Fauna

Flora

FAUNA IN TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Mammals
The most representative animals amongst the terrestrial fauna are the guanacos. Other important species are the grey and red foxes of Tierra del Fuego, along with the endangered chungungo or sea otter, which lives on the coasts.

The rabbit of Castilla, the musk-rat, the Canadian beaver and the so called tucuto, all introduced species, are some of the inhabitants of this Andean Patagonian forest zone.

Birds
There are a variety of coastal environments: innumerable inlets and points, small beaches, ravines and cliffs, such as the Bays of Lapataia and Ensenada for instance, ideal refuges for coastal avifauna, abundant and easy to watch.

There are more than 190 known species, with the parrots, the black-browed albatross, the petrel, the sea bustard, the steam duck, vultures, owls, caracaras, seagulls, Antarctic doves, sea crows, green kingfishers, cormorants, condors and bustards, standing out. Moreover, there are also forest birds such as the giant woodpecker and the austral parrot.

Reptiles
The only reptile existing here is the lizard, on the northern plains.

Sea fauna
It is represented by molluscs (mussels, clams, shellfishes, octopuses and squids), crustaceous (spider crabs, shrimps, krill, sea fleas and ball bugs), cetaceous (whales, dolphins, killer whales and porpoises), and other mammals such as the sea lions, fur seals, common seals and sea elephants.

Fishes
Amongst the ichthyologic fauna of fresh waters we have the common jollytail and the zebra trout. There are exotic salmons such as the rainbow and brown trout, suitable for the practice of sport fishing. We can find basses, pollocks, tailed hakes and sardines in the sea.



FLORA IN TIERRA DEL FUEGO

There are about 700 000 hectares of forests on the slopes of the mountains and in the vicinity of the Beagle Canal in Tierra del Fuego.

The flora is that characteristic of the Andean Patagonian forests, although it is not that variegated, having just six tree species capable of enduring the extremely harsh climate of the region.

The forests of lenga beeches or oak of Tierra del Fuego, and of cohiue or guindo, which develop in the most humid and rainy zones on the shores of the Beagle Canal, are predominant in the area. The cinnamon tree also inhabits in these forests, and it reaches heights of 12 metres. There are also leñadores, notros and ñires growing in here. These species thrive at altitudes of up to 690 metres above sea level, approximately.

In opposition to their northernmost sector, the lower and dampest zones in these forests have a unique environment: the turf lands, which are formed by a dense mattress of mosses, almost exclusively of the Sphagnum genus, and vegetal material.

The brushwood is in the open and includes, in addition, saw ferns, likens and mosses. Shrubs such as the calafate, which is thorny and gives a fruit tasting similar to a grape, are abundant in the valleys. There are lupinos, poppies, lilies, and multicoloured tulips brought from Europe too.

On the high plateaus and terraces flora is of the Patagonian type: trees disappear and shrubs and likens appear. The plains are covered with natural grasses called coirón. Regarding the flowers, we find yellow violets, white, green and yellow orchids, everlastings and white and yellow daisies, amongst others.

The Pan del Indio, which grows either on trees or on the ground, is the most common mushroom, especially in autumn. We have the "old man's beard" amongst likens.