Great American Interchange - North American Invasions of South America

North American Invasions of South America

Extant or extinct (†) South American taxa whose ancestors migrated out of North America (considered as including Central America):

  • Lungless salamanders (Bolitoglossa, Oedipina) – only present in northern South America
  • Ranid frogs – only present in northern South America
  • Emydid turtles (Trachemys) – only present in northern South America
  • Geoemydid turtles (Rhinoclemmys) – only present in northern South America
  • Coral snakes (Leptomicrurus, Micrurus)
  • South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)
  • Lanceheads (Bothrops)
  • Bushmasters (Lachesis)
  • Other pit vipers (Bothriechis schlegelii, Bothriopsis, Porthidium)
  • Small-eared shrews (Cryptotis) – only present in NW South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru
  • Geomyid pocket gophers (Orthogeomys thaeleri) – one species, in Colombia
  • Heteromyid mice (Heteromys) – only present in NW South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador
  • Cricetid – primarily sigmodontine – rats and mice (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)
  • Tree squirrels (Sciurus, Microsciurus, Sciurillus)) – present in northern and central South America
  • Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus brasiliensis, S. floridanus, S. varynaensis) – present in northern and central South America
  • Tapirs (Tapirus bairdii, T. pinchaque, T. terrestris)
  • Equids (Equus ferus, †Hippidion)
  • Peccaries (Tayassu pecari, Catagonus wagneri, Pecari tajacu, P. maximus)
  • Deer (†Antifer, Odocoileus, Blastocerus, Ozotoceros, Mazama, Pudu, Hippocamelus)
  • Camelids (Lama guanicoe, Vicugna vicugna, †Eulamaops, †Hemiauchenia, †Palaeolama)
  • †Gomphotheres (Cuvieronius hyodon, Stegomastodon waringi, S. platensis) – elephant relatives
  • Otters (Lontra, Pteronura)
  • Other mustelids (Mustelinae: Eira, Galictis, Lyncodon, Mustela)
  • Hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga, C. humboldtii, C. semistriatus)
  • Procyonids (Procyon, Nasua, Nasuella, Potos, Bassaricyon, †Cyonasua, †Chapalmalania)
  • Short-faced bears (Tremarctinae: Tremarctos ornatus, †Arctotherium)
  • Wolves (†Canis gezi, †C. nehringi, †C. ambrusteri, †C. dirus)
  • Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) – only present in NW South America: Colombia, Venezuela
  • Other canids (†Duciyon, †Theriodictis, Atelocynus, Cerdocyon, Lycalopex, Chrysocyon, Speothos)
  • Small felids (Leopardus) – all 9 extant species (e.g. L. pardalis, L. wiedii)
  • Cougar (Puma concolor) and jaguarundi (P. yagouaroundi)
  • Jaguar (Panthera onca)
  • †American lion (Panthera leo atrox)
  • †Scimitar cats (Homotherium) – known so far only from Venezuela
  • †Saber-toothed cats (Smilodon gracilis, S. fatalis, S. populator)
  • Condors (Vultur gryphus, †Dryornis, †Geronogyps, †Wingegyps, †Perugyps)
  • Trogons (Trogon)

  • The camelid Vicugna vicugna

  • †Cuvieronius, a gomphothere

  • The coati Nasua nasua

  • Saber-toothed †Smilodon populator

Read more about this topic:  Great American Interchange

Famous quotes containing the words south america, north, american, south and/or america:

    “Indeed, I believe that in the future, when we shall have seized again, as we will seize if we are true to ourselves, our own fair part of commerce upon the sea, and when we shall have again our appropriate share of South American trade, that these railroads from St. Louis, touching deep harbors on the gulf, and communicating there with lines of steamships, shall touch the ports of South America and bring their tribute to you.”
    —Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)

    “Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
    From North and from South, come the pilgrim and guest,
    When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
    The old broken links of affection restored,
    When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
    And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before.
    What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
    What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?”
    —John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)

    “Our American professors like their literature clear and cold and pure and very dead.”
    —Sinclair Lewis (1885–1951)

    “These South savannahs may yet prove battle-fields.”
    —Herman Melville (1819–1891)

    “The Indians knew that life was equated with the earth and its resources, that America was a paradise, and they could not comprehend why the intruders from the East were determined to destroy all that was Indian as well as America itself.”
    —Dee Brown (b. 1908)