Endemic Animals of Chile

The degu (Octodon degus) is a small rodent found only in Chile. The closest relatives of these highly social and curious animals are chinchilla and guinea pig. Less

The short-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla; formerly C. brevicaudata )—also called the Bolivian, Peruvian, or royal chinchilla—is an endangered species of South American rodent, and one of two species in the genus Chinchilla. Their original native range extended throughout the Andes Mountains of Argentina northwest, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. These animals were exploited for their luxurious fur, causing their numbers in the wild to dwi ...
ndle. The other species of chinchilla is also endangered; C. lanigera, or the long-tailed chinchilla, is the wild ancestor of the domestic chinchilla, which is commonly raised as a pocket pet throughout the world. Less

The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera ), also called the Chilean, coastal, common, or lesser chinchilla, is one of two species of rodent from the genus Chinchilla : the other species being C. chinchilla. Both species are endangered in the wild after historically being hunted for their soft hair coats. Domestic breeds of chinchilla are believed to descend from specimens of C. lanigera. Domestic chinchillas come in three types: la plata, ...
costina, and raton.Historically, Chilean chinchillas were reported from Talca (35°30’S), Chile, north to Peru, and also eastward, from Chilean coastal hills, throughout low mountains. No fossils of the Chilean chinchilla are known to have been found, and by the mid-19th century, Chilean chinchillas were not found south of the Choapa River in central Chile. Wild populations of Chilean chinchillas, as of 1996, occurred in Aucó (31°38’S, 71°06’W), near Illapel, IV Región, Chile, in Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas and in La Higuera, Chile, about 100 km (62 mi) north of Coquimbo (29°33’S, 71°04’W). Less

Darwin's fox or Darwin's zorro (Lycalopex fulvipes ) is an endangered canid from the genus Lycalopex. It is also known as the zorro chilote or zorro de Darwin in Spanish and lives on Nahuelbuta National Park, the Cordillera de Oncol, Cordillera Pelada in mainland Chile and Chiloé Island. This small, dark canine weighs 1.8 to 3.95 kg (4.0 to 8.7 lb), has a head-and-body length of 48 to 59 cm (19 to 23 in) and a tail that is 17.5 to 25.5 cm (7 to 10 in ...
). Darwin's fox displays no key differences between male and female other than the fact that the male has a broader muzzle. Males display no territorial behavior and aren't aggressive towards other males roaming around their territory.Darwin's fox was first collected from San Pedro Island off the coast of Chile by the naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. It was long held that Darwin's fox was a subspecies of the South American gray fox (L. griseus ); however, the discovery of a small population of Darwin's fox on the mainland in Nahuelbuta National Park in 1990 and subsequent genetic analysis has clarified the fox's status as a unique species. In 2012 and 2013 the presence of the Darwin's fox at Oncol Park, Alerce Costero National Park and the Valdivian Coastal Reserve was confirmed through camera trapping. Less

The Chilean dolphin (Cephalorhynchus eutropia ), also known as the black dolphin, is one of four dolphins in the genus Cephalorhynchus. The dolphin is only found off the coast of Chile; it is commonly referred to in the country as tonina. Less

Calyptocephalella is a genus of frogs in the family Calyptocephalellidae. It is represented by a single living species, Calyptocephalella gayi, commonly known as the helmeted water toad, Chilean helmeted bull frog or wide-mouth toad. Additionally, there are a few extinct species that only are known from Late Cretaceous and Paleogene fossil remains from Patagonia in South America and in the Antarctic Peninsula (at times when it was warmer and ...
wetter). The helmeted water toad living today is aquatic to semi-aquatic, and found in deep ponds and reservoirs in central Chile and possibly adjacent west-central Argentina.This very large toad typically weighs up to 0.5–1 kg (1.1–2.2 lb), but sometimes considerably more. It's the world's second largest frog after the goliath frog. It is threatened by capture for human consumption, habitat loss, pollution, introduced species and the disease chytridiomycosis. It is often kept in herpetoculture; mostly locally where farmed for food, but also in other countries as a pet. Less

The Chilean seaside cinclodes (Cinclodes nigrofumosus ) is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is endemic to rocky shorelines in Chile. Some authorities include the Peruvian seaside cinclodes as a subspecies while others list it as a separate species. The ranges of the two do not overlap. Less

The Juan Fernández tit-tyrant (Anairetes fernandezianus ) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands in the South Pacific Ocean off Chile.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rural gardens, and urban areas. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The moustached turca (Pteroptochos megapodius ) is a passerine bird which is endemic to Chile. It belongs to the tapaculo group and is a member of the genus Pteroptochos, along with the two species of Huet-huet. Less

