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A total of 416 vascular plant species have
been identified in Karukinka, representing 67%
of all of the plants existing on the island. Among
them, only six are tree species, namely, Drimys
winterii (winter`s bark), Embothrium
coccineum (Chilean fire bush; notro), Maytenus
magellanica (hard log mayten), Nothofagus
antarctica (antarctic beech), N. betuloides
(Magellan coigue) and N. pumilio (southern
beech, or lenga). This group’s endemism
amounts to 12%, corresponding to species occurring
throughout Patagonia. |
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The presence
of 99 species (17 mammals, 77 birds, 4 fish) has
been verified inside Karukinka. As for native
mammals, there is an abundance of guanaco (Lama
guanicoe) and tuco-tuco (Ctenomys magellanicus);
others, such as the culpeo or Patagonian fox (Pseudalopex
culpaeus lycoides) are present in small numbers.
Approximately 22% of the mammals have been introduced
and now represent the most abundant species.
The most numerous
species of birds are the crown sparrow (Zonotrichia
capensis), turdus thrush (Turdus falklandii),
fío-fío (white-crested Elaenia
albiceps), grey-hooded sierra finch (Phrygilus
gayi), Magellan parakeet (Enicognathus
ferrugineus) and goldfinch (Carduelis
barbata). Karukinka´s forests are home
to the bicolor hawk (Accipiter bicolor),
spotted wood owl (Strix rufipes), large
woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus),
dusky tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus),
and the Patagonian tyrant (Coloramphus parvirostris),
also known as the rufous-tailed hawk (Buteo
ventralis). The austral mountain white-bellied
seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus), an endemic
species, is found on the coast.
Finally, there
are five freshwater fish species, only two of
them native. The Galaxias maculatus or
common jollytail, is an endangered species, found
in Karukinka’s coastal areas. The most abundant
species are the alien Oncorhynchus mykiss
(rainbow trout) and Salmo trutta (brown
trout).
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