Andes Mountains
The longest mountain range in the world, stretching down the spine of South America.
ClimateThin, cold mountain air — sunny days and frosty nights.
LandscapeHigh rocky peaks, windswept grasslands and deep green valleys.
Species recorded172
Written profiles5
Groups present7
Coordinates-13.0°, -72.0°
About the Andes Mountains
The Andes run the length of South America and stack climate zones vertically, so a journey of a few dozen kilometres up a slope passes through as much ecological change as a journey of thousands towards the pole. Cloud forest gives way to high grassland, then to bare rock and ice. Animals living high in that gradient face thin air, hard ultraviolet, and temperatures that swing enormously between day and night, and they answer it with dense coats, efficient blood, and behaviour organised around the sun. Because valleys are isolated from one another by ridges, the Andes have generated an extraordinary number of narrowly distributed species — many known from a single mountainside. The camelids are the region's signature, alongside spectacled bears and condors working the updraughts.
Featured animals of the Andes Mountains
All profiles →5 species have a full written profile.
L
Llama
Lama glama
A
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
V
Vicuña
Vicugna vicugna
S
Spectacled Bear
Tremarctos ornatus
C
Chinchilla
Chinchilla
Most-recorded wild species here
Photographed and identified by iNaturalist contributors in this region, ordered by number of records.
D
Diplura mapinguari
Diplura mapinguari
P
Palmate Giant-Cuckoo
Acanthopus palmatus
R
Rhabdotophyllum acutipenne
Rhabdotophyllum acutipenne
O
Ocyptamus placivus
Ocyptamus placivus
E
Erotylus spectrum
Erotylus spectrum
H
Hoatzin
Opisthocomus hoazin
S
Stenelutracris lignicola
Stenelutracris lignicola
W
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
P
Pastaza River Caecilian
Oscaecilia bassleri
G
Garden Tree Boa
Corallus hortulana
P
Pepsis egregia
Pepsis egregia
S
Semiotus angulatus
Semiotus angulatus
C
Cyphonia trifida
Cyphonia trifida
P
Phoneutria reidyi
Phoneutria reidyi
G
Giant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
C
Cuterebra detrudator
Cuterebra detrudator
E
Eurycoleus poecilopterus
Eurycoleus poecilopterus
O
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Mionectes oleagineus
Full species checklist
A further 149 species recorded in the Andes Mountains.
| Common name | Scientific name | Group | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| False Coral Snake | Anilius scytale | Reptiles | 185 |
| Circoniscus ornatus | Circoniscus ornatus | Other animals | 183 |
| Mountain Viscacha | Lagidium viscacia | Mammals | 182 |
| new beauty | Colobura annulata | Insects | 179 |
| Sphiximorpha pyrrhocera | Sphiximorpha pyrrhocera | Insects | 178 |
| Ewok aymara | Ewok aymara | Arachnids | 177 |
| Natada incandescens | Natada incandescens | Insects | 176 |
| Erythrogonia triplicula | Erythrogonia triplicula | Insects | 175 |
| Uranophora superba | Uranophora superba | Insects | 174 |
| Bearded Mountaineer | Oreonympha nobilis | Birds | 172 |
| Somatia aestiva | Somatia aestiva | Insects | 171 |
| Urubamba colorata | Urubamba colorata | Insects | 170 |
| Black Caiman | Melanosuchus niger | Reptiles | 169 |
| Bell Glass Frog | Cochranella nola | Amphibians | 169 |
| Latheticomyia peruana | Latheticomyia peruana | Insects | 168 |
| Nabokovia sylphis | Nabokovia sylphis | Insects | 167 |
| Buff-tailed Sicklebill | Eutoxeres condamini | Birds | 166 |
| Tschudi's False Coral Snake | Oxyrhopus melanogenys | Reptiles | 165 |
| White-necked Jacobin | Florisuga mellivora | Birds | 164 |
| Gymnelia eusebia | Gymnelia eusebia | Insects | 163 |
| Carineta argentea | Carineta argentea | Insects | 162 |
| Western Rainbow Boa | Epicrates cenchria | Reptiles | 161 |
| Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa | Corallus batesii | Reptiles | 161 |