The crag chilia (Ochetorhynchus melanurus ) is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae (ovenbirds). It is endemic to Chile. Less

The Juan Fernández firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis ) is a hummingbird found today solely on Isla Róbinson Crusoe, one of the three-island Juan Fernández archipelago belonging to Chile. It is non-migratory and shares the island with its smaller relative the green-backed firecrown (S. sephaniodes ). Less

The slender-billed parakeet, also called the long-billed parakeet (Enicognathus leptorhynchus ), is a medium size South American parrot. It belongs to the smaller long-tailed Arinae (macaws and parakeets). It is known by the local common name choroy. Less

The Chilean tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria ) is a type of tinamou commonly found in high altitude shrubland in subtropical regions of central Chile. Less

The Chilean woodstar (Eulidia yarrellii ) is a small bird in the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. It is restricted to northernmost Chile with reports from southern Peru. Its natural habitats are dry shrubland and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss and is classed as a critically endangered species. It is usually classified in its own genus Eulidia, but is sometimes placed with the purple-collared woodstar in the genus Myrtis. In ...
2013, it was classed as endangered, but recently, it was classed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. Less

The Masafuera rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae ) is a rare bird endemic to Alejandro Selkirk Island (Isla Más Afuera, Outermost Island) in the Juan Fernández Islands. The species is a member of the ovenbird family and only one of two species in the rayadito genus. The species' natural habitat is humid montane scrub, dominated by tree ferns (Dicksonia externa ) and ferns (Lophosoria quadripinnata ) between 800–1300 m above sea level (though they will ...
descend lower during the austral winter).Masafuera rayaditos travel in pairs while feeding on arthropods; feeding occurs in the wood understory and occasionally on the ground in the leaf-litter. Nesting occurs at high altitudes (above 1200 m), in small natural crevices in rocks.The Masafuera rayadito is a critically endangered species. The species once occurred on surveys of the species in the 1980s found between 500-1000 birds but by 1992 that had dropped to 200 and by 2002 only 140. The species is threatened by introduced species, particularly goats which trample and degrade habitat, but also probably rats and feral cats. Less

Masatierra petrel (Pterodroma defilippiana ) or De Filippi's petrel, is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is endemic to Chile where it nests in the Juan Fernández Islands (including Masatierra) and Desventuradas Islands. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. Less

The white-throated tapaculo (Scelorchilus albicollis ) is a species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Chile. Less

Telmatobufo bullocki is a species of frog in the family Calyptocephalellidae. It is endemic to Chile, and is only known from a few locations in the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, a part of the Chilean Coast Range. It is extremely rare; extensive fieldwork in 1992–2002 turned up only a single adult. It occurs in fast-flowing streams in temperate Nothofagus forest. The tadpoles are free-swimming and feed on algae growing on submerged rocks. It is t ...
hreatened by siltation of streams caused by clear-cutting. It occurs within the Nahuelbuta National Park. Less

Telmatobufo venustus is a species of frog in the family Calyptocephalellidae. It is endemic to Chile and occurs on the western slopes of the Andes in Maule and Bío Bío Regions. Its natural habitats are streams in temperate Nothofagus forests where it is found under rocks along the streams. The only stable population is in the Altos de Lircay National Reserve in Maule. The only other localities, both in the Bío Bío Region, are its type locality in ...
Chillan, where it was not found in 2014, and Ralco where it was last observed in 1981. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by fires, conversion of native habitat to pine and eucalyptus plantations, and in Ralco, hydropower dams. Trout in Altos de Lircay are also a threat. Less

Rhinella atacamensis, sometimes called the Vallenar toad or Atacama toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Chile and occurs between Paposo (Antofagasta Region) and Las Chilcas (Valparaíso Region). It inhabits the desert Pacific coastal region with Mediterranean influences (including the Chilean matorral) and is found in and near oases and streams. Breeding takes place in permanent pools (including water tanks for ...
livestock), streams, and rivers. While abundant at a few sites, it has declined overall and gone locally extinct at some sites. Threats to this species include extensive droughts and water pollution as well as extraction of surface water, mining, agriculture, livestock farming, and timber plantations. Less

Insuetophrynus is a monotypic genus of frogs in the family Rhinodermatidae. The sole species is Insuetophrynus acarpicus, also known as Barrio's frog. It is endemic to Chile and only known from few localities on the Valdivian Coast Range between Chanchán in the Los Ríos Region in the south and Queule (southernmost Araucanía Region) and Colequal Alto in the north; the fourth locality is Mehuín, which is the type locality. The altitudinal range is 50– ...
486 m (164–1,594 ft) asl. Less

