10 ANIMALS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION IN CHILE - BIOLOGY - 2025

The most important animals in danger of extinction in Chile are the Arica hummingbird, the spiny-chested toad, the black lizard, the chilote fox and the Andean cat. The species taruca, canquén colorado, huemul, small tern and tricahue are also endangered.

All of these have been placed in the category of critically endangered animals (CR) by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the National Commission for the Environment of Chile.

The population of these animal species, which include mammals, reptiles and birds, has drastically decreased in the last three decades. The number of specimens in the wild is very low.

For this reason, the Chilean authorities are carrying out recovery programs for these species to prevent their disappearance in the country.

The main reasons for the threat of extinction of these animals are the destruction of their habitats, poaching and pollution of the environment.

Fauna in danger of extinction in Chile

1- The hummingbird of Arica

It is considered the smallest bird in Chile, since it measures only 7 or 8 centimeters and weighs between 2.3 to 2.5 grams.

It is also the most threatened in the country. It was declared in 2004 as the symbolic bird of Arica and since 2006 it has been a natural monument of Chile.

The Arica hummingbird (Eulidia yarrellii) has been decimated by the use of pesticides and the destruction of its habitat.

He lives in the valleys of Arica and Parinacota. Until 2015, only about 400 specimens of this species have been counted.

The male has a purple patch with blue tones; on the other hand, the females have totally white plumage, from the throat the abdomen spends.

Because it has a very small beak (1 cm approx.), It only feeds on the nectar of small flowers, vegetables and insects.

2- Black lizard

The black lizard (Liolaemus curis) is another species considered unusual due to its low population; is critically endangered.

It is also an endemic species of Chile, and is distributed by the Termas del Flaco and Rio de Las Damas, in San Fernando.

It is a large animal: it can measure up to 8 meters in length from snout to tail.

Its body is of variable color, between brown, yellowish, olive green and black. In addition, it has transverse black spots on the back. It feeds on insects and lives in rocky areas with altitudes between 1500 and 2100 meters above sea level.

3- The spiny-chested toad

This amphibian species has the scientific name Alsodes pehuenche, and it lives near the Maule lagoon. It is seriously threatened in Chile.

It is also known by the names of muleteer toad or Popeye toad. It is an endemic species to Chile, with a robust body and size and thick legs.

It is considered that 25% of the population decreased due to the destruction of the ponds and streams where it lived when the Pehuenche international pass was built.

4- The chilote fox

It is the canine species with the highest risk of extinction in Chile.

Of the chilote fox or Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) only four specimens have been sighted in recent times in the Nahuelbuta National Park, after a long period of being missing.

This animal has no subspecies, it measures 52 to 67 cm and can weigh between 1.8 and 4 kilos. The first to describe it was Charles Darwin in 1834, which is why it is called that.

The body color is dark gray and black, highlighting the reddish spots on the ears and legs. It generally lives in areas of abundant vegetation, unlike other foxes that live in more open areas.

5- The Andean cat

The Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita) is also known by the names of chinchay, jacobita cat and titi. It is one of the smallest and least known felines in the world.

It weighs about 4 kilograms on average and is between 74 and 85 cm long, because its tail comprises almost 70% of its body.

It lives in the Chilean highlands and in other Andean countries such as Argentina, Peru and Bolivia, and tends to feed on rodents and birds. The IUCN estimates the subpopulations of this animal at less than 250 mature specimens.

The greatest threat to this species is poaching and persecution, closely linked to the religious customs of indigenous peoples.

Their skin is considered to be a good luck talisman for the reproduction of livestock and crops.

6- The Huemul

It has been on the red list of critically endangered species for many years. Its scientific name is Hippocamelus bisulcus.

It is one of the three species of deer native to Chile. With a robust body, this skittish animal can reach a weight of about 100 kilos.

It appears as an emblem of Chile since it is part of the coat of arms of the southern nation. It is a herbivorous animal that lives in small groups made up of one male and three females.

The biggest threats to this species are poaching, overgrazing, domestic dog attacks, and livestock-borne diseases, as well as habitat loss.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that between Chile and Argentina there is a population of only 1500 to 2000 specimens.

7- The taruca

This other native Chilean deer is known by the name of northern huemul or by its scientific name: Hippocamelus antisensis.

It is at serious risk of extinction as a consequence of illegal hunting, the extension of agricultural frontiers and the subsequent removal of the vegetation that serves as food.

The taruca lives in arid areas of the north of the country. It is a medium-sized animal, weighing less than 80 kilos, which is distributed in groups ranging from 2 to 21 individuals.

It is herbivorous and feeds on grasslands, the foliage of shrubs from the Andean areas and the foothills of the mountain range. It also consumes alfalfa, which it takes from crops in times of drought.

8- The red canquén

It is one of the five species of geese that Chile has, but its population is the smallest and most threatened of all.

This bird (Chloephaga rubidiceps) is between 50 and 55 cm in size, and lives along the southern cone, between Chile and Argentina. It is also called the red-headed bustard.

Among the factors that contributed to a serious decrease in its population are illegal hunting, sheep overgrazing and, apparently, the arrival of the gray fox from Tierra del Fuego. However, the real reasons are not entirely clear.

9 - The Little Tern

This species is the smallest of the birds that belong to the Sternidae family, measuring only 23 cm on average.

The lesser tern (Sterna lorata) has a very colorful bill of black and yellow tones. The areas where it lives are associated with the Humboldt current; that is, along the entire coast between Ecuador and the Antofagasta region.

It is mainly threatened by tourist and industrial activities, since the sites where they nest have been intervened or modified. Such is the case of the Mejillones Plain, one of its breeding sites.

10 - The tricahue

This beautiful bird (Cyanoliseus patagonus), also known by the name of the Burrowing Parrot, is the largest and most colorful of its species, made up of 4 native subspecies. She is between 17 and 17 inches tall, and is very social and boisterous.

It lives in the Maule and O'Higgins regions, in groups or flocks of up to 100 members to hunt and protect each other. It feeds on seeds and wild fruits.

The main threat is its capture for commercialization as a pet, apart from poisoning and the destruction of its habitat, since it is considered a harmful species for crops.

Articles of interest

Animals in danger of extinction in the world.

Animals in danger of extinction in Mexico.

Animals in danger of extinction in Peru.

Animals in danger of extinction in Venezuela.

Animals in danger of extinction in Argentina.

Animals in danger of extinction in Spain.

Animals in danger of extinction in Colombia.

References

1. Program for Environmental and Social Recovery. Retrieved on February 5, 2018 from portal.mma.gob.cl
2. Troncoso, Jaime: Terrestrial reptiles in danger of extinction. In the central zone of Chile. Consulted of redobservadores.cl
3. Arica Hummingbird, the most threatened bird in Chile. Consulted of veoverde.com
4. Animal in danger of extinction. Consulted of animalsextincion.es
5. The huemul is "seriously endangered" and only 1,500 to 2,000 remain alive in Chile. Consulted of emol.com
6. 10 of the Chilean animals most threatened by extinction. Consulted of biobiochile.cl