Animals of Patagonia

Pumas and Cats

• The puma or mountain lion is the largest carnivore in the region. Patagonian pumas were hunted by ranchers, but government protection has helped them rebound from their endangered levels. The Andean mountain cat is smaller, and it is an endangered species. Rapid loss of glaciers is one of the threats to this species.

Grazing Animals

• There are wild grazing animals such as guanaco and the South Andean huemul, which is a type a deer. The pudu, the world's smallest deer, can be found in wooded areas. Pudus are solitary animals and their behavior in the wild is largely unknown. Spanish settlers brought horses with them when they came here, and the criollo is a now a wild horse that lives on the Patagonian prairies.

Desert Area

• The desert environment is harsh and several species live in the more varied outskirts of the desert where food is more abundant. The Patagonian gray fox, armadillo and burrowing owls can be found in the cold desert areas where the day temperature seldom exceeds 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sea Animals

• The southern right whale comes close to the shore, and it's estimated that around 25 percent of the world's population spends most of the year around Patagonia. Killer whales or orcas are also searching the shores for sea lions. Blue, humpback and Minke whales can also be seen. The coastline is also home to sea lions and southern elephant seals.

Birds

• The Andean condor can be seen soaring in the mountains and several penguins species can be found in Patagonia. Common penguins are the medium-sized Magellanic penguins with their distinctive two black bands between the head and the breast. The lower band looks like an inverted horseshoe.