List of Pantanal Mammals

Cats

• Many wildcats are native to the Pantanal. The Pantanal jaguar is found only in this area of the world. It is the third-largest cat in the world and can weigh up to 300 lbs. Another species of cat is the jaguaruni. It's also known as the "otter cat" because of its facial resemblance to an otter. The cougar is a protected mammal in the Pantanal. The nocturnal animal can weigh up to 220 lbs. Some medium-size cats in the area include the Pantanal cat, margay and ocelot.

Otters

• Several species of water-dwelling mammals live in the Pantanal. The giant river otter is the largest otter in the world. It can grow to up to 6 feet and feeds on fish, crustaceans and snakes. It has been overhunted, and only a few hundred remain in the Pantanal. A smaller otter species is the southern river otter. It is a solitary otter that requires freshwater to survive. It feeds on freshwater mussels and crayfish.

Primates

• Black and gold howler monkeys can be found in the trees of the Pantanal. They are relatively inactive, spending up to 80 percent of their day resting. They live in groups of up to 19. They get their name from the loud roars they produce at dawn. The only time a howler will come down from a tree is to get water. Another primate is the brown capuchin. The monkey is sociable, living in groups of up to 15. Each group is led by a dominant male that provides protection from predators.

Small Land Mammals

• A variety of small land mammals can be found throughout the Pantanal. Azara's Agoutis is a solitary rodent that lives in burrows and tree hollows. It eats seeds, fallen fruit, nuts and plants. It is the only animal that can open a Brazil nut with its sharp teeth. The nine-banded armadillo is also a burrowing animal. It digs underground dens as a protective resting place from predators. It has bony armor covering its body. Other small land mammals include the Brazilian rabbit, Brazilian porcupine and white-eared opossum.

Deer

• Four subspecies of deer live in the Pantanal. The red brocket lives in dense undergrowth close to water. The mammal is chestnut-brown in color, with a gray-brown neck and head. It feeds on fruit, fungi and leaves. Living in the same area as the red brocket is the brown brocket. The marsh deer is the largest deer species in South America. It likes the areas of the Pantanal with water and dense vegetation. Another type of deer is the pampas deer. The male pampas is slightly larger than the female and has antlers. Pampas deer are reddish-brown to yellowish-gray in color.