Between the Animals of the Sierra del Perú Most important you can find the Andean condor, peruviana rupicola, camelids or rodents.
It is known as the Peruvian Sierra to the mountainous region of the country, composed by the highs and lows of the Andes mountains . Together with the Amazon region and the coastal deserts, it is in itself one of the natural habitats of Peru.
The mountain range is divided into different sections, each of which has a particular fauna and flora that has been adapted to the various environmental conditions. In this way, some species of animals have managed to adapt to survive at great heights above sea level, such as birds, rodents and camelids.
The Andean condor can be sighted frequently from the mountains. It flies majestically in search of its prey from the highest parts of the Andes. However, the most famous bird of the Peruvian sierra is the Rupícola, red-haired and black bird emblematic of Peru.
The majority of species that inhabit the Andes have thick and resistant coats, which allow them to store the temperature and survive the frost that take place during the nights in the mountain range. They also have flexible joints for walking on rocks and other physical features to protect against predators.
In the sierra can be found four different types of camelids. Among these, llama and alpaca stand out because they are animals used in the sierra as beasts of burden, producers of meat and wool since pre-Inca times.
List of the 15 animals of the Sierra del Perú most outstanding
1- Condor of the Andes
The Andean Condor is the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of up to 3.8 meters and an approximate weight of 15 kilograms. This species is looking for windy areas in the region of the Peruvian sierra that will help support its weight during the flight, planning with the air currents in its favor (Barry Walker, 2007).
In Peru they are sighted in the canyons of the Cocahuasi and the Colca, located in the province of Arequipa. However, it is possible to see them in coastal areas where sea breezes can help them during the flight.
2- Rupicola Peruviana
Peruvian rupicola is a national animal of Peru. With a height of 30 centimeters and the ability to fly to more than 2,500 meters in height.
This bird will hardly be seen flying over the Andes, as it tends to look for wooded or rocky areas difficult to access to locate. It is easily recognized by its reddish-orange and black plumage (Olmstead, 2017).
3- The Guanaco
This animal is one of the four camelids that can be found in the Peruvian highlands. It is mostly in the wild and is estimated to be the oldest species of the camelid genus.
It can reach 1,1 meters in height, its legs are thin and agile, its coat is dense and disorderly. It is estimated that in Peru at present there are less than 1000 specimens of this species, placing it in a state of risk.
4- Flame
The llama is a species of camelid that inhabits the Andes and can be commonly found in the Peruvian sierra.
It is believed that the llama is a descendant species of the wild guanaco that was domesticated by the Incas around 4,000 BC, as a beast capable of supporting long and long trajectories along the highlands (Cermal-Editions, 2014).
They are characterized by being able to adapt to the difficult conditions of the Andean soil. In this way, they can live in grassy areas at more than 4,000 meters above sea level (msnm), where air only has 40% oxygen, the climate is cold and dry, and the only source of food is grass.
5 - Alpaca
Alpaca is a type of llama that can be easily found in the region of the Peruvian sierra. It is smaller than the flame and is capable of carrying more than 150 kilos of weight, which makes it an excellent Andean transport animal. Some people believe that alpaca is a cross between the llama and the vicuña (Martina Gerken, 2008).
Alpacas can live at more than 4,500 masl for a period of up to 30 years. Their coarse coat serves to support the Cold weather Of the Andes and their long necks help them to detect predators behind the rocks at a long distance.
For the Incas, alpacas were a luxury item, in this way, their wealth was measured by the amount of alpacas they could have.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, many alpacas died, and a few were preserved by the Incas in the highest parts of the Andes. Had it not been so, it is likely that alpacas today were extinct (C, 2001).
6 - Vicuña
The vicuña is the smallest species of camelid known in the world. It is believed to be the wild ancestor of the alpaca. It only inhabits the grassy areas of the Andes in southern Peru and northern Chile.
Although the vicuña looks fragile it is highly resistant and your body can withstand extreme heights. It has an incredibly thick and smooth coat that traps warm air between its layers, preventing your body from freezing at night or at times when temperatures are very low.
As if they were rodents, the inferior incisors of the vicuñas do not stop growing, in this way, they can chew the hard herbs of the Andes without suffering damage or wear. On the other hand, they have a special joint in the legs, which allows them to adapt to irregular floors without slipping.