Rhinella arunco is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae that is endemic to Chile. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, water storage areas, ponds, aquaculture ponds, open excavations, and irrigated land. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Alsodes verrucosus (common name: olive spiny-chest frog) is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae.It is found in the Andes of Chile (Cautín and Puyehue) and Neuquén and Río Negro Provinces, Argentina. These frogs inhabit temperate Nothofagus forest where they occur under logs and near damp areas. Tadpoles develop in cold, deep streams.It is threatened by habitat loss caused by logging. Less

Alsodes australis is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae found in western Argentina and eastern Chile (Aysén Region) from 46°25′S to 42°25′N.Its natural habitat is cold mountain streams of austral temperate Nothofagus forest. A potential threat to this species are introduced predatory salmonid fishes, but so far little is known about its population status. Less

Alsodes tumultuosus is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae.It is endemic to Farellones in central Chile.Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Alsodes monticola (common name: island spiny-chest frog) is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae. It is found in southern Chile and western Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, though its presence in Argentina is disputed. Its habitat preferences are not known, but the region of the type locality (the island of Inchy, in the Chonos Archipelago) has tundra and islands of Nothofagus forest. Less

Telmatobius philippii is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae.It is endemic to Chile.Its natural habitat is rivers. Less

Alsodes nodosus (common name: black spiny-chest frog) is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae endemic to central Chile; records from Argentina are not considered valid.Alsodes nodosus is locally common but is getting rarer. It is found in temperate shrubland and seasonal and permanent streams. It is not tolerant of habitat destruction, and urban sprawl is rapidly destroying suitable habitat. Less

Alsodes norae is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae endemic to the Chilean Coast Range in the Valdivia Province, Chile. It is only known from the type series collected from a temperate Nothofagus forest. The threats are not formally known but it may be ongoing deforestation, however, the species may be protected by Oncol Park. Less

Eupsophus insularis is a critically endangered species of frog in the family Alsodidae. It is endemic to Mocha Island in Chile, where found in temperate mixed forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Alsodes valdiviensis is a species of frogs in the family Alsodidae. It is endemic to Chile and only known from its type locality, Cerro Mirador in the Cordillera Pelada, Valdivia Province. The specific name refers to this province. Less

Alsodes igneus is a species of frogs in the family Alsodidae endemic to Chile; it is only known from its type locality, Tolhuaca National Park, Malleco Province, on the western slopes of the Andes. The specific name igneus, meaning "something that is of fire", was chosen to symbolize the survival of the population from a great forest fire that affected the type locality in 2000. Less

Alsodes montanus is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae found in Chile and possibly Argentina.Its natural habitats are temperate shrubland and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

Alsodes vittatus is a species of frog in the family Alsodidae.It is endemic to Chile and only known from its type locality, San Ignacio de Pemehue, Malleco Province. It may be threatened by habitat loss through pine plantations and it is not known from any protected areas. It has not been seen since its discovery and searches in 1995, 1996 and 2002 failed to find it. Less

Batrachyla nibaldoi is a species of frog in the family Batrachylidae. It is endemic to Chile and known from the Los Lagos and Aysén Regions between Villa O'Higgins in the south and Kent and Melchor Islands in the north; there is a record from Alao Island further north but this might represent Batrachyla taeniata. The specific name nibaldoi honors Nibaldo Bahamonde , Chilean marine biologist, in recognition of his "remarkable contribution to the d ...
evelopment of the zoology in Chile". Common name Nibaldo's wood frog has been coined for it. Less

Callopistes maculatus, also known as the dwarf tegu, Chilean dwarf tegu, spotted false monitor or Chilean iguana (in Spanish iguana Chilena ), is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. It is endemic to Chile. Less

Liolaemus nitidus (shining tree iguana) is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae.It is endemic to Chile, notably within the Chilean matorral ecoregion.A medium-sized species, reaching 9 cm snout-to-vent, up to 27 cm including the long tail. It is oviparous, and juvenile specimens usually feed on insects, though adults tend to have a more omnivorous diet. Less

Philodryas chamissonis, commonly known as the Chilean green racer and the long-tailed snake, is a species of moderately venomous opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged) snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Chile. Less

Liolaemus leopardinus (leopard tree iguana) is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae.It is endemic to Chile. Less

Pristidactylus valeriae is a species of lizard in the family Leiosauridae. The species is endemic to Chile and particularly to the Chilean matorral. Less

Liolaemus zapallarensis is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae.It is endemic to Chile. Less

Liolaemus atacamensis (Atacama tree iguana) is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. It is endemic to Chile, with occurrence noted in the Chilean matorral. Less