| Aulestes Doctor | Ancyluris aulestes | Insects | 160 |
| Sterphus plagiatus | Sterphus plagiatus | Insects | 159 |
| Charterginus fulvus | Charterginus fulvus | Insects | 158 |
| Caldwell's Mushroomtongue Salamander | Bolitoglossa caldwellae | Amphibians | 156 |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris | Birds | 155 |
| Northwestern Red Brocket | Mazama americana | Mammals | 154 |
| Quintius jurbergi | Quintius jurbergi | Insects | 153 |
| Linothele fallax | Linothele fallax | Arachnids | 152 |
| Micrathena huanuco | Micrathena huanuco | Arachnids | 151 |
| Perisama cabirnia | Perisama cabirnia | Insects | 149 |
| Handlirsch's Bumble Bee | Bombus handlirschi | Insects | 146 |
| Columbian Shield Mantis | Choeradodis columbica | Insects | 145 |
| Ulivellia amnoni | Ulivellia amnoni | Insects | 144 |
| Rhigus speciosus | Rhigus speciosus | Insects | 143 |
| Leucanella stuarti | Leucanella stuarti | Insects | 142 |
| Ypypuera vittata | Ypypuera vittata | Arachnids | 141 |
| Pselaphacus nigropictus | Pselaphacus nigropictus | Insects | 140 |
| Red-bordered Stink Bug | Edessa rufomarginata | Insects | 139 |
| Andean Cock-of-the-rock | Rupicola peruvianus | Birds | 138 |
| Carineta bilineosa | Carineta bilineosa | Insects | 137 |
| Edebessa onorei | Edebessa onorei | Insects | 136 |
| Daceton armigerum | Daceton armigerum | Insects | 135 |
| Dysdaemonia australoboreas | Dysdaemonia australoboreas | Insects | 134 |
| Rufous-crested Coquette | Lophornis delattrei | Birds | 133 |
| Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus melanoleucus | Birds | 131 |
| Jabiru | Jabiru mycteria | Birds | 130 |
| Versicolored Barbet | Eubucco versicolor | Birds | 128 |
| Blue-capped Tanager | Sporathraupis cyanocephala | Birds | 125 |
| Wire-crested Thorntail | Discosura popelairii | Birds | 124 |
| Cane Toad | Rhinella marina | Amphibians | 122 |
| Thorned Heart Orbweaver | Micrathena clypeata | Arachnids | 121 |
| Ochoa Whorltail Iguana | Stenocercus ochoai | Reptiles | 120 |
| Proctoporus chasqui | Proctoporus chasqui | Reptiles | 119 |
| Camponotus cacicus | Camponotus cacicus | Insects | 117 |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | Tangara xanthocephala | Birds | 116 |
| Micrathena exlinae | Micrathena exlinae | Arachnids | 115 |
| Nuntianus croceus | Nuntianus croceus | Insects | 114 |
| Oiketicus platensis | Oiketicus platensis | Insects | 113 |
| Pantherodes pardalaria | Pantherodes pardalaria | Insects | 112 |
| Carcinophora brasiliensis | Carcinophora brasiliensis | Insects | 111 |
| Irenia Metalmark | Thisbe irenea | Insects | 109 |
| Morpho lympharis | Morpho lympharis | Insects | 108 |
| Stenometapodus impictus | Stenometapodus impictus | Insects | 107 |
| Green-tailed Trainbearer | Lesbia nuna | Birds | 106 |
| Western Amazon Mabuya | Mabuya altamazonica | Reptiles | 105 |
| Megalopyge obscura | Megalopyge obscura | Insects | 104 |
| Euclea cipior | Euclea cipior | Insects | 103 |
| Neoponera luteola | Neoponera luteola | Insects | 102 |
| Obroatis nigriscripta | Obroatis nigriscripta | Insects | 101 |
| White-throated Hawk | Buteo albigula | Birds | 100 |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis | Birds | 99 |
| Amblyomma ovale | Amblyomma ovale | Arachnids | 97 |
| Twist-neck Turtle | Platemys platycephala | Reptiles | 96 |
| Forest Flame Snake | Oxyrhopus petolarius | Reptiles | 96 |
| Montane Guinea Pig | Cavia tschudii | Mammals | 95 |
| Latrodectus lucacha | Latrodectus lucacha | Arachnids | 94 |
| Dossenus marginatus | Dossenus marginatus | Arachnids | 91 |
| Myrmeleon timidus | Myrmeleon timidus | Insects | 90 |
| Bolivian Military Macaw | Ara militaris bolivianus | Birds | 89 |
| Black-faced Black Spider Monkey | Ateles chamek | Mammals | 88 |
| Sphenorhina rubra | Sphenorhina rubra | Insects | 85 |
| Gamelia rubriluna | Gamelia rubriluna | Insects | 84 |
| Sparkling Violetear | Colibri coruscans | Birds | 82 |
| Xylocopa viridis | Xylocopa viridis | Insects | 81 |
