FAUNA

Castor	Zorro colorado

Although the fueguine fauna is rich and varied, the species of native land mammals are few including red foxes, tucu-tucus, rats, mice and bats.
On the other hand, there are almost two hundred species of birds and an abundant marine fauna in the region.
Other animals are added that were introduced on the islands in the past, when there was no conscience of the problems that could cause to the natural ecosystem balance; some of them are the rabbit, beaver, Patagonian fox and the muskrat.

LAND

The same way logical variations are generated when different environments are combined as the steppe, forest and coast, there is also a great variety of mammals.

In the steppe, strong screams of alarm can be heard are emitted by the curious fueguine red fox easy to identify with long hair and red belly, legs and head, greyish on the back and black in the end of the tail.

The zorro gris patagónico (Patagonian grey fox) differs from the red fox in its size, greyish back and tail, with tawny legs and flanks, barely reddish, and dark chin and end of tail. The thighs show also a typical black spot. This is one of the few species introduced that could adapt without inconvenience. The predominant coloration is the dark red or grey, but there are also white or black.

The Canadian beaver is was another introduced species in the year 1946 with the purpose of promoting the fur industry. This is an aquatic rodent of great size, double fur, naked tail, scaled and flat in the shape of a shovel or oar. It reaches 1.20 meters. Its legs are short and rear feet present well developed membranes. To inhabit it prefers the peat bogs, then the lakes and finally the courses of water. It can remain underwater without breathing for periods of up to 15 minutes. The nails are sharp and are used for digging, carry branches, stones and mud. They build large dikes (castoreras) used for living and to store supplies causing a distress in the surrounding environment.

The muskrat (rata almizclera) was also introduced and is a semi aquatic rodent, good swimmer and diver. Its hair is short, smooth and dense with shiny dark color, scales tail an naked. It is a species typical of swamps with aquatic vegetation, but also lives on the banks of lakes and rivers and less on marine coasts. Depending on the environment, they build their burrows with the vegetation that grows near the courses or mirror of water, or they excavate if they do not exist.

The guanaco is one of the most representatives and showy mammals of the Patagonian fauna in general and fueguine in particular. This camelid of small head, long neck and long and pointy ears, has a wool-like fur, short and of cinnamon color. The snout is black, and the throat, neck and belly are whitish. Its head is small, with large and popping eyes and long and curvy eyelashes. Its legs end in two padded fingers that do not erode the terrain.

The rabbit, an introduced species similar to a rodent. The predominant coloration is dark red or grey all over its body with white spots in the throat and tail.

COASTAL

The Beagle Channel is populated by molluscs (snails, bivalves and limpets). Fish and crustaceans (krill, king crab and centollón) while in the open sea we find different species like whales, dolphins, orcas and porpoises.

The sea wolf of one hair is a permanent resident of Tierra del Fuego and differs from other sea wolves by its turned-up, short and wide nose and by having an outer ear. The male is larger than the female and has an abundant mane. The legs are shaped like fins. The fur coloration varies according to age and sex. The baby animal are born in October and present a shiny black fur until the first month of life and then it turns into a dark color.

The sea wolf of two hairs, fine wolf, is smaller in size than the common sea wolf, its skin consists of an external fur and a fine and delicate undercoat underneath. The value of the fur is intensely sought after. Presently, this activity is forbidden and balanced populations has been achieved.

The southern dolphin is the most common of its kind in the Beagle Channel and has a dark grey back with its curved dorsal fin and white belly.

The toninas overas (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) generally swim close to the coast with its coloration and attractive aspect.

The king crab has its body covered by a hard red shell - orange with strong spikes. It has three pairs of legs and an atrophied pair that is used as pincers. Its average weight is 2 Kg. The centolla is one of the most important fishing resources of the area and tasting its meat is one of the objectives of lovers of international gastronomy.

BIRDS

Bandurrias	Caiquen	Cormoranes

Out of the almost two hundred species that inhabit Tierra del Fuego, the great majority are resident or regular visitors. Depending on the environment or the time of the year, you will find different species. The Tierra del Fuego area is excellent for bird watching, for the variety of ecosystems protected.

It is not uncommon to find, as you walk in the forest, a woodpecker with its particular sound when taps the trees with its beak looking for larvae or insects. The male shows its black feathers and a red head with tuft.

You can also see the cauquén común and the cauquén cabeza gris, or royal, with its graceful forms, legs and long neck with a small head.

On the other side, in the mountains (mainly in the center of the province) and along the coast, you can easily see the majestic Andean condor flying and gliding at great heights with the wings fully extended. From below you can see the black body with a reddish crest in the case of the male.

During navigation on the Beagle Channel you will be able to spot the gaviota cocinera, with yellow legs, the grey seagull, with reddish legs and beak, the south American small seagull, small and fast with a sharp beak and a long white tail and the albatross de ceja negra, a large white bird except in the back and wings, with its typical yellow beak and a black spot around the eyes. Petrels, skuas, coastal cauquenes and pardelas are also common.

Pingüinos

The magellanic penguin is easy to identify for its white belly with a black face and neck with a white line.

The cormorant, with a shiny black bluish color, creating large colonies in the channel. They prefer the rocky islets to build their nests. The most typical are the black neck, royal and imperial.

In the open sea you can spot the larger birds: the errand albatross, white, with the edge and tip of the wings in black. Its size reaches 3.20 meters in wing span.
There is also the royal albatross, very similar to the errand albatross but smaller and its beak in yellow.