Animals in Chile

The beautiful country of Chile is home to a variety of animals. Each species has adapted to each of the country's three main habitats consisting of the Andes Mountains, low coastal mountains, and the broad, fertile central valley. These terrains provide the perfect balance of rainfall, soil, and vegetation the animals need to survive.

One of the animals found in Chile is the alpaca. Alpacas are similar to small llamas. These animals can be found grazing high on the Andes mountains. They are bred for their fur, which is used to make scarves, ponchos, hats and other items.

Chile is also home to a wide variety of rodents, such as the Viscacha, the Chinchilla, which is sought after for its fur, and the Degu. The Degu, also known as the brush-tailed rat or common degu is unique to the habitat of central Chile. The Monito del Monte which translates to "little mountain monkey" in Spanish is a small marsupial that lives in the Chilean bamboos of the rain forests of the southern Andes.

There are many other animals that can be found in Chile, such as the flamingo, the guanaco, which is a 4 foot tall camelid, the pudu, and the puma. The sea creatures of Chile include, the whale, the penguin, the sea lion and the seal. These are only a few of the many animals that call Chile home. With such a diverse terrain that can support a wide variety of plants and animals, it is no wonder so many animals can be found there.