Venezuela

Birds found nowhere else include the Rose-crowned Conure (WPT), the Rufous-cheeked Tanager (IBC), the Rusty-flanked Crake (BirdLife Int'l), the Handsome Fruiteater (Trevor Hardaker), Urich's Tyrannulet (BirdLife Int'l), the Tachira Antpitta (BirdLife Int'l), the Paria Whitestart (IBC), the Venezuelan Flowerpiercer (BirdLife Int'l), the Green-tailed Emerald (Trevor Hardaker), the White-throated Barbtail (BirdLife Int'l), the Orinoco Softtail (ARKive), the Gray-headed Warbler (IBC), and the recently described Carrizal Seedeater Amaurospiza carrizalensis (Mangoverde). Endemic genera include the Scissor-tailed Hummingbird (ARKive) and the Violet-chested Hummingbird (IBC).

Mammals unique to Venezuela include the Merida Brocket Deer (Planet' Mammiferes), Tyler's Mouse Opossum (Planet' Mammiferes), the Merida Small-eared Shrew (Mammalian Species pdf file), Fernandez's Sword-nosed Bat (Planet' Mammiferes), the Guaira Spiny-rat (Planet' Mammiferes), Pittier's Crab-eating Rat (Planet' Mammiferes), the Fiery Squirrel (IUCN Red List), the Orinoco Agouti (flickr), the Venezuelan Lowland Rabbit (IUCN Red List), and the recently described Orinoco Four-eyed Opossum Philander deltae (UAB) and Overlook Spiny Pocket Mouse Heteromys catopterius (Wildlife Extra). The Eastern Mountain Coati Nasuella meridensis (NYSM pdf file) has recently been recognized as a full species.

Reptiles restricted to Venezuela include the Uracoan Rattlesnake (World of Snakes), the Venezuelan Lancehead (CalPhotos), the Venezuela Forest Pit Viper (Serpientes de Venezuela), an indigo snake Drymarchon caudomaculatus (Wolfgang Wüster), a false coral snake Erythrolamprus pseudocorallus (Serpientes de Venezuela), the Sucre Gecko Gonatodes seigliei (gonatodes.de), the Tiger Anole Anolis tigrinus (Reptile Database), Anadia steyeri (CalPhotos), a whiptail Cnemidophorus nigricolor (Costa de Venezuela), and the Zulia Toad-headed Turtle (Turtles of the World). Endemic lizard genera include Adercosaurus (p. 50 of AMNH Digital Library pdf file) and Riolama (p. 94 of Smithsonian pdf file).

Amphibians exclusive to Venezuela include the Scarlet Frog (CI), the Rancho Grande Harlequin Frog (ARKive), the Yellow Harlequin Frog (Fundación AndígenA), the Demonic Poison Frog (AmphibiaWeb), the Merida Tree Frog Dendropsophus meridensis (ARKive), the Aragua Glass Frog Cochranella antisthenesi (ARKive), the Giant Marsupial Frog (ARKive), and a salamander Bolitoglossa spongai (ARKive). Endemic genera include a toad Metaphryniscus sosae (ARKive), the Neblina Frog Adelastes hylonomos (p. 5 of AMNH Digital Library pdf file), a glass frog Celsiella vozmedianoi (AmphibiaWeb), the Merida Rocket Frog Nephelobates meridensis (ARKive), and the world's worst smelling frog - the Venezuelan Skunk Frog Aromobates nocturnus (AMNH Digital Library).

Freshwater fish known only from Venezuela include the Maracaibo River Stingray (FishBase), a piranha Serrasalmus neveriensis (OPEFE), the Diamond Tetra (FishBase), a bloodfin tetra Aphyocharax yekwanae (CI), Rivulus tecminae (Aquatic-Experts), Apareiodon orinocensis (Auburn), and the cichlids Geophagus abalios (Cichlid Room Companion) and Apistogramma guttata (Cichlid Room Companion). Endemic genera include Oscar’s Longfin (SAA), the Saberfin Killie (SAA), the Swordtail Longfin (killi.co.uk), a knifefish Racenisia (Auburn), and a number of catfishes: Dentectus (ACSI), Neblinichthys (Auburn), Pseudolithoxus (PlanetCatfish), Acanthobunocephalus (eol), and Orinocodoras (ScotCat).

The Comb-clawed Cascade Beetle Meru phylissae (Smithsonian National Zoo) is the sole member of the endemic family Meruidae. Other endemic beetles include a longhorned beetle Taygayba venezuelensis (Amazilia) and the endemic stag beetle genera Sphaenognathus (New World Scarab Beetles) and Lucanobium (New World Scarab Beetles). Endemic butterflies include Redonda empetrus (mucubaji.com), Actinote alberti (Butterflies of America), and Memphis salinasi (MIZA). Other endemic insects include a hawkmoth Xylophanes fernandezi (Sphingidae of the Americas), a dragonfly Sympetrum paramo (Slater Museum), a cicada Aragualna plenalinea (flickr), and an ant Pheidole pariana (Harvard). Endemic spiders include the Pinkfoot Goliath Tarantula (petbugs.com), the Venezuelan Red Stripe Tarantula (sklipkani.cz), the Amazon Blue Bloom Tarantula (GiantSpiders.com), and the Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Phong's Tarantulas!). Endemic molluscs include a freshwater mussel Tamsiella tamsiana (Mussels of Venezuela) and an apple snail Pomacea falconensis (es.wikipedia).

The nearly 3000 vascular plant species occurring only in Venezuela (CJB pdf file) include a pitcher plant Heliamphora elongata (ICPS), the orchids Cattleya lueddemanniana (IOPSE) and Masdevallia tovarensis (IOPSE), the Caracas Walnut Juglans venezuelensis (Agroecología), Tapeinostemon breweri (Gentian Research Network), Coespeletia timotensis (flickr), and Saxofridericia grandis (MOBOT). Endemic genera include the bromeliads Ayensua (FCBS) and Steyerbromelia (BSI), Chimantaea (MOBOT), Duidaea (MOBOT), the Neotropical blueberries Mycerinus (NYBG) and Tepuia (NYBG), Anaectocalyx (PlantSystematics.org), Mallophyton (Melastomataceae of the World), Kunhardtia (MOBOT), Aphanocarpus (Foto Audy), an orchid Guanchezia (Projeto Orchidstudium), and the possibly carnivorous orchid Aracamunia (Botanicus).

The Venezuelan Andes Montane Forests terrestrial ecoregion (EoE) forms part of the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot (Biodiversity Hotspots). Other areas rich in endemic species include the Tepuis terrestrial ecoregion (EoE) and the Orinoco River (WWF). Illustrations and descriptions of many of Venezuela's threatened endemic animals can be found in "Libro Rojo de la Fauna Venezolana" (National Red Lists 50 MB pdf file).