and plains zebra (E. Mountain zebras (E. quagga) are found in the area. Zebra is a type of animal that can be found in Africa. Mountain zebras prefer grasslands in mountainous regions, while all three species are found in African grassland habitats.
The patterns differ between each species, with varying degrees of thickness, spacing, and placement. While all three zebra species have distinctive black and white stripes, the stripes vary. The distinctive pattern of a zebras’ coats may also be used to identify specific zebras of the same species.
Zebra are sociable and territorial creatures.
Zebras may flee grassland predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas because to their ability to run at speeds of up to 69.2 km/43 mph.
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On this page, you’ll learn more about zebras: zebra facts.
Grassland Animals Of Australia
Agile Wallaby
- Scientific name: Macropus agilis
- Type of animal: Mammal (marsupial)
- Animal family: Macropodidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In northern Australia, the agile wallaby is the most frequent wallaby. On the Indonesian island of New Guinea, the species is also found. It’s known as “sandy wallaby” because of its sandy-red coat.
The agile wallaby may be found in both grasslands and woodlands and dunes. Rivers and streams are the most common habitats. In open environments, the species congregates into tiny groups while feeding.
All wallabies and kangaroos, as well as a few other related creatures, belong to the Macropodidae family of animals. The term “kangaroo” is given to the four largest members of the family, and there isn’t really a difference between wallabies and kangaroos.
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
- Scientific name: Macropus giganteus
- Type of animal: Mammal (marsupial)
- Animal family: Macropodidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Only the red kangaroo is bigger than the eastern grey kangaroo, which is not only Australia’s second-biggest marsupial but also its second-biggest land animal.
This enormous, gray-coated marsupial measures 1.3 meters (4.27 feet) tall and has a 1-meter (3.28-foot) home range. A tail is present.
The eastern grey kangaroo hops rather than runs, as do all macropods (family Macropodidae). When a kangaroo lands, its elastic tendons store energy, and when it hops, the energy is released. Travelling long distances at high speeds is made even more efficient by this method.
Grass is the major part of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo’s diet, which can be found in grasslands. In addition to woodlands and forests, the species may be found across most of eastern Australia.
Plains-Wanderer
- Scientific name: Pedionomus torquatus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Pedionomidae
- Conservation status: Endangered
In the grasslands of central and eastern Australia, the plains-wanderer is a partridge-like bird. Up to 19 cm / 7.48 in long, the species is The bird has a mottled brown/black plumage and is around 20 cm long. The female is larger than the male and wears a black collar.
Even when fleeing danger, the plains wanderer is a poor flyer and seldom flies.
In comparison to the female, the male plains-wanderer spends more time caring for the eggs and young.
Western Barred Bandicoot
- Scientific name: Perameles bougainville
- Type of animal: Mammal (marsupial)
- Animal family: Peramelidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The bandicoots, a family of about twenty small or mid-sized marsupials with long, pointed snouts and razor-sharp claws for digging, include the western barred bandicoot.
The western barred bandicoot’s name is derived from two black bands that run across its hindquarters. The average length of the species is 1.5 feet (46 cm).
Grassland Animals of Eurasia
Corsac Fox
- Scientific name: Vulpes corsac
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Canidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
On the steppes (large, grassland plains) of Central Asia, the corsac fox is a tiny canid (member of the dog family, Canidae).
The red fox has longer legs and ears, as well as a pale yellow or reddish-grey coat, and the species looks a lot like it.
Monogamy is practiced by the corsac fox, and both parents contribute to the raising of the pups. Two to six kits are usually found in a litter, although 11 have been documented.
The corsac fox is an exceptional climber, despite its lack of speed. It is a nocturnal rodent and insect eater that lives off rodents and insects. In some places, marmots are a major source of food.
The fox’s ability to live in arid grasslands without food or water is an adaptation for survival.
unrelated individuals may share the same burrow, and the corsac fox is a social animal. Corsac foxes may create small hunting groups during the winter, which is when prey is scarce, and typically include a mate couple and their grown offspring.
Eastern Imperial Eagle
- Scientific name: Aquila heliaca
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Accipitridae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The IUCN classifies the eastern imperial eagle as “Vulnerable” since its population is very vulnerable to human activities such as logging and other forestry activities, which drastically disrupt breeding patterns.
