10 MOUNTAIN ANIMALS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - BIOLOGY - 2025

Some of the most representative mountain animals are the alpaca, the falcon, the puma, the bald eagle, the panda bear, the fox and the Himalayan tar.

Mountainous regions mean a constant struggle for all the species that inhabit them. Mountains can mean sudden changes in the weather, food shortages, and even walking difficulties.

You may also be interested in this list of animals of the Andes Mountains.

Some of the most common animals in the mountains are:

Alpaca

The alpaca is a domestic species of artiodactyl mammal. It can be confused a lot with the llama and the vicuña, since it shares a genetic load with the llama and is related to the vicuña.

This species has been domesticated for thousands of years in South America.

Hawk

Also called falco, alcotanes and kestrels, they are birds of the Falconidae family.

Among the falcons, there is the peregrine falcon, which is the fastest animal on the planet, reaching speeds of 360 kilometers per hour in a dive.

Ibex of the alps

This is a species of ibex that can only be found in the Alps mountain range.

Its preferred habitat is the point where the end of the snowy area meets the beginning of the forest.

Cougar

The puma is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the Felidae family.

Also recognized as the lion of the mountains, it represented a great challenge for the Spanish colonizers, due to its predatory characteristics.

Bald eagle

The bald eagle is a species of bird widely recognized as the national animal of the United States.

It has black plumage on the body and white on the head, which is why it is called the white-headed eagle.

This species was close to extinction in the early 20th century.

Chirú

The chirú, also recognized as a Tibetan antelope, belongs to the artiodactyls.

This species, native to Asia, is currently in a state of conservation, since it has been declared in danger of extinction.

Panda bear

Also called the giant panda, it is a species of the Ursidae family.

This animal has a black and white coat. The panda is herbivorous, eats bamboo, and is endemic to Asia.

Fox

Foxes are canids, in the same family as domestic dogs. This species of wild canid is one of the most intelligent animals, although it is not compared to the dolphin or the gorilla.

Condor of the Andes

The condor of the Andes is a bird typical of the Andes Mountains. It is also called the condor of the Incas.

It is one of the largest birds, and it can only be found in the Andes Mountains.

Himalayan tar

It is another artiodactyl mammal that lives in the mountains.

As the name suggests, this species can be found in the Himalayas, from India to Tibet.

It has two horns and a brown fur, which provides warmth during cold weather.

References

1. "List of Mountain Animals" in: Sky Enimals. Retrieved: November 25, 2017 from Sky Enimals: skyenimals.com.
2. Maier, C. "Adaptations of Plants & Animals to Mountains" (April 25, 2017) in: Sciencing. Retrieved on: November 25, 2017 from Sciencing: sciencing.com.
3. "Ibex" in: Animal Encyclopedia. Retrieved on: November 25, 2017 from Animal Encyclopedia: deanimalia.com.
4. "Characteristics of Foxes" in: Zorropedia. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from Zorropedia: zorropedia.com.
5. "Information about the Puma" in Infoanimales. Retrieved on November 25, 2017 from Infoanimales: infoanimales.com.