FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE ANDEAN REGION: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flora and fauna of the Andean region is very varied due to the length and the different height levels of the region. The Andes mountain range is in the western part of South America, with a length of 3 370 794 kilometers.

It is part of the territories of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.

The average height is 4000 meters and its highest point is Mount Aconcagua, with 6960 meters high.

Lands from zero to 1000 meters high are suitable for agriculture. Sugar cane, tobacco, banana, among others, are grown.

From 1000 to 2000 meters, guava, avocado and coffee are grown, among others. Potatoes, barley, vegetables and cinchona are grown from 2000 to 3000 meters, as well as other foods.

The 5 main representatives of the fauna of the Andean region

1- Guanaco

It is the most widespread, since it is found from Peru to Tierra del Fuego. It is a mammal of the camelid family.

It has an average height of 1.60 m and weighs around 90 kilos.

2- Condor

The condor is the typical animal of the Andes mountain range. It is the world's longest-winged bird.

It nests between 1000 and 5000 meters high. She is black with a white feather collar on her neck. Its head is red and devoid of feathers.

3- Puma

It is a carnivorous mammal native to America, also called a mountain lion or panther.

It is found in the main biomes of America due to its adaptability: from Canada to Tierra del Fuego.

4- Hummingbird

The hummingbird is a small bird native to America. More than 100 species of hummingbirds live in the Andean zone.

It is the only bird on the planet that can fly backwards. In the Andean culture it has varied symbolisms. For example, in Peru it symbolizes the resurrection.

5- Red fox or culpeo

It is the second largest canid in South America, surpassed only by the maned guazú. It has reddish legs and head, its back is gray streaked with black, and its belly, neck and mouth are white.

The 4 main representatives of the flora of the Andean region

1- Orchids

It is a monocotyledonous plant, with very showy and complex flowers. There are about 25,000 varieties. Only in the Colombian Andean region grow 4,200 species.

2- Quirquiña

It is an aromatic plant from the Bolivian Andes and northern Argentina, but it is distributed throughout the Andean area. In Mexico it is called papalo.

3- Purse, little shoes of Venus or capacito

It is an annual plant from Argentina, but very adapted to the Andean area. It has sachet-shaped flowers, composed of two swollen petals.

4- Quina

It is a tree native to South America, whose bark has many medicinal qualities.

It is one of the species of cinchonas from which quinine is extracted, used to lower fever.

References

1. "Flora and fauna of the Andean region" in Slideshare (July 2013). Recovered in October 2017 from Slideshare at: es.slideshare.net
2. "Flora and Fauna" in the Andean Region (September 2012). Recovered in October 2017 from the Andean Region in: regionandinaparse.blogspot.com.ar
3. "Flora" in the Colombian Andean Region. Recovered in October 2017 from the Colombian Andean Region at: regandinaorg.galeon.com
4. "Flora and fauna of our Peruvian highlands" in Riquezas de la sierra peruana (July 2016). Recovered in October 2017 from Riquezas de la sierra peruana in: ricazasperufood.blogspot.com.ar
5. "Agriculture in Peru" in Pedagogical Folder. Recovered in October 2017 from the Pedagogical Folder at scientific geography.carpetapedagogica.com