20 ANIMALS OF THE ANDES MOUNTAINS - BIOLOGY - 2024

The animals of the Andes mountain range are the puma, the llama, the Andean cat, the condor and some curious insects such as the unicorn spider, among others. The fauna of the Andes mountain range in the South American continent is characterized by its abundance and diversity. Currently there are about 1000 species, of which about two thirds are considered endemic to the region.

The diversity of animals is high with about 600 species of mammals, more than 1700 species of birds, more than 600 species of reptiles and almost 400 species of fish. The ability of the species to live in the Andes depends on the altitude factor. However, the existence of plant communities is also affected by variables such as climate, humidity and soil.

The existence of animal life is determined by the abundance of resources in the area. The perpetual snow line is established as the upper limit to where the fauna can reach. Some species are capable of living at any altitude, while others can only do so in a certain range.

You may also be interested in knowing what the relief of the Andean region is, to better understand where these species live. Also, you can see other lists of animals like the 22 most fascinating wild animals.

List of 20 animals of the Andes mountain range

Mammals

1- Puma

The puma, panther or mountain lion (Puma concolor) is a species of mammal that belongs to the Felidae family. These animals are distributed throughout the Americas from Alaska to southern Argentina and Chile.

They can occupy a great variety of habitats such as mountain forest, grasslands, swamps or any other area with a good availability of prey. They have a length of 86 to 154 cm with a weight of 29 to 120 kg. The coat varies from a yellow brown to a grayish brown on the back and white on the chest and belly.

2- short-tailed chinchilla

The short-tailed chinchilla, Chilean chinchilla, highland chinchilla or royal chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla) is a species of mammal belonging to the order of rodents.

This animal can be found in the Andes of southern Peru, Bolivia, northeastern Argentina, and northern Chile. They prefer a bush and grassland habitat at elevations between 3,000 and 4,500 meters above sea level. They have a length of around 30 cm with a 15 cm tail. Their fur can be bluish, pearl or gray with black tips.

3- Andean Tapir

The Andean tapir or mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque) is a species of mammal belonging to the order Perissodactyls. This animal can be found in the Andes mountains in the northwestern portion of the continent.

It prefers mountainous forest habitats between 2,000 and 4,000 meters above sea level. The lips and nose of this species are kept in a prehensile proboscis. They can measure up to 180 cm in length with a shoulder height of 80 cm and a weight of around 150 kg.

4- Vicuña

The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) is a species of mammal belonging to the Camelidae family. This animal can be found in the Andean highland area that includes northern Argentina, western Bolivia, northeastern Chile and some areas of Peru.

Vicuñas prefer grassland habitats at altitudes of 3,500 to 5,750 meters above sea level. They have a body length of 1.2 to 1.9 meters with a height of 70 cm to 1.1 m. Their fur is reddish-brown on the head, a certain yellow neck and whitish flanks.

5- Guanaco

The Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a species of mammal belonging to the Camelidae family. This animal can be found throughout the Andes mountain range from northern Peru, through Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

These animals are adapted to a variety of climates such as the Atacama desert or the cold climates of Tierra del Fuego. They have an approximate height of 1.60 meters with a weight of about 91 kg. Their fur is reddish brown on the back with a white belly.

6- Flame

The llama (Lama glama) is a species of mammal belonging to the Camelidae family. This animal can be found in the highland region in the Andes mountain range, from Ecuador, through Peru, Bolivia and the north of Argentina and Chile.

The plateaus where the llama inhabits are grassland habitats covered with some shrubs at elevations of 2300 to 4000 meters above sea level. These animals have a length ranging from 92 cm to 1.6 m with a height of 1.2 m and an average weight of 140 kg. Long fur varies greatly in color, but the most common is reddish brown with white or yellow patches.

7- Andean cat

The Andean cat, chinchay or lynx cat (Leopardus jacobita) is a species of mammal belonging to the Felidae family. This animal can be found in the Andes mountain range from the central region of Peru to the north of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Prefers dry rocky habitats with sparse vegetation. It is 60 to 80 cm long with a 35 cm tail and an average weight of 4 kg. Its fur is ash gray with dark markings extending from the back and on its extremities.

8- Andean Quirquincho

The Andean quirquincho or Andean armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) is a species of mammal belonging to the Dasypodidae family. This animal can be found in the highland region of the Andes mountain range from southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina and Chile.

Its habitat is that of high altitude meadows at elevations of up to 3500 meters above sea level. It has a length of 22 to 40 cm with a tail of around 15 cm. It has 18 burnt yellow or light brown dorsal bands with hair growing between the joints.

9- Huemul

The huemul, güemul or southern Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is a species of mammal belonging to the Cervidae family. This animal is the southernmost deer on the planet. It is located on the Andes mountain range between Chile and Argentina.

Prefers wooded habitats or open areas with shrub cover. They have a length that varies from 140 to 175 cm, with a height of 80 to 90 cm and a weight of 40 to 100 kg. Their fur is thick and brown in color. Males have horns that grow up to 35 cm.

10- Spectacled Bear

The spectacled bear, Andean bear, South American bear or frontin bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is a species of mammal belonging to the Ursidae family.

This animal can be found throughout the mountainous regions of the Andes from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and in certain parts of Argentina and Panama.

Commonly, it is found in cloud forests, where there is abundance of food and shelter at elevations of 475 to 3658 meters above sea level. They have a length of 1.3 to 2 meters in height and a weight of 60 to 200 Kg. Their fur is uniform black with marches of white color that create rings around the eyes.

