Buzz
South America is often seen as home to some of the most fascinating yet dangerous wildlife on Earth. While the former is definitely accurate, the latter can be a bit overstated, as we’ll soon explore.
That being said, caution is always wise; wild animals will inevitably present some risk, and some of the creatures on this list have indeed harmed or even killed people. However, what’s frequently overlooked is that their reputations tend to be more intimidating than warranted, and they are far less of a threat when simple precautions are taken.
10. The Majority of Caimans
Caimans are generally small crocodilian reptiles from the Alligatoridae family, one of only two subfamilies in that group, the other being alligators. Given this, it’s easy to see why people fear them, especially when the often exaggerated notion of their size comes into play.
Like all crocodilians, they do still represent a threat, particularly the species Melanosuchus niger, commonly known as the black caiman. It is one of the largest crocodilians in existence and was responsible for a tragic fatal attack on a small child. So, you might wonder, why are they still included in the list of animals that are less dangerous than their reputation suggests?
The main reason is that when you consider caimans as a whole, rather than focusing on one species alone, their danger is often exaggerated. While the black caiman is especially dangerous to children, even its attacks are infrequent. Other species of caimans, which are mostly harmless if left undisturbed, are often lumped together with Melanosuchus niger. Of course, caution is key, but a single exception doesn’t make an entire group of animals dangerous. Most caimans are small, mostly nocturnal, and far more interested in catching fish than in threatening humans.
9. Green Anaconda
The heaviest living snake in the world, and nearly the longest, this creature must surely be a major threat, right? To its prey, unquestionably. To humans? Not so much.
An extraordinary snake, the green anaconda can weigh up to 70 kilograms, or around 155 pounds, and stretch over six meters (20 feet) in length. While nonvenomous, like all boas, it is famous for constricting its prey and swallowing it whole.
While this is all accurate and certainly conjures a terrifying image, green anacondas don’t typically prey on animals as large as humans, despite their impressive size. Though popular in films and pop culture as man-eaters, such attacks are extremely rare and mostly undocumented in reality.
Even if we overlook a person’s size, green anacondas have a highly varied diet, and humans simply aren’t a food source they show interest in. While there’s no doubt that an adult female could kill a person if it chose to, it seems that most wild anacondas have no desire to do so. As always, exercise caution and avoid approaching or touching one, but with proper care, you’ll be just fine.
8. Piranha
A massive swarm of carnivorous fish moving together, capable of consuming a person or large animal in seconds—sounds terrifying, right? Well, that’s the exaggerated version.
Piranhas do travel in groups known as shoals, but in reality, they are omnivorous. Scientists believe these groups form more for self-protection than for hunting. And yes, it’s true—despite their fierce reputation, piranhas actually consume more plant material than meat in their diets.
While they do consume meat and possess an incredibly strong bite, even the famous tale of a shoal of piranhas devouring a large carcass originates from nothing more than a former American president’s journal. Their bite is indeed powerful, and they can devour an animal quite swiftly, but they aren’t considered a significant threat to humans. Many of the more sensationalized ideas have been presented to the public with considerable embellishment.
7. Poison Dart Frog
These stunning, colorful frogs are a staple in popular media, and as their name implies, they are poisonous. Most notably, the golden poison dart frog, or Phyllobates terribilis, is famously lethal. While undeniably intimidating, as we’ve seen with other creatures on this list, the truth is often less extreme than the sensationalized portrayals.
While poisonous, the danger they pose to the average person is often misunderstood. Their toxins could indeed be fatal if they enter the bloodstream, but since they have no means of delivering the poison, you’re only at risk if you try to eat one or handle it, especially if you have an open wound.
Interestingly, despite their potent toxins, they lack these deadly substances in captivity, where they are often kept as pets. These frogs are relatively intelligent, visually striking, and an important cultural symbol in various indigenous traditions, making them more worthy of admiration than fear.
6. Cougar
Cougars, also widely known in the United States as mountain lions, or in other regions as pumas or panthers—though not to be confused with other big cats also called panthers—are the second largest wild cat species in the Americas. Due to their proximity to human settlements and their eerie, scream-like vocalizations, they are often featured in folklore and urban legends.
These animals are often thought to be highly dangerous, a belief that seems reasonable at first glance. Large cats are well-known for being fearsome predators, and the thought of one living so close to home understandably causes anxiety. Cougars are widespread across the Americas, with South America being no exception.