With a wingspan of 2.14 m / 7 feet and a weight of around 3.6 kg / 8 pounds, it has a length of almost 1 m / 3.3 feet. In Europe, this eagle is only second to the giant.
Monogamy is the rule of the day for the eastern imperial eagle, which begins breeding when it is around four years old. The surviving eagle will seek a new partner if one of the breeding pair passes away. Nest construction, egg incubation, and chick raising are all done by both sexes.
Only during migrations do bonded pairs of this raptor encounter other eastern imperial eagles, and they are territorial.
Great Bustard
- Scientific name: Otis tarda
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Otididae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
The Kori bustard is a comparable size, but the great bustard is the joint-largest of the 26 bustard species. Only flightless birds, such as the ostrich and rhea, are heavier than these two birds when it comes to flying.
The great bustard is a grassland species, as are most bustards. From China and Russia in the east to Spain and Morocco in the west, it can be found in grasslands.
In the Army Training site on Salisbury Plain, the great bustard was extinct in Britain, but there is a tiny reintroduced population.
Pallas’s Cat
- Scientific name: Otocolobus manul
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Felidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The face of Pallas’ cat is more rounded and the muzzle is shorter than that of a normal domestic cat. Pallas’ cat has rounded pupils, as opposed to the slit-shaped pupils of many other cats.
While there is also known to be crepuscular activity in Pallas’ cat, it is a solitary and mostly nocturnal animal. The cat sleeps in caves or old burrows of other animals throughout the day.
Pallas’ cat mainly eats pikas, ground squirrels, and other tiny creatures, but it will also eat birds and insects on occasion. To stalk or ambush its prey, it relies on stealth.
Historically, Pallas’ cat was prized for its fur, but it is no longer acceptable to hunt them. Poisons are now the greatest threat to the species. Many of the animals the cat hunts are agricultural pests that are deliberately poisoned by farmers, despite the fact that it isn’t directly targeted.
Przewalski’s Horse
- Scientific name: Equus ferus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Equidae
- Conservation status: Endangered
The Przewalski horse, also known as the wild horse of Central Asia, is a native of the Steppes. It is smaller and stockier than the domesticated horse, with a light reddish-brown coat with white undersides.
Przewalski’s horse went extinct in the wilds during the 1960s. A variety of factors, including hunting, habitat destruction, and military operations, contributed to this.
Przewalski’s horse was reintroduced to the wild in the 1990s after being captive-bred, and it is currently back on its native grassland habitat.
A mare will give birth to a single foal after a 12-month gestation period.
Saiga Antelope
- Scientific name: Saiga tatarica
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Family: Bovidae
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered
On steppes (dry grasslands) and deserts in Asia, the saiga antelope can be found. Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan are the four countries where the species may be found; however, it is divided into five populations due to its dwindling population.
In dry grasslands, the saiga’s unique downwards-pointing snouts are an advantage, filtering dust and cooling the antelope in the summer and warming the air it inhales throughout the winter.
The saiga was formerly found in enormous herds and was extensively hunted until just a thousand individuals remained. Sadly, the saiga antelope is currently endangered due to a variety of political and economic developments in the area.
Steppe Eagle
- Scientific name: Aquila nipalensis
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Accipitridae
- Conservation status: Endangered
The steppe eagle, which has a wingspan of 2 meters / 6.6 feet and a length of up to 80 cm / 31.5 in., is a huge raptor. Female raptors are larger than males, as they are with many other birds. Males average 3.5 kg / 7.7 pounds, while females average 4 kg / 8.8 pounds. Males and femen look similar in appearance, apart from their size differences.
The steppe eagle feeds on the majority of its diet, which includes rats and small animals up to the size of a hare, although it will also consume other birds, amphibians, reptiles, and dead meat.
Grassland Animals of North America
American Badger
- Scientific name: Taxidea taxus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Mustelidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
Badgers spend the day sleeping in burrows around 3 meters / 9.8 feet below the surface, and they are solitary nocturnal animals.
The American badger spends periods of torpor (extremely low activity) that last up to 29 hours throughout the winter months, despite not being a true hibernator.
The badger is a carnivorous American animal that eats mostly little creatures like pocket gophers and rats. Ground-nesting birds, reptiles, and amphibians will be prey for it as well.
