|
|
|
|
|
Los Glaciares National Park
Fauna |
|
|
|
 Except
for birds, there is very few information
about the different groups of vertebrates
living in the Park. Most of consulted bibliography
refer to the fauna without giving specific
data about their presence in the Park. The
information you will find in this section
comes from rangers reports and ground observations
made by Patagonia Regional Delegacy when
preparing the Park’s Handling Plan. |
|
Cauquenes in River
De las Vueltas. |
|
|
|
| Fishes |
|
The
registered species are:
- Puyen Galaxias maculatus
in Lago Argentino (Oliveros & Cordioviola, 1974).
- Perca Percichthys,
presumiblemente vinciguerrae, most likely
vinciguerrae, in Lago Argentino (Oliveros &
Cordiviola, 1974) and Lago Viedma (Ranger Report,
Cerdá).
Besides this confirmed species,
it can be assumed there are others, existing in the
surroundings:
- Peladilla Aplochiton
zebra, registered in Lago Toro, (Parque Nacional
Torres del Paine, Chile, Mc Dowall, 1971).
- Peladilla Aplochiton
taeniatus, also in Lago Toro. (Mc Dowal, 1971).
- Puyen Galaxias platei,
lives in the lakes of Paine mountains (Mc Dowal
1971).
|
|
 Up |
|
| Amphibians
and reptiles |
|
There are two great herpetological*
areas in Patagonia: The Ancient or Northern area and
the Southern or Santa Cruz area, starting between the
rivers Chubut and Deseado (Latitude S 45°).
*Herpetology: Branch of zoology dealing with reptiles
and amphibians (Greek:herpetón0.
Santa Cruz area is considerably poor: Among the 60 patagonic
species known nowadays, there are 56 in the Northern
area and 13 in the Southern area, where 9 are common
to both areas. Lizards have a greater proportion in
this area than in the Northern one.
Amphibians
In different occasions there were observed Pleuroderna
bufonina in Bahía Túnel and Río de las Vueltas.
Cei (1982) mentions in Chilean territory at the same
latitude Bufo variegatus, Batrachyla leptopus,
y Alsodes coppingeri. Some examples of Bufo
variegatus have been observed in Lago del Desierto
area.
Reptiles
There are no reports referring to reptile species in
Los Glaciares National Park. Ranger Landívar ‘s Report
(1981-1982) registers lizards in the area of Punta Avellaneda.
In Isla Larga (Gpque. Landívar 1981) a lizard of about
15 - 20 cm. has been observed, possibly Diplolaemus
bibroni. The bibliography on reptiles agree to include
the National Park area in the distribution of Liolaemus,
magellanicus-lineomaculatus group. Cei (1980)
mentions Liolaemus archeoforus sarmientoi to
the north of the park and Diplolaemus bibrioni. |
|
| Up |
|
| Birds |
|
The information on birds
in the park is very recent and very accurate. Up to
now, there been registered 100 species. It would
be necessary to complete the information for the high
environments, rarely studied.
In this important diversity, there are many species
considered as conservational special values as the
choique or lesser rhea (Pterocnemia pennata),
the andean condor (Vultur gryphus), the
torrent duck (Merganetta armata), the
white throated caracara (Polyborus albogularis),
the yellow bridled finch (Melanodera xanthogramma)
and the black throated finch (Melanodera
melanodera).
There are very important groups of condors and
black chested buzzard eagle (Geranoaetus
melanoleucus) mainly in the northern area of the
park.
Species like yellow winged blackbird (Agelaius
thilius) and spectacled tyrant (Hymenops
percpicillata) are rarely observed in humid areas
as well as the many-colored rush tyrant (Tachuris
rubrigastra). These species have been observed in
Bahía Túnel area (Lago Viedma) to the North and in the
lagoons of Pto. Bandera.
It is also remarkable the presence and breeding of the
Magellan oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus)
on the shores of lakes and lagoons.