Birds

11- Cauquén

The cauquén, huallata or huachua (Chloephaga melanoptera) is a species of bird belonging to the Anatidae family. This animal can be found from the central region of Peru in the Andes mountain range to the central part between Argentina and Chile.

It prefers valley habitats at elevations of 3000 meters above sea level. They have a length that varies between 75 to 80 cm and a weight of around kg. Their plumage is white with a dark purple wing band and the beak and legs are red.

12- Torrent Duck

The torrent duck or torrent duck (Merganetta armata) is a species of bird belonging to the Anatidae family. This animal can be found throughout the entire Andes mountain range from Venezuela to the extreme south of Argentina and Chile.

It prefers crystalline currents at elevations that vary between 1500 to 4500 meters above sea level. It presents a very evident sexual dimorphism, with males and females presenting different color schemes. They have a length of 38 to 46 cm.

13- Andean flamenco

The parihuana, parina grande, tococo, jututu or Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) is a species of bird belonging to the Phoenicopteridae family. This animal can be found from northern Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and southern Peru.

Prefers habitats of wetlands or saline deserts. It has a length that varies between 102 and 110 cm. Its body is pale pink with a lighter belly. Its long beak is yellow and black.

14- Darwin's Rhea

The Darwin's rhea, Andean rhea, highland rhea, suri or choique (Rhea pennata) is a species of bird belonging to the Rheidae family. This animal can be found in the mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

It prefers grassland and scrub habitats at elevations of around 3000 meters above sea level. These animals have a length that varies between 92 and 100 cm with a weight of 15 to 25 kg. The feathers are long and have a grayish-brown color.

15- Condor of the Andes

The condor of the Andes or Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a species of bird belonging to the Cathartidae family. This species is found throughout the Andes mountain range from Venezuela and Colombia, passing through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. It prefers habitats of open grasslands and alpine areas at elevations that go up to 5000 meters above sea level.

This bird has a wingspan of 270 to 320 cm with a length of 100 to 130 cm. The weight varies between 11 to 15 kg in males and between 8 and 11 kg in females. Their plumage is uniform black with the exception of a collar of white feathers that surrounds the base of the neck. The head and neck are red and with few feathers.

Fishes

16- Preadilla

The pregnant or Andean catfish (Astroblepus ubidiai) is a species of fish belonging to the Astroblepidae family. This animal is endemic to the highlands of the Andes of Ecuador where it inhabits streams of the Imbakucha basin.

Its body is grayish brown and has no scales. It can reach a length of 15 cm. It has chins around its mouth that serve as a sensory organ.

17- Puppies

Orestias is a genus of fish known as puppies that belong to the Cyprinodontidae family. They are animals that can be found in the lakes, rivers and springs of the highlands of the Andes. The largest of the species can reach 27 cm in length.

Amphibians

18- Savannah frog

The savanna frog or Andean frog (Dendropsophus labialis) is a species of amphibian belonging to the Hylidae family. This animal can be found in the eastern portion of the Andes mountain range in Colombia.

Its habitat is that of wetlands, swamps and lagoons at an altitude of between 2400 and 3200 meters above sea level. Its color is variable but the most common is green with brown spots. It can measure up to 4 cm in length.

Insects and spiders

19- Morpho helenor

Morpho helenor is a species of butterfly belonging to the order Lepidoptera. This insect can be found from Central America through most of the South American continent.

These insects are characterized by a blue color on their wings combined with black edges and white spots. Many subspecies have been described within this group.

20- Unicorn spiders

Unicorn spiders belong to the genus Unicorn and are a species found in South America. Specifically, it can be found in semi-desert regions of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina at high altitudes. They have a length that varies between 2 and 3 mm. They have a characteristic projection between the eyes that gives them their name.

References

1. Real History. South America. Recovered from realhistoryww.com.
2. Animal Diversity Web. Puma concolor. 2003. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
3. Chinchilla chinchilla. 2000. animaldiversity.org.
4. Wildscreen Arkive. Mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Recovered from arkive.org.
5. Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.org/. 1999. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
6. -. Lama guanicoe. 2014. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
7. -. Lama glama. 2004. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
8. Wildscreen Arkive. Andean cat (Leopardus jacobita). Recovered from arkive.org.
9. Animal Diversity Web. Chaetophractus nationi. 2002. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
10. Wildscreen Arkive. Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus). Recovered from arkive.org.
11. Animal Diversity Web. Tremarctos ornatus. 2012. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
12. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Chloephaga melanoptera. 2010. Retrieved from neotropical.birds.cornell.edu.
13. Merganetta armata. 2010. Retrieved from neotropical.birds.cornell.edu.
14. Wildscreen Arkive. Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus). Recovered from arkive.org.
15. Lesser rhea (Rhea pennata). Recovered from arkive.org.
16. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Vultur gryphus. 2010. Retrieved from neotropical.birds.cornell.edu.
17. Fishbase. Astroblepus ubidiai (Pellegrin, 1931). Recovered from fishbase.org.
18. Fish Identification: Genus: Orestias. Recovered from fishbase.org.
19. Batrachia. Dendropsophus labialis (Peters, 1863). November 29, 2013. Recovered from batrachia.com.
20. Learn about Butterflies. Common Blue Morpho. Recovered from learnaboutbutterflies.com.
21. On Unicorn, a New Genus of the Spider Family Oonopidae. PLATNICK, NORMAN I. 1995, AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, p. 12.