South America is a land of extremes. Many hundred thousand square miles of forests, grasslands and mountains. Survival is a daunting proposition. But when the going gets tough, the wild inhabitants morph into oddballs. Millennia of weird evolution have made this giant continent a land of mutants. Expect the unexpected because here, outlandish is the new normal.

To survive in South America, nature produces exotic fauna, including both giant and pygmy versions of common species to occupy challenging niches.

South America is a rich and diverse land. Stunning landscapes harbor elusive critters that have evolved to thrive here. But survival is not assured because the abundant prey is closely followed by powerful predators. From giant killer dolphins to the largest cat in the Americas, this vast continent is a lethal predator battleground.