FLORA AND FAUNA OF TUCUMÁN: REPRESENTATIVE SPECIES - BIOLOGY - 2025

The flora and fauna of Tucumán is represented by species such as the pink lapacho, the passionflower, the black tatú, the vizcacha de la sierra, among many others. Tucumán is the second smallest province in Argentina. It is located in the northeast of the country and is characterized by being an agricultural, livestock region and where the exploitation of wood is developed.

Despite the small territory that Tucumán occupies, it has two very different geographic systems. To the east, there is an association with the Gran Chaco, while to the west it is related to the Sierras de la Pampa and the Argentine canyons.

Black tattoo. Source: Hans Stieglitz Jacaranda. Source: Kahuroa

This province is known as "the garden of the Republic", because it is a prolific region in fruit and floral species. With regard to fauna, although there is great diversity, a significant number of animals are in danger of extinction.

Flora of Tucumán

Pink lapacho (

This deciduous tree, native to America, grows in humid and sandy soils located from Mexico to Argentina. It is a majestic species, distinguished by its striking pink flowers, which appear even in late winter, when they do not have foliage.

The wood of the pink lapacho is used in construction and some medicinal properties are attributed to the bark.

Regarding its height, it could reach approximately 30 meters, within which 10 meters correspond to the shaft. The foliage is concentrated in the highest area, thus forming a semi-globose crown.

The leaves are lanceolate, velvety and opposite. They have between five and seven leaflets, with the lower edge smooth and the upper slightly serrated. Flowering occurs between the months of July to September. The flowers are large and tubular in appearance.

The corolla can measure more than four centimeters. It is purple or pink, although it could eventually be white. The fruit is cylindrical and contains several seeds.

Jacaranda (

This subtropical species is part of the Bignoniaceae family. It is native to South America, being widely cultivated for its long-lasting and beautiful purple flowers.

The jacaranda or tarco tree, as it is also known, measures from 8 to 12 meters high, although they could reach up to 20 meters. It is semi-deciduous, with a medium growth and a longevity greater than 100 years.

The crown could be irregular, reaching a diameter between 10 and 12 meters. Thus, it could have a pyramidal or umbrella-like shape. However, they are generally ovoid.

The leaves are dark green on the top, while the bottom is light. They grow in the opposite way and have a smooth surface.

Flowering occurs in the summer; At this time the flowers are appreciated, in a violet blue tone, which grow grouped in terminal panicles. The fruit is woody and green in color, although it turns dark brown when ripe.

Passionflower (

Passionflower is a climbing plant that grows spontaneously in different South American countries, such as Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. They are also located in Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru and Venezuela.

This woody species could climb 15 to 20 meters high. In a tropical climate, the passionflower might behave like a perennial. On the contrary, it is deciduous in regions where very cold winters occur.

In relation to the leaves, they are arranged alternately along the entire length of the stem. These are palmate and pentalobed, although some species may have seven lobes.

The flowers are aromatic and exotic. They have 5 white petals and sepals. The inflorescence, which is solitary, is born in the axillary area of ​​the leaves. The fruit is orange, with a shape similar to an egg.

Fauna of Tucumán

Black tattoo (

This armadillo, belonging to the Dasypodidae family, is distributed from the southern United States to Argentina. It is a mammal that has an armored body, with a total of 9 bands or rings.

Said armor covers from head to tail. However, it is not a continuous shell. In the middle of the body there are breaks of skin, thus forming the rings.

The body of the large mullet, as this species is also known, is small. It can measure between 50 and 60 centimeters, passing approximately 4 to 8 kilograms. Regarding the coloration, it is black, with some beige or white areas.

Their limbs are short, yet they can move quickly. The front legs have 4 nails, while the hind legs have 5. The claws of the fingers are strong and sharp, thus allowing it to dig to build its burrow.

Despite having 32 teeth, they do not use them for chewing or biting. This is because the denture lacks roots, as well as enamel.

Vizcacha de la Sierra (

This herbivorous rodent belongs to the same group as chinchillas. It is found in southern South America, being endemic to Argentine Patagonia.

It is a large species, with a short, round head, where large eyes stand out. In addition, it has small ears, which are always erect. Long, rigid vibrissae are found on the lateral areas of the muzzle.

Both molars and incisors grow continuously. These teeth are thin and have a discolored enamel layer.

The vizcacha de la sierra has a soft, woolly and dense coat. The coloration in the dorsal region is intense gray; in contrast, it has a darker stripe along the vertebral line. On the other hand, the belly is cream, white or brownish.

Its extremities have four toes, the footpads completely devoid of fur. The front legs are shorter than the back ones. They have very strong musculature and long legs, allowing them to jump between rocks and escape predators.

In relation to the tail, it is long and covered with hairs, which form a kind of tuft at the tip. Generally, it keeps it upright, thus contributing to stability during the jumps it takes to move.

Brown corzuela (

The brown corzuela is a deer native to America, inhabiting from Mexico to the northeast region of Argentina. Its size reaches 110 centimeters in length, weighing around 30 kilograms.

In this species, the coloration may vary depending on the region it inhabits. However, they are generally a reddish-brown or grayish-brown hue. On the contrary, the belly, the gates and the tail are white.

After the first year of life, the male begins to develop unbranched antlers, which could reach 15 centimeters.

The guazuncho, as the Mazama gouazoubira is also known, lives in wooded areas, both open and semi-open. Its diet is based on leaves, fruits, fungi and shoots.

References

1. Encyclopedia britannica (2019). Tucumán, Province Argentina. Recovered from britannica.com.
2. Wikipedia (2019). Tucumán, province. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org.
3. Loughry, J., McDonough, C., Abba, AM 2014. Dasypus novemcinctus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014. Recovered from iucnredlist.org.
4. Shefferly, N. 1999. Lagidium viscacia, Animal Diversity Web. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
5. Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson (1993). Jacaranda mimosifolia. Recovered from hort.ufl.edu.
6. Wikipedia (2019). Province of Tucumán. Recovered from es.wikipedia.org.