The Animals of the Ecuadorian sierra The most outstanding are the condor, the llama, the Andean bear, the vizcuña or the puma, among many others.
The sierra of Ecuador, also known as the high Ecuadorians, is the zone of the Andean mountain range Which crosses the country from north to south from Colombia to Peru, with whom it shares this mountain range.
Andean toucan (Andigena laminirostris)
The area consists of two slopes, the western and eastern ranges, plus the area of the intermontane basin or plateau in the middle of both chains.
The mountain range also integrates numerous Volcanoes Belonging to the volcanic belt of the Andes that together with the mountain formations, form landscapes famous for their spectacular geological formation and long snowy peaks.
The climate of the Ecuadorian sierra in general is called"the eternal spring", with average temperatures to the year of between 11.5 ° to 18 °. Its climatic conditions, a combination of mountain forest and volcanic activity, produce peculiar plant formations that make it distinguished by its colorful vegetation paramo .
The Ecuadorian sierra is the most visited region of the territory, reason why it has a very well developed tourist industry, based in its majority in attractions and activities of mountaineering sport and recreational.
Located between 2000 and 4000 meters above sea level, it is the perfect habitat for a great diversity of animals typical of the Andes. You may also be interested in viewing 20 animals of the Ecuadorian coast and its characteristics .
1- The condor, national bird
The condor is the largest bird of prey in the world. Despite its spread of black wings of more than 3 meters, dark body of 11 kilograms and legs with claws the size of a man's arm-plus fist-is very difficult to find.
It is a threatened species and it is estimated that there are about 100 birds (2016) in isolated populations in the mountain range.
2- Andean Toucan
Dark colored beak bird characteristic with grayish blue plumage. He lives in the wet forest areas of the Andes, usually living in pairs or in small groups in search of food.
3- Rupicultural Andean
Also called"rooster cock"or"rooster of the rocks", is a very colorful and exotic bird, famous for its red plumage on the chest and head. Its name derives from the humid gorges of its habitat, where it makes its nests in the rocks to breed.
4- Crested Quetzal
Also known as white-tailed quetzal, it is a bird that can be found in rainforest mountain areas. It feeds mainly on insects and fruits such as blackberries. Its characteristic song indicates the period of reproduction, which is between February and June.
5- Big Agachona
A vegetarian bird that is found above 4000 meters above sea level in the mountains. Its name originates from its method of camouflage by the predators; She crouches and stands still to confuse herself with the grass because of her color. It is also known as a rufous belly dump.
6- Chimborazo Hummingbird
Also called"Ecuadorian star", is a small bird of the moors above 3000 meters above sea level. It is the species of hummingbird that inhabits more height. They are famous for the gaudy blue plumage of the male's head.
7- Hummingbird Pants
Also known as zamillo muszelillo calzadillo, is a small bird of the north of the Andean mountain range.
8- Andean Caracara
It is also known as matamico cordillero, is a raptor native to the Andean highlands where there is not much high vegetation. It usually nests in high risks or in the branches of robust trees. It feeds on carrion or small rodents.
9- Andean Flamenco
Very sociable bird that inhabits grouped in flocks of numerous individuals among the hundreds or thousands in lakes of South America; Especially in lakes with saline concentrations of mountainous terrain between 2300 and 4500 meters above sea level.
10- Andean mocha
It is a species of owl from the moist mountain forests of the Andes. It is better known as an Andean owlet and as a bird of prey it feeds on invertebrates and small mammals.
11- Andean duck
It is generally found in wet marshy areas of Andean forests or in regions with large bodies of water such as lakes and lagoons. It is also known as Andean diving duck which have a characteristic blue color in the beak of the males.
12- Flame
The famous llama of the Andes is a small, shaggy camel with no hump that has been used as a beast of burden by generations of inhabitants of the Andean cordilleras. It has been domesticated for rural life and is often grouped into herds of hundreds of individuals grazing together. His ears curled.
13- Alpaca
Another familiar camel and similar to the llama. Its domestication was mainly due to its coat that serves to produce fibrous tissues, with which the great majority of the typical handmade clothes of the mountain range are made. It is also traditional in some foods.
They are smaller than the flames but their hair grows faster and is abundant; Are often confused mainly because it is usual to have both species in the same herd. His ears are pointy and thin.
14- Vicuña
Wild species related with llama and alpaca. The vicuñas are small and similar to the deer that roam free in small groups along the Andean highlands.
