FAUNA OF TACNA: MOST OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The fauna of Tacna is represented by animals such as the Andean cat, the suri, the chinchillas, the guanacos and the coastal fox. The department of Tacna is located in the south of Peru.

Tacna is part of the so-called yungas of Peru, low mountain regions located within the Andes.

These regions have a temperate and desert subtropical climate that has given life to numerous animal species.

The department of Tacna is part of the twenty-eight states that make up the Republic of Peru and borders Puno, Moquegua, Chile, Bolivia and the Pacific Ocean.

You may also be interested in this list of native animals of Peru.

The 5 most relevant animals of the fauna of Tacna

1- Andean cat

Also called the jacobitus leopard or titi in the Aymara language, it is an endangered feline that lives in the Andes mountains. It weighs between 4 and 7 kilograms and measures about 70 centimeters without counting its tail.

It has a habit of hunting at night and is very shy, so there are very few occasions when it can be seen in daylight.

It feeds on small rodents, birds, and some fish. Responds aggressively to the presence of foxes, which are its direct competitor for food.

2- Suri

It is also known as Darwin's ñandú or northern ñandú and is a species of bird in the rheidae family.

It measures an average of 100 centimeters in height, weighs about 25 kilograms and its most relevant characteristic is that it can run up to 60 kilometers per hour.

It feeds on herbs and shrubs and its character is usually aggressive during the incubation period of the eggs.

In Peru and Tacna its population has decreased, so much so that there are about 300 living specimens currently alive, which is why it has been declared as a species in imminent danger of extinction.

3- Chinchilla

It is a histricomorphic rodent found in the Tacna region and in the southern half of the Andes. Its name comes from the word chinche, which means "smelly animal" and refers to the smell that they expel when they feel threatened.

They resemble rabbits in size and like to live in desert and rocky areas, easily adapting to hot weather.

They are easy prey for predatory animals and also for the fashion industry because of their soft fur, which has led them to near extinction.

4- Guanaco

The guanaco, or wuanaku in the Quechua language, is a mammal of the Camelidae family endemic to South America. It is a wild animal and measures 1.50 meters.

They live in small herds made up of a male and several females. Their main predator is the fox and they feed on tubers, grasses and moss.

Very few specimens live in Tacna for their indiscriminate hunting as a sport and also for the consumption of their meat and the use of their skin.

5- Coastal fox

It is also called the Peruvian desert fox or the wolf of the coast. It is the smallest of the South American foxes. Its color is pale gray with ocher tones on its ears and on the back of its head.

It likes to live in dry and arid forests and in desert areas. It feeds on rodents, seeds, insects, and birds.

References

1. Pacheco, V. (2002). Mammals of Peru. Lima: Major National University of San Marcos. Retrieved on November 27, 2017 from: academia.edu
2. List of mammals of Peru. Retrieved on November 27, 2017 from: en.wikipedia.org
3. Wildlife of Peru. Retrieved on November 27, 2017 from: en.wikipedia.org
4. Cornejo, A; Jiménez, P. (2001). Diet of the Andean fox in the desert scrub of southern Peru. Retrieved on November 27, 2017 from: cires.org.ve
5. Seven wild animals about to disappear in the Tacna region. Retrieved on November 27, 2017 from: diariocorreo.pe