An adult badger has a few natural predators, such as bobcats, golden eagles, bears, cougars, and wolves. While predation is uncommon in adulthood, it does happen.
American Bison
- Scientific name: Bison bison
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Bovidae
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
The other bison species is the European bison, and the American bison is one of them. The American bison lives on grassland and other grassland environments, whereas the European bison resides in woodlands and shrublands.
While the Old World buffalo species is not closely-related to the American bison, it is also known as the buffalo.
The biggest land animal in North America is the American bison. A big guy may grow to be 3.8 m / 12.5 feet long, 1.86 m / 6.1 feet tall at the shoulder, and may weigh around 900 kg / 1984 pounds when fully grown Its shoulder hump is rather large and distinct.
The majority of this enormous herbivorous ungulate’s time is spent grazing. It is a solitary species that resides in small-gender herds that seldom mix throughout mating season.
The bison is surprisingly quick, with speeds of 62 km/39 miles per hour despite its enormous bulk. It’s a capable swimmer as well.
Burrowing Owl
- Scientific name: Athene cunicularia
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Strigidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In both North and South America, the burrowing owl can be found in grasslands. The burrowing owl is stockily built and may weigh over twice as much as common blackbirds or American robins, despite being similar in length to a mid-sized passerine.
The small size, speckled brown / white plumage, distinct bright “eyebrows, and lengthy legs distinguish the species.
The owl’s grassland-adapted legs allow it to pursue its prey on foot, which is an adaptation for living in grasslands.
The burrowing owl is more likely to reside in the abandoned hole of another species rather than digging its own, which it only does if no other holes are accessible and the earth is soft enough.
When a burrowing owl is threatened, it makes a rattlesnake-like rattle from its hole, which serves as a sufficient deterrence to most predators.
Little animals (mostly mammals, but birds, lizards, and reptiles) and huge insects are included in the owl’s diet. It swooped down from a perch to attack passing prey.
At any time of day or night, the burrowing owl is likely to be active.
Coyote
- Scientific name: Canis latrans
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Canidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The mid-sized canid coyote (Canidae) may be found throughout North America. It is more common near human habitations than its close relative, the gray wolf, and may be found in prairies, forests, and deserts.
The coyote is less social than the gray wolf, and it lives alone or in small family groups. It spends the day in a den, and is mostly nocturnal. Coyotes dig their own dens, or borrow those of other species, depending on the situation. To make sure the den remains clean, a coyote will reuse it year after year and leave it to urine and defecate.
The coyote is a highly adaptable and hardy animal. It may even prey on domestic dogs and cats as it enters metropolitan areas to seek food.
The coyote has the ability to bound 4 meters (13 feet) at a moment’s notice.
Great Plains Toad
- Scientific name: Anaxyrus cognatus
- Type of animal: Amphibian
- Animal family: Bufonidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In grassland and desert areas of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the great plains toad is a medium-sized toad. The large, dark green patches on the back of the species may be used to identify it. When set against a pale green backdrop, they stand out.
A bump (known as a “boss”) between the eyes is another distinguishing feature of this species.
During the breeding season, the toad may be seen out and about during the day as well as at night. It spends the day underground in burrows when it isn’t active.
The great plains toad is an insectivore (insect-eater) that is extremely beneficial to farmers, since it serves as a natural pest controller.
The breeding season for toads is from spring to early summer. After a lot of rain, the male great plains toad will be heard making its loud mating call, which attracts females. A single female may lay up to 45,000 eggs at a time.
Prairie Falcon
- Scientific name: Falco mexicanus
- Type of animal: Bird
- Animal family: Falconidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In North America, the prairie falcon may be found in arid grasslands and deserts. It is a big (crow-sized) falcon. It has white “eyebrows” and a thin “moustache,” as well as grey-brown wings and back.
The prairie falcon, like the closely related peregrine falcon, will perform a high-speed swoop (also known as a “stoop”) to scatter other birds. It’ll also swoop downwards into a passing flock of birds or swoop low to the ground at high speed.
The prairie falcon will hunt mammals up to the size of jackrabbits, in addition to birds, and ground squirrels are a particularly important prey item in many areas.
Since it assists in controlling the ground squirrel population, the prairie falcon plays a vital part in its ecosystem.