Fortunately, though, cougar attacks on humans are incredibly rare. In fact, it appears that they are more at risk from us than we are from them, as they are frequently killed due to their fearsome reputation. As a result, many sources are now speaking out against these exaggerated claims in an effort to prevent the species from further declining.
5. Brazilian Wandering Spider
Arachnophobes are likely already protesting the defense of such a fearsome creature, but there are valid reasons for this. Wandering spiders are large, active arachnids, with leg spans reaching up to 6 inches (15 centimeters), and they prefer hunting actively rather than waiting in a web.
These facts, combined with one of the most potent spider venoms on the planet and the unusual side effect of their bite causing human erections, make them quite bizarre. Occasionally hiding in banana leaves or even within international banana shipments, these creepy crawlers are understandably feared in the world of spiders.
While all of this is true, spiders, in general, shouldn’t be feared in the first place. Specifically, wandering spiders have gained a reputation for being aggressively dangerous, but in reality, they are actually quite defensive. Like all spiders, they’re not out to harm humans and will only bite in self-defense. And should one bite occur, the prognosis is far from as grim as one might assume—death is certainly not immediate. A Brazilian study showed that only 2.3% of all reported bites require antivenom, and the chances of survival are very high.
4. Giant Otter
Giant otters might sound like cute creatures to many, but to others, they carry a fearsome and vicious reputation. As is often the case, the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.
Twice the size of American otters, reaching up to 2 meters or over 6 feet, giant otters are apex predators that hunt using their keen senses and, surprisingly, their vicious nature. While they may seem cute at first glance, their fearsome reputation is not entirely unfounded. These opportunistic carnivores could potentially pose a threat to humans.
However, despite their fearsome reputation, they are generally uninterested in attacking humans, hunting much smaller prey and only engaging in fights with large animals when necessary for self-defense. Tragically, the giant otter is critically endangered, with its range dramatically reduced due to human poaching. In this case, it’s clear that humans pose a far greater danger to them than they ever do to us.
3. Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
At the top of the list is arguably the most sensationalized creature of the bunch, and that’s saying something. The Goliath birdeater tarantula ranks among the largest spiders on Earth, holding the second spot for leg span and the first for being the heaviest spider known today. They are enormous, hairy, and possess the ability to shoot urticating hairs from their abdomen at rapid speeds as a defense mechanism—these hairs are highly irritating and may even block airways.
As their name implies, these spiders are colossal, with leg spans that can reach up to one foot and weighing as much as six ounces or 175 grams. Despite their title, they rarely consume birds, although they are probably the most capable spider on Earth of doing so.
Although their size is often exaggerated beyond their already impressive proportions, along with exaggerated claims about their urticating hairs causing suffocation or their venom being deadly, the reality is far more mundane. While not as docile as some other South American tarantulas, they aren’t the most defensive nor particularly aggressive. To date, no human death has ever been recorded from a tarantula bite, not even from this species.
2. Bullet Ant
The bullet ant—so named because its sting is said to feel like being shot. Terrifying? Perhaps. Dangerous? Not exactly. These large ants deliver a sting that certainly lives up to their name, with venom that induces intense pain, ranking at the top of Schmidt’s sting pain index.
To add an unsettling twist, indigenous Brazilian tribes intentionally sting themselves with dozens of these ants at once, woven into gloves they wear for minutes, undoubtedly making for an unforgettable and excruciating experience.
That said, while the pain from a bullet ant sting is truly awful and they can sting multiple times, no fatalities have ever been recorded from their stings, as of this article.
1. Amazonian Giant Centipede
The Amazonian giant centipede is the largest centipede species in the world, growing to lengths of over a foot (30 centimeters) or more, equipped with modified legs capable of delivering a potent venom that can be extremely painful for some. This formidable creature is certainly not to be taken lightly.
Scolopendra gigantea is a carnivorous predator, preying on a wide range of animals, and it can live for up to a decade. These centipedes are capable of hunting creatures as large as themselves, making them a daunting presence for anyone with a fear of creepy crawlies. However, despite their intimidating nature, fatalities from their bites are rare.
Although there’s only one recorded human fatality linked to this species—an unfortunate incident where a child was bitten by a centipede hiding in a soda can—the vast majority of encounters don’t result in serious harm, making this a tragic but isolated case.