Some other species as the cordilleran snipe
(Gallinago Stricklandii) and the austral
rail (Rallus antarcticus) are seldom seen.
|
|
| Up |
|
| Mammals |
|
There is no comprehensive
study about the mammals in the area. The knowledge is
limited to a list derived from rangers reports and old
studies that describe mostly big mammals, and some circumstantial
data about some species.
During November of 1990, some traps for small mammals
were set in these locations:
a) An area covered with Berberis and Neneo, in the Lago
Viedma area (Mt. Fitz Roy)
b) A ñire wood near Río de las Vueltas.
c) A lenga wood, on the eastern area next to Río de
las Vueltas.
On three locations, only Akodon xanthorhinus was captured.
In foxes feces were found Oryzomys longicaudatus jaws.
Area neighbors mention red fox (Dusicyon
Culpaeus) after the hares arrived (ca. 1926), which
might have caused a diminish in the population of
gray fox; they also mention the consequential diminish
of wild cats (gato del pajonal and gato montés,
Felis guigna).*
* Notice these are subjective opinions of some informants,
and therefore they need confirmation.
Chilean area of Torres del Paine, next to this National
Park and very similar in terms of environment, is one
of the Chilean Patagonia best studied areas. There are
many studies on guanacos and on the carnivorous
(Iowa University and Chilean fellows), focusing on ecological
and behavior aspects. |
|
| Up |
|
| Invertebrates |
|
The existent information
is very short. The spider Liparotoma tripunctatum
has been mentioned, common specie in the humid woods
of the area. Among the Heteroptera, it is mentioned
for Pto. Bandera, the Eurylomata sulina sp.
Un insecto hallado y fotografiado en grietas y canales
del Glaciar Moreno en 1996 se procuró identificar (a
través de fotos) con la colaboración de un entomólogo
de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Se trataría
de una ninfa (estado larval) de un Plecóptero, orden
abundante en aguas corrientes y muy oxigenadas. |
|
| Up |
|
| Introduced or exotic species |
|
There are two introduced
salmon species:
1) Rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mikiss).
2) Lake trout (Christivomer namaycush).
Both in lakes Argentino and Viedma.
There are many European hares (Lepus europaeus).
Also the wild domestic species: horses and cows.
Wild horses population is estimated in 15 thousand in
the huemul habitat of Valle Mascarello; this problem
and the handling alternatives must be studied. Eliminating
the horses could cause a greater predation of the puma
over the huemul. |
|
| Up |
|
| Special value fauna species |
|
The
Park has remanent and apparently isolated huemul groups.
In January 1992 Ing. Agr. Alejandro Serret with the
collaboration of Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
studied the situation of the huemul (Hippocamelus
bisulcus) on the northern area of the Park. As a
result, the presence of an important group was confirmed
in the Río Mascarello valley and in the western area
of Lago Viedma between Laguna Viedma and Seno Moyano
(Canal Viedma).
In 1996 and 1997, FVSA and Los Glaciares National Park
continued with the area study, where 10 and 11 different
animals could be seen. After these three studying periods,
a minimum of 16 animals was estimated for the area and
a density of 0,8 huemules/km² (Serret y Borghiani, 1997).
There are also registry of different observers for Laguna
Torre, Río Torre, Laguna Toro, Río de las Vueltas, Río
Eléctrico, Río Blanco, Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, Río
Cóndor, Cerro Colorado, Cerro Huemules, Lago Tannhäuser,
Río Guanaco, Laguna Capri, Arroyo La Rosada and Bahía
Ameghino. This last one is the southernmost location
for the huemul in Argentina.
In the area could also live the Lagidium wolffsohni,
very rare and with restricted distribution.
It is remarkable the importance of rivers Fitz Roy and
Río de las Vueltas as a habitat for the torrent
duck, where a considerable number of groups live
permanently. |
|
| Up |
|
| Source:
Los Glaciares National Park |
| |
|
|