| Hooded Siskin | Spinus magellanicus | Birds | 80 |
| Chydarteres dimidiatus | Chydarteres dimidiatus | Insects | 79 |
| Corydalus peruvianus | Corydalus peruvianus | Insects | 78 |
| Puna Ibis | Plegadis ridgwayi | Birds | 77 |
| Thomas’ Smooth-throated Lizard | Liolaemus thomasi | Reptiles | 76 |
| American Barn Owl | Tyto furcata | Birds | 74 |
| Mira Purplewing | Eunica chlororhoa | Insects | 73 |
| Pseudophasma bolivari | Pseudophasma bolivari | Insects | 72 |
| Protonymphidia senta | Protonymphidia senta | Insects | 71 |
| Puna Thistletail | Asthenes helleri | Birds | 70 |
| White-chinned Sapphire | Chlorestes cyanus | Birds | 69 |
| Golden-tailed Sapphire | Chrysuronia oenone | Birds | 68 |
| Bolivian Red Howler Monkey | Alouatta sara | Mammals | 66 |
| Roxelana crassicornis | Roxelana crassicornis | Insects | 65 |
| Dasyllis haemorrhoa | Dasyllis haemorrhoa | Insects | 64 |
| Sapphire-spangled Emerald | Chionomesa lactea | Birds | 63 |
| Laminiceps festivus | Laminiceps festivus | Insects | 62 |
| Rusty-tipped Page | Siproeta epaphus | Insects | 61 |
| Diophanes salvifolius | Diophanes salvifolius | Insects | 60 |
| Camponotus banghaasi | Camponotus banghaasi | Insects | 59 |
| Dorachosa viriventralis | Dorachosa viriventralis | Insects | 58 |
| Potamites montanicola | Potamites montanicola | Reptiles | 57 |
| Sphendononema guildingii | Sphendononema guildingii | Other animals | 56 |
| Widespread Eighty-eight | Diaethria clymena | Insects | 55 |
| Adhemarius tigrina | Adhemarius tigrina | Insects | 53 |
| Scarlet-tailed Bumble Bee | Bombus coccineus | Insects | 51 |
| Peruvia nigromarginata | Peruvia nigromarginata | Insects | 49 |
| Brazilian Wandering Spider | Phoneutria fera | Arachnids | 48 |
| Spectacled Redstart | Myioborus melanocephalus | Birds | 47 |
| Chestnut-bellied Seedeater | Sporophila castaneiventris | Birds | 46 |
| White-browed Hermit | Phaethornis stuarti | Birds | 43 |
| Euscelus longimanus | Euscelus longimanus | Insects | 41 |
| Callostethus guttatopunctatus | Callostethus guttatopunctatus | Insects | 39 |
| Brachysiderus quadrimaculatus | Brachysiderus quadrimaculatus | Insects | 38 |
| Boulenger's Monkey Lizard | Polychrus liogaster | Reptiles | 36 |
| Membracis juncta | Membracis juncta | Insects | 32 |
| Greater Yellow-headed Vulture | Cathartes melambrotus | Birds | 31 |
| Pale-legged Warbler | Myiothlypis signata | Birds | 31 |
| Carineta castaneopercula | Carineta castaneopercula | Insects | 30 |
| Many-spotted Hummingbird | Taphrospilus hypostictus | Birds | 28 |
| Scolopendra hermosa | Scolopendra hermosa | Other animals | 27 |
| Anteros bracteata | Anteros bracteata | Insects | 26 |
| Periander Metalmark | Rhetus periander | Insects | 25 |
| Chiapas White | Perrhybris pamela | Insects | 25 |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | Birds | 24 |
| Variable Hawk | Geranoaetus polyosoma | Birds | 23 |
| Dull-colored Grassquit | Asemospiza obscura | Birds | 22 |
| Western Amazon Three-toed Sloth | Bradypus variegatus infuscatus | Mammals | 19 |
| Blue-rayed Metalmark | Lyropteryx apollonia | Insects | 17 |
| Golden-crowned Flycatcher | Myiodynastes chrysocephalus | Birds | 16 |
| Manu Rocket Frog | Allobates conspicuus | Amphibians | 15 |
| Xiphophyllum atrosignatum | Xiphophyllum atrosignatum | Insects | 14 |
| Enema pan | Enema pan | Insects | 13 |
| Orange-eared Tanager | Chlorochrysa calliparaea | Birds | 11 |
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus | Birds | 10 |
| Asterope leprieuri | Asterope leprieuri | Insects | 9 |
| Pseudatteria cantharopa | Pseudatteria cantharopa | Insects | 7 |
| Seven-spined Crab Spider | Epicadus heterogaster | Arachnids | 5 |
| Chestnut-fronted Macaw | Ara severus | Birds | 4 |
| Cerulean Cuckoo-Orchid Bee | Aglae caerulea | Insects | 3 |
| Proctoporus lacertus | Proctoporus lacertus | Reptiles | 2 |
| Elegant Eyed Lizard | Cercosaura argulus | Reptiles | 1 |