THE 10 MOST REPRESENTATIVE ANIMALS OF ARGENTINA - BIOLOGY - 2025

The most outstanding animals of Argentina are the anteater, the jaguar, the pampas deer, the vizcacha, the ñandú, the guanaco, the condor, the hornero, the taruca and the southern right whale.

Thanks to its wide territory and its place as the second South American country in terms of size, Argentina comprises several ecosystems that host a wide range of animal life.

The largest climatic regions of the country are the Pampas, which is made up of large, level savannas; and the Andean one, which stands out for its high mountains.

It also highlights the subtropical region near the Amazon jungle, and the Patagonian region, which is in the extreme south near the Antarctic Sea.

The 10 main animals of Argentina

1- Deer of the pampas

Compared to other species of deer, this one is very small. Its colors are light brown and white.

Although in the past it has been found throughout South America, today its territory has decreased considerably due to human activity.

2- Ñandú

The rhea or the American rhea is a relative of the ostrich and is found running through the South American pampas.

Like the ostrich, it is a large, gray bird with enormous wings and the distinctive lack of the ability to fly. However, it can run quickly.

3- The vizcacha

The vizcacha is a small rodent relative to the chinchilla. Their hair is short, soft and generally gray.

It is a nocturnal or twilight animal that prefers to stay hidden during the day.

4- The taruca

The taruca is a type of deer found in the mountainous portions of northern Argentina. It is also known as the Andean deer.

It looks like a medium-sized gray or brown huemul. The males have two horns.

Like the huemul, its image is considered impressive by the people of the country, which is why it is displayed on the Argentine 100 peso bill.

5- The condor

They are scavengers that fly over the Andean region and the northern coasts looking for food.

It is the largest flying bird in the world and is mostly black with white plumage around the head.

6- The oven

Compared to most of the animals on this list, the hornero has a relatively ordinary appearance. It is a small bird, brown and reddish.

Despite its size, the bird is popular in the country since it is the protagonist of many Argentine stories and songs. It is considered the national bird of Argentina.

7- The jaguar

Yaguareté is another name for the jaguar. This immense cat can still be found within the Argentine jungles, although its numbers have decreased considerably.

8- The anteater

Anteaters have nothing like bears, apart from their silky hair. They are long and have a long tail and trunk.

They feed mainly on small insects, such as ants or termites.

9- The southern right whale

The habitat of the right whale is the entire Arctic sea, but Argentina considers it one of its most representative animals.

These giant aquatic mammals can be seen on boat trips through the southern seas of the country.

10- The Guanaco

While llamas are famous natives of the Andes mountains, their southern relatives, the guanacos, are less well known.

Guanacos are found in the Patagonian region and look like brown-colored llamas. However, they differ from llamas by their color and because they are less hairy.

References

1. Fornay, N. (November 18, 2012). Animals that live in Argentina… Recovered from natyfor17.blogspot.si
2. Wildlife Foundation. (April 29, 2011). Animal Day: 4 emblematic species of Argentina. Recovered from vidailvestre.org.ar
3. Argentina Exception. (2017). Avian fauna in Argentina: the birds of the savannah and the pampas.
4. Sergio. (April 8, 2011). The Vizcacha. Recovered from naturalezayculturaargentina.blogspot.si
5. THE NATION. (June 30, 2017). What are the animals of the new Argentine banknotes that we will use. Recovered from lanacion.com.ar