Their fur produces textile fibers that are considered among the most valuable in the world. It is a threatened species and killing it for its skin is limited or totally prohibited.
15- Guanaco
Another species related with llama, alpaca and vicuña but of wild nature. It is a protected species but its skin, rougher, is less desirable in the market, which has allowed it to grow in numbers in the southern plateau of the Ecuadorian sierra. It is a kind of little colored fur and small ears.
16- Andean Puma
It is a gray-brown mountain feline species related to the American puma concolor. It is a solitary predator that is part of the group of big cats of the planet.
It likes to feed mainly of deer but it is easy to adapt its diet to other mammals of smaller size. Like every great feline hunts its prey with a combination of stealth and power.
17- Moor Deer
It is a species related to the white-tailed deer. Like his immediate cousin, he is usually obtained inhabiting the driest and highest areas of the mountainous forests. Their diet is very varied, from leaves, branches, grass, moss and fungi to fruits and seeds. It is the favorite prey of pumas and jaguars.
18- Frontal Bear
Also called"spectacled bear"or"Andean bear", is the only species of bear that lives in South America and the smallest of all. Its habitat is purely Andean, concentrating on the rainforests of the Andean mountain range. It is a large, dark-skinned omnivorous animal with distinctive light-colored hoops around the eyes.
19- Fox of the Altiplano
Astute canine of the Andes with long and thick tail and pointed ears. It is a solitary mammal that hunts small prey and fish, but also can feed of futas and vegetables.
It is an animal easily adapted to different environments, from more tropical forests to coastal areas and mountainous regions and moors. Also known as red fox.
20- Rabbit of vizcacha
It is a rabbit-like rodent that was recently discovered in southern Ecuador (2007). It is also known simply as the vizcacha because it does not really belong to the species of rabbits. It feeds on herbs and seeds.
21- Tapir Lanudo
Also known as Andean tapir or páramo tapir, it is the tapir species that lives exclusively in the Andean highlands. He usually lives near water or in swamps where he usually spends a lot of time swimming. It likes to feed on plants in humid areas and prefers those that are under water. He also usually eats fruits.
22- Andean Crayfish
Also known by the name of fox or Oisbiblanca opossum, it is a species of grayish marsupial that lives in the mountainous regions of the Andes; Is famous for lacking hair on his tail. Hunt small mammals, birds, snakes and insects. It is common to find them near areas populated by humans, especially by checking the garbage.
23- Jaguar
The largest feline in South America and famous for being the protagonist of many local and legendary stories in the Andes. They hunt big animals like deer and tapirs and usually ambush their prey from the trees.
24- Ocelot
Called tigrillo or Andean cat, it is a small feline spotted that can be found in the lower zones of the Andean mountain range in both sides. Hunt small prey near the ground.
25- White Capuchin Monkey
It is a primate of creamy brown fur that is clarifying towards the chest and is white the face. It is an omnivorous species.
26- Andean mouse
Image recovered from flickr via Sergio Bitran.
It is a small terrestrial marsupial that feeds on small invertebrates. It is more common to find it in the zone of Peru, but also can inhabit in the Ecuadorian sierra.
27- Long-lipped bat
Flying mammal from the Andean north of Ecuador on both sides of the mountain range.
28- Long-tailed weasel
Long and very agile carnivorous mammal whose tail is as long as the rest of its body. It can be found in the more temperate areas of the mountainous forest.
29- Boba Snake
Harmless reptile 60 centimeters long greenish color. It lives in the driest parts of the mountainous forests of the Andes between 2600 and 3300 meters above sea level.
30- Trout of the Andes
Fish abundant of the central lakes of the Andean mountain range, especially in the National Park The Cajas.
References
- Chelsea Schmidt (2012). South America Travel. Backpackers Travel Community. 2backpackers.com.
- Lonely Planet. Park in Cotopaxi National Park. Lonelyplanet.com.
- National Geographic. Animals Database. National Geographic Partners. Nationalgeographic.com.
- With Chanel. Explore the Ecuadorian Andes and Highlands (Sierra) of Ecuador. Ecuador.com
- Cotopaxi National Park. Wildlife Viewing. Frommer Media LLC. Frommers.com.
- Halberstadt Jason. Andes. Ecuador Explorers. MetaMorf. S. A. ecuadorexplorer.com.
- Web Fauna Ecuador. Vertebrate Database. Museum of Zoology QCAZ. Zoology.puce.edu.ec.
- Cotopaxi Tours. Mountain range. Inquito.com.
- Birding in Quito. Web Picture Database. More