FLORA AND FAUNA OF SANTA FE: REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES - BIOLOGY - 2025

The flora and fauna of Santa Fe is represented by species such as the ubajay, the red timbo, the river wolf, the South American raccoon, among others. Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. A large part of this region is located in the northern part of the Pampa.

This territory is the main center of dairy production in Argentina. Also, it is characterized by the diversity of animals that live there, which includes more than one hundred species of birds. Likewise, it is an important agricultural region, highlighting the cultivation of wheat, corn and sorghum.

South American raccoon. Source: Ryskas Aliso de rio. Source: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia

The province has numerous protected areas, such as Cayastá. In this provincial reserve, all the fauna and flora of the different ecosystems of the Paraná flood valley are protected.

Flora of Santa Fe

Ubajay (

This tree, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, reaches a height of 4 to 8 meters. It is originally from South America, living mainly in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. It is highly prized for its fruit, which has a taste very similar to peach.

The ubajay has a densely branched trunk, with a dark, furrowed bark. The foliage, which is evergreen, forms a globose crown. In relation to the leaves, these are opposite and simple, with villi on the petiole. In addition, they can be oblong or lanceolate in shape, measuring 3 to 6 centimeters long.

Flowering occurs in early spring, a time when its white flowers can be seen. These are solitary and hexameric, growing in the foliar axils.

After this stage, approximately 2 months later, the species bears fruit. The fruit has a globose shape, with a juicy and edible pulp.

Red timbo (

The red timbó is a tall tree, reaching 30 meters, with a trunk up to 2 meters in diameter. When the plant is young, the bark is smooth, while in the adult stage it is cracked, with lenticels located transversely.

It is located in subtropical or tropical regions of South America, specifically in Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina.

It is a majestic tree that requires direct sunlight to reach its maximum development. Consequently, species that grow in jungle areas have a straight stem, contrary to those found alone, whose trunk is usually tortuous.

The crown of the guanacaste, as this tree is also known, is wide. Its leaves are compound and alternate. Each leaflet has between 8 and 23 pairs of opposite leaflets, with an intense green color on the upper surface and gray on the underside.

The flowering period occurs in spring. The flowers are small, white or with a slight greenish hue. The inflorescences are pedunculated, with about 10 or 20 flowers, which can be apical or axial.

Regarding the fruit, this is one of the main characteristics of the red timbo. It is black and has an incomplete circular shape, similar to a human ear.

River alder

This evergreen tree is native to the western region of South America. In Argentina it grows in the north-central zone, up to Paraná. Because the root of Tessaria integrifolia is gemmiferous, this species proliferates rapidly. As a result of this, the species forms dense forests called alisales.

It has a height that ranges between 3 and 10 meters. Its trunk is thin and straight, with few lateral branches. The bark has grayish tones, being somewhat warty. The leaves can be oblanceolate or elliptical in shape. Likewise, they are simple, measuring 6 to 8 centimeters long.

In relation to the flowers, they are of pinkish-violet tones, presented in a dense inflorescence. The flowering of the bobo stick, as this species is also called, is from December to June.

The wood of this tree is used in various rustic constructions and in the production of paper pulp. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine, giving them antitussive properties. Likewise, they are used in the treatment of urinary infections.

Fauna of Santa Fe

River wolf (

This otter is a member of the Mustelidae family and inhabits Central, South America. The size of this species can vary from 90 to 150 centimeters, having a body weight that ranges between 5 and 15 kilograms. In contrast, females are up to 25% smaller than males.

Its body is covered by short hairs, of an intense grayish brown tone. However, the ventral area is lighter. The face, jaw, upper lip and the end of the muzzle are silvery-white or yellowish in color.

The tail of the neotropical otter, as it is also known, is wide and long, born from a fairly thick base. The limbs of this otter are short and stocky, with all of its toes webbed. This allows it to move easily in streams and rivers, which are its favorite habitats.

On the other hand, the diet of the river wolf is mainly made up of crustaceans and fish, although it may occasionally feed on small mammals and some mollusks.

South American raccoon (

This species is native to the jungles and swamps of Central and South America. Thus, it can be distributed from Costa Rica to Argentina and Uruguay.

The length of the body, not including the tail, is 40 to 80 centimeters. The tail can measure between 20 and 56 centimeters. The weight of the male varies, so it could range from 5 to 7 kilograms, while the females are smaller and thinner.

The coat of the South American raccoon is brown, being a little darker on the extremities. On his face he has a black mask, which borders the eyes and fades behind them.

A characteristic of the fur is that the hairs on the neck are directed towards the head, contrary to their usual direction, towards the rear of the body.

The claws of this mammal are narrow and sharp, thus influencing its movement through the trees. The fact that most cheek teeth are large with broad rounded cusps makes it easier for this animal to ingest the hard foods that make up its diet.

The Procyon cancrivorus usually eats lobsters, crabs, amphibians, and oysters. Also, you could supplement your nutrition with some fruits.

Poised hawk (

This bird, belonging to the Falconidae family, is native to America. Its body is 30 to 40 centimeters long, with a wingspan that reaches 90 centimeters. The weight could range between 250 and 475 grams.

In the adult stage, the plumed falcon has the upper parts of its body of a slate blue tone, in contrast to the white color of its throat, around the eyes and on the chest.

The upper part of the belly and the flanks are black, with fine white stripes. The lower part of the belly has a cinnamon ocher color. The legs are bright yellow.

The primary feathers are black, while the secondary ones have a white tip. On the other hand, the uppertail-coverts have white stripes and the tail is dull slate, with some white bars.

The Falco femoralis, also known as the retriever or banded hawk, feeds on insects, lizards, birds, and bats.

References

1. Wikipedia (2019). Santa Fe, province. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org.
2. Encyclopedia britannica (2019). Santa Fe, province Argentina. Recovered from britannica.com.
3. Wikipedia (2019). Cayastá Provincial Reserve. Recovered from es.wikiepdia.org.
4. Rheingantz, ML, Trinca, CS 2015. Lontra longicaudis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. Recovered from iucnredlist.org.
5. Reid, F., Helgen, K. & González-Maya, JF 2016. Procyon cancrivorus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Recovered from iucnredlist.org.
6. Teimaiken Foundation (2019). Lagoon turtle. Recovered from temaiken.org.ar.