Prairie Dogs
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Sciuridae
- Genus: Cynomys
- Conservation status: Various
Prairie dogs are ground squirrels that live in grasslands across North America and are herbivorous. Diurnal (active during the day) mid-sized rodents.
The prairie dog’s warning bark is dog-like, hence the term “dog” in its name.
The Mexican prairie dog, black-tailed prairie dog, white-tailed prairie dog, Gunnison’s prairie dog, and Utah prairie dog are the five species of prairie dogs.
The genus Cynomys belongs to the Sciuridae family of squirrels, and these five species are members of this genus.
Prairie dogs range in size from 1.7 kg / 3.7 lb to 1.7 kg / 3.7 lb, and they are all the same species. and a width of 33 cm / 13 in. They have stocky bodies and short tails. Males are somewhat larger than females in terms of height.
The complex burrows of prairie dogs, particularly those found in Texas, are well-known. It was predicted to house a colony of 400 million prairie dogs at a width of 100 miles and length of 250 miles.
Because of the significance of their burrows – both as homes for other animals and as a source of soil improvement – prairie dogs are dubbed “keystone species.”
Farmers have persecuted prairie dogs, and their numbers have been drastically reduced as a result. Prairie dogs are capable of wrecking crops.
Prairie Rattlesnake
- Scientific name: Crotalus viridis
- Type of animal: Reptile
- Animal family: Viperidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
From southern Canada to northern Mexico, the prairie rattlesnake, also known as the Great Plains rattlesnake, may be found in grasslands. The genus Crotalus contains 53 species of rattlesnakes, while the genus Sistrurus contains three more. It is one of the 56 species of rattlesnakes currently recognized.
The pattern of darker patches runs along the body of the prairie rattlesnake, which is generally a light brown or olive-green color. Each time the snake sheds its skin (each segment is actually a hollow, hardened scale), a new bead is added to the snake’s rattle.
The prairie rattlesnake is most often found in rocky habitats, and it may be found in the abandoned dens of other species. (Reports that the prairie rattlesnake lives with other species are false.)
Rattlesnakes have a poor sense of vision, and the reptiles are better at detecting movement than clear pictures.
All rattlesnakes have a extremely keen sense of smell, able to detect scents using their sensitive nostrils as well as their tongues, which they flick out to “taste” the air.
Swift Fox
- Scientific name: Vulpes velox
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Canidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
In the Great Plains area of the United States and sections of southern Canada, the quick fox dwells in grasslands.
The swift fox is a small, pale yellow and white animal that resembles a domestic cat. It has huge, pointed ears. The kit fox, another North American canid, is closely related to it.
The swift fox was extirpated in most of its former range during the early twentieth century as a result of severe persecution. The species’ population has recovered as a result of successful conservation and reintroduction efforts.
Notwithstanding the fact that the species is no longer endangered, it currently exists in only 44% of its former range in the United States and 3% of its former range in Canada.
Grassland Animals Of South America
Big Hairy Armadillo
- Scientific name: Chaetophractus villosus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Chlamyforidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
One of the biggest of the 21 recognized armadillo species today is the big hairy armadillo, which lives in South America’s grasslands. (The largest is the giant armadillo.)
The big hairy armadillo is one of three species of Chaetophractus armadillos, and its size (it grows to lengths of up to 40 cm / 15.75 in, not including the tail) and hairs distinguish it from the other two species. There are 18 bands of armor on the large hairy armadillo, with 8 of them being moveable.
Omnivores include the large hairy armadillo. During the winter, vegetation makes up over half of its diet, while insects, worms, and other invertebrates are major parts of its diet throughout the rest of the year. Small vertebrates and carrion are also eaten.
The huge hairy armadillo is primarily a fossorial (burrowing) creature that spends the majority of its life underground.
Brazilian Guinea Pig
- Scientific name: Cavia aperea
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Rodentidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The domestic guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, is a domesticated variant of the Brazilian guinea pig. The genus Cavia contains five other guinea pig species, and both of these animals are members of the genus. Cavi is the word used to describe animals in this category.
The Brazilian guinea pig grows to be around 11 in. / 27.94 cm long and is slightly thinner than the domestic variety. It has a dark gray-brown coat and pale undersides.
From Venezuela to northern Argentina, this South American rodent can be found in grasslands.
In captivity, the Brazilian guinea pig can live up to eight years, yet in the wild, it lives three years on average due to heavy predation.
