FAUNA OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO
WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM USHUAIA, TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Tierra del Fuego has a rich and diversified fauna but we have few species of land mammals that were originated here. These are: guanaco (lama guanicoe), red fox, tucu-tucu (ctenomys magellanicus fueginus), rats, mice and bats. On the other side about 190 species of birds can be found as well as wide marine fauna. Other animals were brought to the island in the past, such as: rabbits, beavers, Patagonian fox, and the musky rat, but these became a problem as far as ecosystem is concerned.

LAND ANIMALS
As you walk along the forest the following animals can be seen:

FUEGIAN RED FOX
Their hair is long and noticeably reddish at their belly, legs and head, greyish at the back and the end of the tail. It can easily be seen, because it is a very curious animal, and screams loudly when he feels in danger. It is carnivorous, eats rabbits, rats, birds, and also eggs and fruit. They mate between August and September. Females provide shelter for the young ones by digging a cave, gestation lasts about two months and they give birth from three to six babies. The male feeds the mother and the young ones.

GREY PATAGONIAN FOX
It is smaller than the red one, having greyish back and tail, tawny legs with slightly red sides. The chin and end of the tail are dark.

CASTILLA RABBIT
Was brought from abroad and did adapt itself very well. It is about 45 cm long, being most of them reddish or grey, but some of them black or white. They live in communities, mostly on the South of the Island. Their presence is very notorious in the National Park as they prevent the regular growth of the pastures, natural shelter of many birds. Among their enemies are red foxes and some prey birds such as eagles.

CANADIAN BEAVERS
They were brought from Canada in 1946 so as to encourage the fur industry. It is a big aquatic rodent, with thick double hair. Its tail is hairless, scaly and flattened, with the shape of an oar or shovel. Their front legs are short and the back ones have well developed membranes. Their favourite places are peat-bogs, lake and lastly rivers. They built big dams to live in and store their food, therefore damaging its surroundings.

MUSKRAT
Also brought from Canada, well adjusted here and with an ever increasing numbers of animals. It is a semi aquatic rodent (swims and dives very well), has short, thick and smooth hair, the colour is dark brown and shiny, with a scaly and bore tail. These animals lived originally in swamps, but can also live on the coast of rivers, lakes and sometimes by the seashore. They build their holes with whatever vegetation grows near the water or else dig them. They eat vegetables, aquatic plants, barks and those bushes that grow near the water .

GUANACO
They have small head, long neck and long pointed ears. At the end of their feet they have two nails covered by small cushions that prevent the erosion of the soil. Their hair is short, woolly and cinnamon colored. The muzzle is black while the throat, neck and belly are whitish. Is able to live in different climates and lands, but always looks for dry, fresh and wide opened places. They only eat herbs such as graminaceous, leaves of high and low deciduous beech trees, lichens and mushrooms. They gather in family, formed by one male adult and several females with their offspring.

WATER ANIMALS
Beagle Channel is full of mollusks, fish and crustaceans (worth pointing out the spider crab). Whales and dolphins. Sea lions can be seen while sailing or else resting at the seashore.

SINGLE HAIRED SEA LION
It is a permanent inhabitant of Tierra del Fuego, having a turned up, short and wide muzzle and external ear. the male is bigger than the female and has abundant hair. their extremities are flippers. The colour of the hair differs depending on the age and sex. The young ones come to life in October and their hair is black and shiny until they become one month old, then it turns brownish. The family life is like a harem, there is one leading male and from twelve to fifteen females. They swim to open sea to find their food, that is to say fish, mollusks and crustaceans.

AIR ANIMALS
There are about two hundred species of birds in Tierra del Fuego of which a hundred and thirty five are residents or visit the island regularly. Depending on the place and time of the year different birds can be found. Tierra del Fuego National Park is an excellent place for birdwatching due to its protected ecosystem.
Up in the mountains and along the sea shore, it is easy to see the Andean Condor. It usually flies and glides at great altitude with its wings spread horizontally. Looking at it upwards it is black, and males have a red crest.
Sailing along the Beagle Channel the following birds can be seen: The cooking seagull that has yellowish legs, grey or southern seagull with reddish legs and beak, the small South American seagull, a fast and tiny bird with a sharp beak and a long and white tail.

THIS IS A BASIC TOUR TO VISIT USHUAIA AFTER OR BEFORE YOUR CRUISE...

DAY 1 - Arrival to Ushuaia Airport and transfer to hotel. 03 nts of accommodation with breakfast

DAY 2 - Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. Return to the city and take a Beagle Channel Navigation to see Isla de los Pàjaros, Isla de los Lobos and Faro Les Eclareirs.

DAY 3 - Excursion to Fagnano and Escondido Lakes

DAY 4 - Transfer to airport

This is a basic program to visit Ushuaia Area. Please visit our tour list to see more tours combining this area and others place in Argentina and Chile

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General Information about Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego Province	Ushuaia Photo Gallery

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