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Land Animals
The Chilean fauna is as varied as the flora, though less abundant. In the mammalian group, the species which stand out are the puma, an American savage cat; guanaco, a South American camelid; huemul, pertaining to the family of deers and native to the country; the vizcacha, a rodent with a taste for the rocky places of the mountains and Altiplano; and the Pudú the smallest deer in the world, an animal which is very difficult to observe in the wild.
However, the Chilean fauna isn't limited to the rugged geography of the mountain range, the aridity of the desert or the richness of the southern forests and Patagonia. The long coastline that flanks the west of the country also presents a great variety of species ranging from sea lions, seals, dolphins and otters, to collosal whales in the icy southern waters.
Alpaca
It has a smaller and more curvacious shape than the llama and, in the front, it has a classic tuft of hair, but cannot be differentiated by its color as there are many tones. It exists…
Chinchilla
The chinchillas reaches about 26 cm. in length and 750 grams in weight. They have enormous, mysterious eyes and large whiskers that act as a guide during their numerous nocturnal voyages.…
Chingue
The Chingue is a kind of Latin American skunk that measures about 70 cm (2.3 ft) in length. Its body is stocky but thinner by its tail, with a prominent and elongated snout, attentive…
Coatímundi
The coati is a carniverous mammal that is particularly of soft brownish-gray skin and great sense of smell. It has a long non-prehensile tail with white rings. Measures between 41 and…
Colocolo
Savage cat native to South America. Very similiar to cats but measures 70 cm in length and has a 35 cm. tail. Its color is leaden red, with long, reddish or grey spots on the back and…
Coypou
The coipo is the largest rodent in the country, measuring between 40 to 60 cm. in length, plus a tail of 30 to 45 cm, and weighing between 5 and 9 kg. It's an acquatic animal…
Culpeo Fox
Small canid with yellowish fur and wide tail with black point, 80 to 120 cm length including the tail, and weighs up to 4 kg. Preys on rodents, hares, lizards, birds, and young lambs.
Degú
Rodent similar to a mouse. It has a tail with long hairs in the form of a paintbrush at the end. Its head is large with very developed ears and eyes. Its fur is not silky but rather…
Guanaco
It's a camel from the same family of the llama and alpaca. The guanaco measures 1.9 m. in altitude and can weigh up to 150 kg. Its fur is thick but light and, similar to the…
Huemul
Chilean deer featured in our national shield. The body of the males reaches a length of 163 cm, height of the withers of 90 cm, and a short tail between 10 and 20 cm. Its weight is…
Kodkod
It is smallest savage cat in America, reaching a length of 45 cm. with a tail of 20 cm., and a weight between 2 and 2.5 kg. Its fur color is generally yellowish, but it also can be…
Little grison
In Chile there are 2 subspecies.It is a Mustelidae with a long body and a short tail, plantigrade, with bare soles of the feet, with glands that, at one year of age, produce a foul-smelling…
Llama
It is an animal which can become taller than the guanaco. The male height is between 109 and 119 cm, weight between 130 and 155 kg. It has short feet and is distinguishable by…
Mouse opossum
This little Chilean opossum looks like a little mouse but with a long, prehensile tail, long and pointed snout, sharp teeth, large ears, and dark spot around the eyes. The body…
Pudú
The Pudu is the smallest of the deer’s in America. Its size is 40 cms (16 in) tall, and weighs approximately 10kg (22lbs). They are herbivores and ruminants, and their diet is…
Puma
Large feline, can be as long as 2.8 meters and weigh 80 kg. Lives in the mountainous regions and in dense forests. Feeds on guanacos (in the llama family), birds, and rodents.
Quirquincho de la Puna
Its shell is level and with hairs that are implanted between the ribs of the shell. It has large ears, a nasal snout with little bone plates, hands with large claws on its four figners.…
Sea Lion
They are mammals with certain adaptations that allow it to come ashore to breed. They are carnivores with very short limbs, transformed into flippers finger. They are covered with a…
Vizcacha
Has a beautiful long, thick fur, a small body and enormous tail with long hair. Has large auricular ears, very developed rear legs, and small front limbs. This animal is a yellowish…
Cururo
It's a rodent species endemic to Chile and unique in its genre. The shape of the Cucurro's body is cylindrical, with a small tail, ears, and eyes. Its paws have large claws,…