Giant Anteater
- Scientific name: Myrmecophaga tridactyla
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Myrmecophagidae
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
In Central and South America’s grasslands, the giant anteater is a huge animal. Its long, slender nose, grey/black coat, and bushy tail distinguish it as a specialized insectivore (insect eater).
The anteater has four long, powerful claws on each of its front feet. These are used to smash through ant hills. A cornered giant anteater can be quite dangerous when used as a defensive weapon!
The anteater’s 30 cm (12 in) snout is extremely long and slender. The tongue of the species is sticky and can reach lengths of up to 60 cm (2 ft.). It has small eyes and ears in comparison to other dogs.
The giant anteater can consume up to 30,000 insects in a single day thanks to its long, sticky tongue, which can be flicked in and out of its mouth 150 times per minute.
Only during mating does the big anteater come in contact with others. A single kid is born with a full coat and markings similar to those of an adult, and females give birth to just one kid.
After birth, the juvenile anteater will immediately climb onto its mother’s back and stay there for nine months. Around the age of two, giant anteaters become adults.
Maned Wolf
- Scientific name: Chrysocyon brachyurus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Canidae
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
In Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru, the maned wolf is a canid (canidae) that lives in grasslands and open woodlands.
The maned wolf has unusually long, thin legs that let it see over tall grass and is one of the most unusual canids. Its distinctive crimson coat and wild mane give it the moniker “Shaggy.”
South America’s biggest canid, as well as the world’s tallest wild dog, is the maned wolf.
The maned wolf is taller and considerably lighter than the gray wolf, with an average weight of 23 kg (51 lb.) and shoulder height of 90 cm (35 in).
While monogamous, the male and female maned wolf will live independently in a shared home range, only coming together during the breeding season.
The maned wolf is an omnivore that eats rats, rabbits, and birds as well as a wide range of plant elements.
Pampas Deer
- Scientific name: Ozotoceros bezoarticus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Cervidae
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
Pampas Deer
The ungulate (hoofed mammal) pampas deer belongs to the Cervidae family of deer. It can be found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with Brazil hosting the bulk of the species’ estimated 80,000-strong population.
This deer measures 0.75 meters (2.46 feet) in height. It has a light reddish-gray coat on its shoulders. It has a white underbelly. It is a herbivorous browser, much like all deer.
During the nineteenth century, the pampas deer was heavily hunted, and its population is today very split.
The pampas deer has been likened to the American bison in terms of its persecution in South America.
Pampas Fox
- Scientific name: Lycalopex gymnocercus
- Type of animal: Mammal
- Animal family: Canidae
- Conservation status: Least Concern
The Pampas fox lives in the South American Pampas, as the name suggests. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay are home to these enormous lowland grasslands.
A “zorro,” or “false fox,” rather than a “genuine fox” of genus Vulpes, the Pampas fox belongs to the South American genus Lycalopex. Despite this, it has a pointed snout, upright ears, and a bushy tail (like all zorros).
The sandy-colored coat of the species helps it blend in with the dry grasslands and sandy areas where it may be found.
Rhea
- Type of animal: Bird
- Order: Struthioniformes
- Family: Rheidae
- Genus: Rhea
- Conservation status: (Greater rhea) Near Threatened; (Least Concern)
In South America, rheas are huge, flightless birds that live in grasslands and pampas.
This unusual bird is known to associate with deer and guanacos (a South American camel relative) in mixed herds, which may help it survive.
Greater rhea Rhea americana (conservation status: Near Threatened) and lesser rhea Rhea pennata (also known as Darwin’s rhea, ñandú petiso, or ñandú del norte) are the two types of rheas.
The Puna rhea Rhea tarapacensis ( conservation status: Near Threatened) is a third rhea species that some authorities recognize.
The biggest and most powerful of the Americas is the greater rhea, which is also the biggest rhea. It has an average body length of 1.34 m (4.4 ft.) and can weigh 40 kg (88 lb.). By weight, the species is the seventh biggest in the world.
The greater rhea weighs less on average than the emperor penguin (the world’s sixth largest living bird), despite its larger size.
Rheas, along with ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and kiwis, are members of the ratite family of flightless birds. The keel, which is part of the skeleton to which flying bird wing muscles are attached, is missing from the breastbones of ratites.