Patagonia is a geographical region located at the southern end of South America, specifically between Argentina and Chile. It is a territory with a rich fauna with its own features, both at an aquatic and terrestrial level. Huge marine vertebrates, birds, land mammals and other animal species make up its exuberant fauna. In the following article we will expand details of some of the animals of this Fauna of Patagonia.
The Fauna of Patagonia
At the southernmost tip of the South American continent is the Patagonian region, a vast territory filled with extraordinary natural abundance. Flora, fauna, water and energy resources, mountain ranges and glaciers; In this territory you can get everything. Something extremely curious that this site has is that it has a fauna with its own characteristics. Magnificent creatures that can only be seen there.
What stands out the most is the fauna that populates the coast and the continental sea. That is where the marine animals become owners to enchant the landscape. However, in Patagonia you can get all kinds of birds and land creatures. So that you know more about the Patagonian fauna and its animals, we share the following article where you can discover the animal beauties of this impressive natural region.
Southern Right Whale
Throughout the winter season and when spring arrives, hundreds of whales approach an area called La Península de Valdés for the mating and reproduction process. An enormous flow of tourists travels each year to Patagonia in Argentina just to watch the passage of these wonderful creatures.
A curious fact about these beings is that, being so huge (being able to measure up to 15 meters long) one usually believes that they ingest a large amount of food in their single bite, but this is not the case, since their diet is based on swallowing a and again immense portions of plankton, which are microscopic animals that float in the water and that in certain cases shine in the dark sea.
Dolphins
The variety of dolphin that has the most fun when swimming in these southern waters is the so-called dark or Fitzroy's dolphin, one of the most acrobatic species, which gathers in groups and enjoys interacting with others.
Its skin is not light gray like that of its other relatives, but rather dark, almost black, with a bright white band that runs across its entire body. Although Fitzroys love to swim in huge schools, when it's time to feed, few congregate to gobble up squid, crustaceans and anchovies.
Sea lions
They do not show such a happy appearance to the eye as the dolphins but they are very captivating and powerful, we refer to the sea lions. They are mammals that like the Patagonian climate and serenity since they can bask in the sun in rocky ravines very close to the sea, and then throw themselves into the cold waters.
These creatures do not suffer from cold, since they are covered by a voluminous skin and a layer of hair. There is no room for confusion, despite the fact that sea lions appear to be, from the physical point of view, sedentary animals, on the contrary, they are skilled swimmers. They use their front fins to gain momentum and their rear fins to slow down and, as we mentioned at the beginning, they have unquestionable strength.
Guanaco
Guanacos are very similar to southern llamas from Argentina. Today it populates the Patagonian pampas, in cool and clear places. They are long-limbed and support only the tips of their toes when they walk (blackened hooves with pads) just like ballet dancers. This gives them greater speed when running. Guanacos are herbivorous creatures, with diurnal habits and highly territorial.
huemul
The huemul is the beautiful deer from the south of the Andes that usually lives in the Andes mountain range of Argentina and Chile, particularly in the Andean forest of Patagonia. Unfortunately, this animal with its refined physique and adorned horns is at risk of disappearing due to uncontrolled hunting. Before there were thousands of huemules throughout the Patagonian territory, today, only a few hundred remain. This deer was proclaimed in 1996 as a natural monument of Argentina.
Puma
The Argentine Puma, also known as Puma Concolor Puma is a beautiful creature and at the same time under threat. In addition to the Argentine Patagonia, this animal can also be found in Bolivia and Paraguay. It is the subspecies that lives further south. Puebla various places in the Patagonian region plus its favorite home is one of the areas of greatest natural beauty, Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile, which borders to the north with Los Glaciares National Park, in Argentina.
This huge feline usually lives in wild and isolated regions, since it is somewhat elusive before humans, coming to attack on very rare occasions and with an obvious purpose of survival. In addition to being an intelligent and athletic creature, the puma can tolerate the most extreme and cold temperatures.
Magellanic penguins
Although penguins do not have the ability to fly, they are still considered birds. These tiny Sphenisciformes populate the coast and islands of Patagonia and are truly beautiful beings. They have modest wings, short and strong, which help them propel them and enable them to travel enormous distances. They can run up to a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. They are social creatures that gather in large colonies. We can see them in the continental territory of Punta Tombó in the Argentine province of Chubu.
Patagonian Mara
The mara (Dolichotis patagonum), which is also known as the Patagonian hare, is a variety of rodent of enormous size that is considered typical of Argentina, despite the fact that it can also be found in the extreme south of Chile. Despite its popular name, the mara does not form part of the order of hares and rabbits (Lagomorpha), but is classified within the order Rodentia, in which rats, squirrels, capybaras, etc. are also grouped.
Maras stand out for being the largest rodents in the world, with a body weight of 8 to 15 kilograms. Additionally, they are interesting for their monogamous behavior and their fidelity to their partner, since most rodents usually mate with different individuals throughout the reproductive seasons.
darwin's fox
Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is a variety of canid that is considered typical of southern Chile, where it is well known as the Chilote fox. It is a kind of fox of tiny size, with an approximate height of 25 centimeters and can weigh between 2,5 and 4 kilograms. Its fur is usually dark gray or black, with the occasional reddish spot on its legs and ears, so it can be confused with the gray or chilla fox.
Unfortunately, it is considered one of the creatures most at risk of extinction, in the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature IUCN and for Greenpeace, today, its population is practically restricted to the Island. de Chiloé and the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, but they can also be located in a more scattered way in certain National Parks in Chilean Patagonia.
Pudu
Pudus (Pudu) are a genus of small-sized deer that are native to the Andean areas of South America. Currently, two varieties of pudú are recognized:
- Northern Pudú (Pudu mephistophiles), which lives primarily in the North of South America, in Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia.
- Pudú del Sur (Pudu puda), which is found only in the Andean forests of central-southern Chile and western Argentina.
Although it is not one of the most famous animals of Patagonia, the pudú stands out for being the smallest deer known today. Apparently, its population is only abundant in the Chiloé archipelago, which belongs to the lake region in Chilean Patagonia. However, the pudús can also be obtained in Chile throughout the Regions of Araucanía and Aysen. In Argentina, the largest number of specimens are located in Parque Nacional Lanin, in the province of Neuquén.
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