7- Chinchilla
In the wild, chinchillas can be found in the Andes region, however, being a species in Danger of extinction , It is not easy to see them. Its coat is soft and gray with black stripes.
He usually lives in clans of up to 100 individuals, where there are no dominant males or females leading the group. A chinchilla can live up to eight years in the wild.
They are nocturnal animals with dense coats, adapted to withstand the cold. They have the ability to jump, cling and climb rocks to protect themselves from predators. In this way, they can survive in nature. However, its greatest predator is the human being, who hunts him furtively for his fur.
8- Vizcacha
This rodent is known as the vizcacha of the Andes and is related to the chinchilla. It can be found throughout the Peruvian sierra. Its coat is thick and soft, less in the tail, where it gets hard.
This rodent looks similar to the rabbit, with long ears covered with hair. His coat is usually gray and his tail is long with some hairs on the tip.
9- The guinea pig
This rodent is native to the Andean region and can be found in Peru, Colombia and Venezuela . It has been raised for more than 500 years for human consumption and receives different names depending on the place in which it is created.
The Incas already consumed this rodent as part of their diet with techniques of preparation yielded from other cultures.
10- Eyeglass Bear
The spectacled bear is the only species of bear that is not extinct in South America. It can be found along the Andes mountain range in wooded areas, reaching a height between 500 and 2,700 masl within the Peruvian highlands.
This bear has an average size, which does not allow it to exceed two meters in height. Its weight can reach 200 kilograms and its coat is black and thick, except around its eyes, where you can see some white lines.
11- Culpeo
Culpeo is a wild dog that inhabits the Andes in small herds of hierarchical and matriarchal structure, this means that it is the females that must fight and defend their territory. This means that females always feed first and have exclusive mating rights.
This dog is of medium size, weighing approximately 7 to 12 kilograms. It feeds on rabbits, rodents, insects, berries and birds. Currently, culpeans are not considered at risk, however, their habitat is being seriously destroyed (everything, 2011).
12- Cougar
The two great carnivores of the Andes are the Puma and the Jaguar. The puma usually hunts at a higher altitude than the jaguar, which prefers to dive into the dense, dense forests located in the valleys of the sierra.
A puma can weigh between 50 and 100 kilograms and reach a height of 60 to 90 centimeters up to the shoulders and a length of 2.4 meters from the nose to the tail.
13- Jaguar
The jaguar is the largest feline in America and has a behavior similar to that of the tiger, as it enjoys swimming and is a lone hunter. It is the cat with the strongest bite, being able to pierce the shell of a turtle without problems.
14- Andean monkey
The Andean monkey is an endemic species of Peru. It is found in the lower parts of the mountain range, at a height of 750 to 950 masl. It is considered as one of the species at high risk of extinction. During the last 25 years, 80% of its population has disappeared (Peru, 2014).
15- Andean Mountain Cat
Recovered image from: animalesextincion.es
This feline can live in altitudes of 3,500 and 4,800 masl in the Andes. It is one of the most timid and least known felines. There is no specimen of this animal that lives in captivity and is believed to be in critical danger of extinction. Its coat is soft and thick and its size is similar to that of a domestic cat.
References
- Barry Walker, G.C. (2007). Peruvian Wildlife: A Visitor's Guide to the High Andes. England: Bradt Guides.
- C, A. (2001). Animals of the Andes . Obtained from Alpaca: blueplanetbiomes.org.
- Cermal-Editions. (2014). About PeruCERMAL-EDITIONS . Obtained from Typical animals of Peru: peruinformation.org.
- Everything, T. w. (2011). Culpeo pictures and facts . Retrieved from Culpeo: thewebsiteofeverything.com.
- Martina Gerken, E. F. (2008). In E. F. Martina Gerken, South American Camelids Research (Pp. 375-376). The Netherlands: Wageningen Academic.
- Olmstead, S. (2017). New Hampshire Public Television . Retrieved from"Andean Cock-of-the-rock": nhptv.org.
Peru, D. (October 5, 2014). Discover Peru . Retrieved from"Endangered Animals in the Andes: discover-peru.org.